JB Hunt is entering the freight forwarding sector as it has received an NVOCC license from the Federal Maritime Commission.
According to The Loadstar, the company received its non-vessel operating common carrier license a few weeks ago and is listed as an authorized NVOCC in the FMC ocean transport intermediaries database.
Experts are speculating that the company's new business line may be because of its relationship with Chinese container manufacturer CIMC, The Loadstar reports. CIMC builds JB Hunt's fleet of 53 foot containers, the box size generally used in U.S. domestic road and intermodal transport.
The license may also be used by the company to exploit its capacity as a launchpad to further develop a more fledged transpacific freight forwarding service.