J.B. Hunt's top 10 customers accounted for 40% of 2006 revenue (Wal-Mart alone was 14%), so customer concentration risks exist for J.B. Hunt, and the loss of one major customer would have a significant impact on the firm's balance sheet. Company profits are also closely linked to the the health of the economy, because when consumer spending is down companies ship less goods and companies like J.B. Hunt have to lower their rates to attract business.

J.B. Hunt relies on third-parties, such as Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNI) and Norfolk Souther (NSC), for its intermodal operations (when goods are shipped by a combination of rail and truck transport). Intermodal shipping uses fewer workers and less fuel, so its a cheaper option for most companies (but limited to places where there are existing train routes). This could help J.B. Hunt outperform competitors who are focused exclusively on trucking in a protracted recession, because when companies cut shipping costs to respond to lower demand they will first cut more expensive truckload shipping rather than more efficient intermodal operations.^[2]

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