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J.B. Hunt Transport Services said that it has reached a multi-year deal with Norfolk Southern Corp. in which the railroad will provide intermodal service for the carrier in the eastern U.S.

The deal will provides a platform to convert truck traffic to rail, Hunt said in a statement late Thursday.

The intermodal service under the deal will be “cost effective, environmentally friendly” and competitive with truckload transportation, Hunt said.

“This new agreement will provide unparalleled intermodal service and value for U.S. shippers,” said Kirk Thompson, chief executive officer of Hunt.

“Our new services with J.B. Hunt will provide shared incentives to grow volume and revenues by converting substantial volumes of freight from highway to rail,” said Wick Moorman, CEO of Norfolk Southern Corp.

J.B. Hunt is ranked No.8 on the Transport Topics 100 listing of U.S. and Canadian for-hire carriers.