JB Hunt Transport Services Inc. announced unaudited consolidated earnings results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2011. The company announced fourth quarter 2011 net earnings of $72.6 million, or 61 cents diluted earnings per share versus fourth quarter 2010 net earnings of $57.9 million, or 46 cents per diluted share. Net earnings rose 25% primarily due to the growth in revenue, effective cost controls and a lower cost of borrowing. Fourth quarter 2011 results included $3.9 million of pretax expense related to severance agreements for executive retirees and a charitable contribution, which reduced net earnings by 2 cents per diluted share. Total operating revenue for the current quarter was $1.2 billion, compared with $1.02 billion for the fourth quarter 2010. All four segments contributed to this increase in operating revenue. Operating income for the current quarter increased to $122 million versus $97 million for the fourth quarter 2010. The increase in operating income is primarily from the higher revenue on greater load volumes, a reduction in insurance and claims costs, and continued improvement in other general cost controls. Again, all four segments contributed to this increase in operating income with JBI and DCS accounting for nearly $22 million of the increase. Earnings before income taxes were $116.073 million against $89.184 million of previous year period. For the full year, net earnings were $257.006 million or $2.11 diluted earnings per share on total operating revenues of $4,526.842 million compared to net earnings of $199.617 million or $1.56 diluted earnings per share on total operating revenues of $3,793.485 million for the previous year. Operating income was $444.233 million against $347.625 million of prior year. Earnings before income taxes were $415.733 million against $319.694 million of previous year. Net capital expenditures for the year ended 2011 approximated $446 million versus $226 million in 2010. The increase in capital expenditures was primarily due to increases in containers and chassis for intermodal growth. Net cash provided by operating activities was $635.692 million against $428.078 million of prior year.