HUNT J B TRANSPORT SERVICES INC
424B5, 1998-08-17
TRUCKING (NO LOCAL)
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<PAGE>   1
 
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
                                                Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
                                                       Registration No. 33-64950
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
                  PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED AUGUST 17, 1998
 
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED JULY 28, 1993)
 
                                  $100,000,000
 
                                [J.B. HUNT LOGO]
 
                       J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.
 
                              % SENIOR NOTES DUE 2006
                            ------------------------
     The      % Senior Notes due 2006 (the "Notes") are being offered by J.B.
Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (the "Company"). Interest on the Notes is payable
semiannually on March 1 and September 1, commencing March 1, 1999. The Notes are
not redeemable prior to maturity and are not entitled to any sinking fund.
 
     The Notes will be issuable and transferable in fully registered form, in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
 
     The Notes will constitute unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the
Company and will rank on a parity with the Company's other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness.
 
                            ------------------------
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO WHICH IT
       RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==============================================================================================================
                                         PRICE TO                UNDERWRITING               PROCEEDS TO
                                         PUBLIC(1)                DISCOUNT(2)              COMPANY(1)(3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>                       <C>                       <C>
Per Note.......................              %                         %                         %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total..........................              $                         $                         $
==============================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from             , 1998.
(2) The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain
    liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933,
    as amended. See "Underwriting."
(3) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $          .
                            ------------------------
     The Notes are offered by the several Underwriters, subject to prior sale,
when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of certain
legal matters by counsel for the Underwriters and certain other conditions. The
Underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify such offer and to
reject orders in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the Notes
will be made in New York, New York on or about             , 1998.
                            ------------------------
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
                     J.P. MORGAN & CO.
                                         MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
 
                         BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
 
                            ------------------------
 
           The date of this Prospectus Supplement is August   , 1998.
<PAGE>   2
 
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES OFFERED
HEREBY AT A LEVEL, ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET.
SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
BUSINESS
 
     J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. ("J.B. Hunt" or the "Company"), a
leading provider of transportation and logistics services, is the largest
publicly-held truckload carrier in the United States. J.B. Hunt transports
primarily full-load containerizable freight throughout the continental United
States and portions of Canada and Mexico. The Company provides approximately
10,000 customers in North America with the following specialized transportation
and logistics services:
 
          Dry-van and Intermodal. J.B. Hunt is one of the largest providers of
     door-to-door truckload and intermodal services in the United States, Canada
     and Mexico. J.B. Hunt can transport any type of freight (except certain
     types of explosives) from any point in the contiguous United States to any
     other point in the contiguous United States. The Company transports a wide
     range of products, including automotive parts, department store
     merchandise, paper and wood products, food and beverages, plastics,
     chemicals and manufacturing materials and supplies. Operating revenues were
     approximately $1.15 billion for the Company's dry-van and intermodal
     business in 1997.
 
          Logistics Management and Dedicated Contract Services. J.B. Hunt
     arranges the delivery and transportation of freight for customers who
     desire to outsource all or a substantial portion of their distribution and
     transportation functions. The Company also provides specifically assigned
     revenue equipment, drivers, and management employees to service customers
     that wish to augment or outsource their private transportation fleet. The
     Company provides a range of comprehensive transportation and management
     services including experienced professional managers, information and
     optimization technology and the design or redesign of system solutions.
     Once a logistics arrangement is in place, the Company may utilize Company
     owned and controlled transportation equipment or third-party equipment and
     employees or a combination thereof to meet the customer's service
     requirements. As part of J.B. Hunt's commitment to supplying high quality
     logistics solutions, the Company employs over 200 professionals to develop
     technology to manage the supply chain process. The Company's technological
     leadership has been recognized recently by several information technology
     publications, such as Computer World magazine which listed J.B. Hunt as a
     "Top 100 Premiere Internet User" as well as one of the "Top 25 Places to
     Work in IT" and "Top 16 Training Shops" and Network World magazine which
     awarded the Company one of two "User Excellence Awards". Operating revenues
     for the logistics and dedicated contract service businesses were
     approximately $405 million in 1997.
 
     Since early 1996, the Company has concentrated its business on offering
dry-van truckload (including intermodal) transportation services and logistics
management services (including dedicated contract services). The Company views
the growth opportunity and potential to integrate its transportation and
logistics solutions as a key to lowering costs and providing customers with
quality transportation services.
 
MARKETING AND OPERATIONS
 
     The truckload market has historically been a lower price, lower service
market when compared to the less-than-truckload segment. The Company has opted
to provide a premium service and charge compensating rates rather than compete
primarily on the basis of price, though the Company does seek to provide a lower
cost alternative to its customers. The Company's business is well diversified
and no one customer accounted for more than 6% of revenues during 1997 or 1996.
Marketing efforts include significant focus on a diversified
 
                                       S-2
<PAGE>   3
 
group of "Fortune 500" customers. The Company's broad geographic dispersion and
good balance in the type of industries served lessens the impact of major
seasonal fluctuations on the Company's operations.
 
PERSONNEL AND DRIVER RETENTION
 
     At June 30, 1998, J.B. Hunt employed approximately 13,200 people, including
approximately 9,600 drivers. Historically, the truckload transportation industry
and the Company have experienced shortages of qualified drivers. In addition,
annual driver turnover rates at J.B. Hunt and other truckload carriers have been
as high as 100%. In September 1996, the Company announced a new compensation
program for its approximately 3,500 over-the-road van drivers as part of an
effort to eliminate chronic driver shortages and high turnover rates and to
improve customer service and driver productivity. The Company now has
approximately 4,900 over-the-road van drivers. This compensation package, which
was effective February 25, 1997, calls for the Company to pay $0.37 a mile to
long-haul drivers with at least one year of experience and up to $0.41 a mile
for more experienced drivers, resulting in an average wage increase of 33% for
J.B. Hunt's drivers. Additionally, drivers receive two days off for every seven
days on the road, up from one day, and the chance to earn a $0.02 per mile fuel
performance bonus. This program was designed to attract and retain a
professional and experienced work force capable of delivering a high level of
customer service and to increase driver productivity. During 1997, the increase
in driver wages and benefits was partially offset by lower driver recruiting and
training expenses, better equipment utilization and an approximately 30%
reduction in overall accident frequency. Management attributes the significant
improvement in safety in 1997 to the quality of its drivers, an increased focus
on safety training and its 1996 policy decision to limit the speed of its
tractors. The average driver turnover in the Company's van business was 45% in
1997, down from 86% in 1996. No employees are represented by collective
bargaining agreements and management believes that its relationship with all of
its employees is excellent.
 
REVENUE EQUIPMENT
 
     At June 30, 1998, J.B. Hunt owned approximately 8,400 tractors and operated
approximately 33,700 trailers and specially designed containers. J.B. Hunt
believes that modern, late-model, clean equipment differentiates quality
customer service, increases equipment utilization and reduces maintenance costs
and downtime. Accordingly, the average age of the van tractor and trailing fleet
was approximately 1.6 years and approximately 3.0 years, respectively, at June
30, 1998. In 1993, the Company commenced receiving a newly-designed container
and chassis combination that could be transported over the road by truck and
also be moved by rail or ship. The container and chassis may be transported as a
single unit by rail or the container can be separated from the chassis and
double-stacked on rail cars for improved productivity. Containers comprised
approximately 70% of the van trailing fleet at June 30, 1998. The composition of
the dedicated contract fleet varies with specific customer service requirements.
All J.B. Hunt revenue equipment is maintained in accordance with a specific
maintenance program primarily based on age and miles traveled.
 
RECENT OPERATING DATA
 
     Operating revenues for the six months ended June 30, 1998 were up $123.9
million, or 17%, to $874.5 million, from $750.6 million in the six months ended
June 30, 1997. Revenues in the dry-van business, which includes intermodal, grew
19% during the first six months of 1998, while revenues in the logistics
business, which includes dedicated contract services, increased 33%. The
increase in dry-van revenue was primarily due to an 18% increase in the size of
the tractor fleet and a 6% increase in tractor utilization. Dry-van truck rates
rose approximately 2.4% during the first six months of 1998, while intermodal
rates declined nearly 3%. The growth of logistics revenue was driven by strong
demand from existing customers and contracts and new business generated during
1998.
 
     Total operating expenses for the first six months of 1998 increased 12% to
$821.2 million from $734.0 million in the comparable period of 1997. Total
operating expenses expressed as a percentage of operating revenues (operating
ratio) were 93.9% for the six months ended June 30, 1998, compared with 97.8% in
the same period of 1997. Salaries, wages and employee benefits increased 19.7%,
primarily due to an approximate 33% pay increase for certain over-the-road van
drivers, which was effective February 25, 1997.
 
                                       S-3
<PAGE>   4
 
     Net earnings for the first six months of 1998 increased $22.7 million, or
932%, to $25.1 million, from $2.4 million in the first six months of 1997.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Notes are estimated to
be approximately $          . Such proceeds will be used to reduce short-term
indebtedness outstanding under the Company's existing commercial paper program
and two uncommitted lines of credit. The indebtedness to be repaid under the
program and the lines of credit bears interest at annual rates ranging from
5.67% to 6.125% and has maturities ranging up to 15 days. The short-term
indebtedness to be repaid using the net proceeds of this offering was issued to
finance the acquisition of revenue equipment.
 
                                       S-4
<PAGE>   5
 
         SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
 
     The selected historical consolidated statements of operations data for the
years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 have been derived from the
Company's audited consolidated financial statements, which are incorporated by
reference into this Prospectus Supplement. The selected historical consolidated
statements of operations and balance sheet data as of and for the six-month
periods ended June 30, 1997 and 1998 have been derived from the Company's
unaudited consolidated financial statements, which are incorporated by reference
into this Prospectus Supplement. The results of operations for the six months
ended June 30, 1998 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for
the full year.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,          SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30,
                                    ------------------------------------   --------------------------
                                       1995         1996         1997         1997           1998
                                    ----------   ----------   ----------   ----------    ------------
                                                         (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                 <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS:
Operating revenues................  $1,352,225   $1,486,748   $1,554,292    $750,599      $  874,451
Operating expenses................   1,330,880    1,426,385    1,511,382     734,025         821,180
Operating income..................      21,345       60,363       42,910      16,574          53,271
Interest expense..................      24,790       24,694       24,578      12,650          13,806
Net earnings (loss)...............  $   (2,170)  $   22,115       11,366    $  2,433          25,107
PRO FORMA DATA (UNAUDITED):
Interest expense(1)...............                            $       --                  $       --
Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges(1)......................                                    --                          --
OPERATING DATA (UNAUDITED):
Total loads.......................   1,361,251    1,605,546    1,802,006     856,200       1,053,234
Average number of tractors in
  fleet...........................       7,559        7,728        7,629       7,619           7,959
Tractors operated at period end...       7,706        7,750        7,508       7,488           8,409
Trailers/containers at period
  end.............................      24,618       27,773       30,391      26,900          33,732
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        AT JUNE 30,
                                                          ---------------------------------------
                                                               HISTORICAL          AS ADJUSTED(2)
                                                          ---------------------    --------------
                                                            1997        1998            1998
                                                          --------   ----------    --------------
                                                                  (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                       <C>        <C>           <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents...............................  $  5,335   $    9,060      $    9,060
Total assets............................................   997,181    1,116,508       1,116,508
Current maturities of long-term debt(3).................    13,300       97,350               0
Long-term debt excluding current maturities.............   322,770      317,740(4)      415,090
Stockholders' equity....................................  $346,271   $  356,812      $  356,812
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Gives effect to the issuance of the Notes and the application of the net
    proceeds therefrom to discharge certain outstanding short-term indebtedness,
    as if such transactions had occurred at the beginning of the periods
    indicated. See "Use of Proceeds."
 
(2) Gives effect to the issuance of the Notes and the application of the net
    proceeds therefrom to discharge certain outstanding short-term indebtedness,
    as if such transactions had occurred at June 30, 1998. See "Use of
    Proceeds."
 
(3) Consists of current maturities of outstanding commercial paper, uncommitted
    lines of credit and installments on senior notes.
 
(4) Consists of (i) commercial paper supported by two credit agreements, which
    aggregate $240 million, with a group of banks, of which $120 million expires
    March 12, 1999 and $120 million expires March 20, 2002; (ii) $98.3 million
    of 6.25% senior notes payable on September 1, 2003; (iii) $50 million of
    7.80% senior subordinated notes payable in five equal annual installments
    beginning October 30, 2000; (iv) $25 million of 6.25% senior notes payable
    on November 17, 2000; and (v) $25 million of 6.00% senior notes payable on
    December 12, 2000.
 
                                       S-5
<PAGE>   6
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The following table sets forth the Company's consolidated ratio of earnings
to fixed charges for the period shown.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      SIX MONTHS
                                                                                        ENDED
                                                       YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,       ----------
                                                   --------------------------------    JUNE 30,
                                                   1993   1994   1995   1996   1997      1998
                                                   ----   ----   ----   ----   ----   ----------
<S>                                                <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
Fixed charge coverage ratio......................  4.94   3.83    (1)   2.26   1.64      3.44
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(1) Earnings for 1995 were inadequate to cover fixed charges by approximately
    $2.0 million.
 
     The ratios of earnings to fixed charges were computed by dividing earnings
by fixed charges. For this purpose, earnings represent net earnings (loss)
before fixed charges, income taxes and undistributed earnings (loss) of an
equity affiliate. Fixed charges include interest, amortization of debt expenses
and representative interest associated with operating leases.
 
     The Company's consolidated pro forma ratio of earnings to fixed charges for
the twelve months ended June 30, 1998, was      . The pro forma ratio of
earnings to fixed charges was computed by (i) giving effect to adjustments to
reflect the issuance and sale of the Notes and the application of the net
proceeds therefrom as set forth in "Use of Proceeds" and (ii) assuming that the
issuance and sale of the Notes were consummated at the beginning of the period
presented.
 
                              DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
 
     The following description of the particular terms of the Notes offered
hereby (referred to herein as the "Notes" and in the accompanying Prospectus as
the "Offered Debt Securities") supplements, and to the extent inconsistent
therewith replaces, the description of the general terms and provisions of the
Debt Securities set forth in the accompanying Prospectus, to which description
reference is hereby made. The Notes are part of $250,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of Debt Securities registered by the Company in July 1993 to be issued on
terms to be determined at the time of sale. Except as otherwise defined herein,
capitalized terms used herein have the meanings specified in the accompanying
Prospectus or in the Senior Debt Indenture referred to herein.
 
     The maximum aggregate principal amount of Notes which may be issued is
limited to $100,000,000. Interest at the annual rate set forth on the cover page
of this Prospectus Supplement is to accrue from the date of initial issuance and
is to be payable semiannually on March 1 and September 1, commencing on March 1,
1999, to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the close of
business on the preceding February 15 or August 14, respectively, and, unless
otherwise determined by the Company, will be paid by check mailed on or before
the payment date, by first class mail to such persons. Principal and interest
will be payable, and the Notes will be transferable, at the corporate trust
office of the trustee in New York, New York. The Notes will be issued only in
fully registered form in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
The Notes will be issued under the Senior Debt Indenture dated as of July 1,
1993, between the Company and LaSalle National Bank, as successor trustee.
 
     The Notes will mature on September 1, 2006. The Notes will not be
redeemable by the Company prior to maturity. There is no sinking fund applicable
to the Notes.
 
                                       S-6
<PAGE>   7
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement") among the Company and each of Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley
& Co. Incorporated, BancAmerica Robertson Stephens, ABN AMRO Incorporated and
Stephens Inc. (collectively, the "Underwriters"), the Company has agreed to sell
to the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters severally and not jointly has
agreed to purchase from the Company, the aggregate principal amount of the Notes
set forth opposite its name below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               PRINCIPAL
UNDERWRITER                                                      AMOUNT
- -----------                                                   ------------
<S>                                                           <C>
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
             Incorporated...................................  $
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc..................................
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated...........................
BancAmerica Robertson Stephens..............................
ABN AMRO Incorporated.......................................
Stephens Inc................................................
                                                              ------------
             Total..........................................  $100,000,000
                                                              ============
</TABLE>
 
     The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the
Underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and that the
Underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the Notes if any are
purchased.
 
     The Underwriters have advised the Company that they propose initially to
offer the Notes to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on
the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, and to certain dealers at such
price less a concession not in excess of   % of the principal amount of the
Notes. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a discount not
in excess of   % of the principal amount of the Notes to certain other dealers.
After the initial public offering, the public offering price, concession and
discount may be changed.
 
     There is no public trading market for the Notes and the Company does not
intend to apply for listing of the Notes on any national securities exchange or
for quotation of the Notes on any automated dealer quotation system. The Company
has been advised by the Underwriters that they presently intend to make a market
in the Notes after the consummation of the offering contemplated hereby,
although they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any
market-making activities at any time without notice. No assurance can be given
as to the liquidity of the trading market for the Notes or that an active public
market for the Notes will develop. If an active public trading market for the
Notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the Notes may be
adversely affected. If the Notes are traded, they may trade at a discount from
their initial offering price, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market
for similar securities, the performance of the Company and certain other
factors.
 
     The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), or to contribute to payments the Underwriters may be
required to make in respect thereof.
 
                                       S-7
<PAGE>   8
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the Notes offered
hereby will be passed upon for the Company by Wright, Lindsey & Jennings LLP,
Little Rock, Arkansas. Certain legal matters relating to the offering will be
passed upon for the Underwriters by Haynes and Boone, LLP, Dallas, Texas.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc.
as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1997, have been incorporated by reference herein in
reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     With respect to the unaudited interim financial information for the periods
ended March 31, 1998 and 1997, and June 30, 1998 and 1997, incorporated by
reference herein, the independent certified public accountants have reported
that they applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards
for a review of such information. However, their separate reports included in
the Company's quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
1998 and June 30, 1998, and incorporated by reference herein, state that they
did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial
information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their reports on such
information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review
procedures applied. The accountants are not subject to the liability provisions
of section 11 of the Act, for their reports on the unaudited interim financial
information because such reports are not a "report" or a "part" of the
registration statement prepared or certified by the accountants within the
meaning of sections 7 and 11 of the Act.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Securities and Exchange Commission maintains a web site on the Internet
at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements
and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the
Commission including, with respect to the Company, the materials incorporated by
reference herein. See "Available Information" in the Prospectus.
 
                                       S-8
<PAGE>   9
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                                  $250,000,000
 
                                 J.B. HUNT LOGO
 
                       J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT SERVICES, INC.
 
                                DEBT SECURITIES
 
                            ------------------------
 
     J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. ("J.B. Hunt" or the "Company") may offer
and sell from time to time, in one or more series, its debt securities (the
"Debt Securities") with an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed
$250,000,000. The Debt Securities will be offered in amounts, at prices and on
terms to be determined at the time of offering and to be set forth in
supplements to this Prospectus. The Company may sell Debt Securities to or
through underwriters or dealers designated from time to time, and may also sell
Debt Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents designated from
time to time. See "Plan of Distribution." The specific designation, aggregate
principal amount, ranking as senior or subordinated Debt Securities, maturity,
rate or rates (or method of determining the same) and time or times of payment
of interest, if any, purchase price, any terms in addition to or different from
those described herein for redemption or repurchase, the names of and the
principal amounts to be purchased by or through agents, dealers or underwriters,
if any, the compensation of such persons and other special terms in connection
with the offering and sale of the series of Debt Securities in respect of which
this Prospectus is being delivered are set forth in the accompanying Prospectus
Supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement").
 
                         ------------------------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                         ------------------------------
 
     This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Debt Securities
unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
 
                         ------------------------------
 
                 THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS JULY 28, 1993.
<PAGE>   10
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SECURITIES
OFFERED HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") in Washington, D.C., a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
with respect to the Debt Securities offered by this Prospectus. Certain portions
of the Registration Statement have not been included in this Prospectus as
permitted by the Commission's rules and regulations. For further information,
reference is made to the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto. The
Company is subject to the information requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance therewith,
files reports and other information with the Commission. The Registration
Statement (with exhibits), as well as such reports and other information filed
by the Company with the Commission, may be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at its principal offices at
Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, and
its regional offices at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048; and
Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such material may be obtained at prescribed rates
from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549.
 
               INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents, heretofore filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act, are incorporated herein by reference
and made a part of this Prospectus, except as superseded or modified herein:
 
          1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
     December 31, 1992.
 
          2. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
     March 31, 1993.
 
     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Debt Securities pursuant hereto shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained in a document
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any
statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified
or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
     The Company will provide without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this Prospectus is delivered, upon the
written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any document incorporated
by reference in this Prospectus (not including exhibits to those documents
unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the
information incorporated into this Prospectus). Requests for such copies should
be directed to Mr. Kirk Thompson, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., 615 J.B.
Hunt Corporate Drive, Lowell, Arkansas 72745, telephone number (501) 820-0000.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   11
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. is a diversified transportation company
focusing on the movement of full-load containerizable freight in North America.
The Company primarily operates as an irregular route, dry van truckload carrier
transporting general commodities through a combination of traditional truck
transportation and an expanding intermodal network through alliances with major
railroads. J.B. Hunt currently provides service throughout the 48 contiguous
states, the Canadian provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia, and
Mexico by contracting with selected Mexican carriers. The Company operates 20
terminals strategically spread throughout the United States, with its
headquarters located in Lowell, Arkansas. The Company's principal executive
offices are located at 615 J.B. Hunt Corporate Drive, Lowell, Arkansas 72745,
and its telephone number there is (501) 820-0000.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Except as otherwise described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to an
offering of Debt Securities, the net proceeds from the sale of the Debt
Securities offered by this Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement (the
"Offered Debt Securities") will be used for general corporate purposes,
including the refinancing of outstanding indebtedness and the financing of
capital expenditures. Any specific allocation of the net proceeds of an offering
of Debt Securities to a specific expenditure will be determined at the time of
such offering and will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The following table sets forth the Company's consolidated ratio of earnings
to fixed charges for the period shown.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,        THREE MONTHS
                                                --------------------------------       ENDED
                                                1988   1989   1990   1991   1992   MARCH 31, 1993
                                                ----   ----   ----   ----   ----   --------------
<S>                                             <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
Fixed charge coverage ratio...................  9.19   6.56   7.90   5.54   6.33        3.68
</TABLE>
 
     The ratios of earnings to fix charges were computed by dividing earnings by
fixed charges. For this purpose, earnings represent operating income before
fixed charges, income taxes and cumulative effect of changes in accounting
methods. Fixed charges include interest and amortization of debt expenses.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The Debt Securities will constitute either senior or subordinated debt of
the Company and will be issued, in the case of Debt Securities that will be
senior debt ("Senior Debt Securities"), under a Senior Indenture (the "Senior
Debt Indenture") dated as of July 1, 1993, between the Company and Morgan
Guaranty Trust Company of New York, as trustee, and, in the case of Debt
Securities that will be subordinated debt ("Subordinated Debt Securities"),
under a Subordinated Indenture dated as of July 1, 1993 (the "Subordinated Debt
Indenture"), between the Company and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
as trustee. The Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture are
sometimes hereinafter referred to individually as an "Indenture" and
collectively as the "Indentures". Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York (and
any successor thereto as trustee under the Indentures) is hereinafter referred
to as the "Trustee". The Indentures are filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement. The following summaries of certain provisions of the Indentures and
the Debt Securities do not purport to be complete and such summaries are subject
to the detailed provisions of the applicable Indenture to which reference is
hereby made for a full description of such provisions, including the definition
of certain terms used herein. Section references in parentheses below are to
sections in both Indentures unless otherwise indicated. Wherever particular
sections or defined terms of the applicable Indenture are referred to, such
sections or defined terms are incorporated herein by reference as part of the
statement made, and the statement is qualified in its
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   12
 
entirety by such reference. The Indentures are substantially identical, except
for certain covenants of the Company and provisions relating to subordination.
 
     The Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series.
The following description of the Debt Securities sets forth certain general
terms and provisions of the Debt Securities of all series. The particular terms
of each series of Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement will be
described therein.
 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOTH SENIOR AND SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
 
     General. The Debt Securities will be unsecured senior or subordinated
obligations of the Company and may be issued from time to time in one or more
series. The Indentures do not limit the amount of Debt Securities, Senior
Indebtedness (as defined below), debentures, notes or other types of
indebtedness that may be issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (as
defined below) nor do they restrict transactions between the Company and its
Affiliates (as defined below), the payment of dividends by the Company, or the
transfer of assets by the Company to its Subsidiaries. The Company currently
conducts substantially all its operations through Subsidiaries. Consequently,
the rights of the Company to receive assets of any Subsidiary (and thus the
ability of holders of Debt Securities to benefit indirectly from such assets)
are subject to the prior claims of creditors of that Subsidiary. Other than as
may be set forth in any Prospectus Supplement, the Indentures do not and the
Debt Securities will not contain any covenants or other provisions that are
intended to afford holders of the Debt Securities special protection in the
event of either a change of control of the Company or a highly leveraged
transaction by the Company.
 
     Reference is made to the applicable Prospectus Supplement for the following
terms of and information relating to the Offered Debt Securities (to the extent
such terms are applicable to such Offered Debt Securities): (i) the title of the
Offered Debt Securities; (ii) classification as Senior Debt Securities or
Subordinated Debt Securities, aggregate principal amount, purchase price and
denomination; (iii) the date or dates on which the Offered Debt Securities will
mature; (iv) the method by which amounts payable in respect of principal,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or upon the redemption of such Offered
Debt Securities may be calculated; (v) the interest rate or rates (or the method
by which such will be determined), and the dates from which such interest, if
any, will accrue; (vi) the date or dates on which any such interest will be
payable; (vii) the place or places where and the manner in which the principal
of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Offered Debt Securities will
be payable and the place or places where the Offered Debt Securities may be
presented for transfer; (viii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem,
repay or purchase the Offered Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or
analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof or the right, if any,
of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase the Offered Debt Securities at its
option and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and
the terms and conditions upon which the Offered Debt Securities will be
redeemed, repaid or purchased to any such obligation or right (including the
form or method payment thereof if other than cash); (ix) any terms applicable to
the Offered Debt Securities issued at an original issue discount below their
stated principal amount, including the issue price thereof and the rate or rates
at which such original issue discount shall accrue; (x) any index used to
determine the amount of payments of principal of and any premium and interest on
the Offered Debt Securities; (xi) any applicable United States federal income
tax consequences; and (xii) any other specific terms of the Offered Debt
Securities, including any additional or different events of default or remedies
or any additional covenants provided with respect to such Offered Debt
Securities, and any terms which may be required by or advisable under applicable
laws or regulations.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in any Prospectus Supplement, the Debt
Securities will be issued only in fully registered form and in denominations of
$1,000 and any integral multiples thereof (Section 2.7). No service charge will
be made for any transfer or exchange of any Debt Securities but the Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge payable in connection therewith (Section 2.8).
 
     Debt Securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a floating rate. Debt
Securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of
issuance is below the prevailing market rate may be sold at a discount
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   13
 
below their stated principal amount. Special United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to any such discounted Debt Securities or to certain
Debt Securities issued at par which are treated as having been issued at a
discount for United States federal income tax purposes will be described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The Indentures are, and the Debt Securities will be, governed by New York
law.
 
     Certain Definitions. The following definitions are applicable to both
Senior and Subordinated Debt Securities (Article One of each Indenture).
 
     "Affiliate" of any specified Person (as defined below) means any other
Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or
indirect common control with such specified Person.
 
     "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust, estate,
unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision
thereof.
 
     "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which the Company, or the Company and
one or more Subsidiaries, or any one or more Subsidiaries, directly or
indirectly own voting securities entitling any one or more of the Company and
its Subsidiaries to elect a majority of the directors of such corporation,
either at all times or so long as there is no default or contingency permitting
the holders of any other class or classes of securities to vote for the election
of one or more directors.
 
     "U.S. Government Obligations" means direct obligations of the United States
of America, backed by its full faith and credit.
 
     Global Securities. The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole
or in part in the form of one or more global securities ("Global Securities")
that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary (the "Depositary")
identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Global
Securities may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary
or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the
individual Debt Securities represented thereby, a Global Security may not be
transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such Global Security to its
nominee or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee
of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor
Depositary or nominee of such successor Depositary (Sections 2.4 and 2.8).
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series. The Company anticipates that the following provisions will
generally apply to depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global
Security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer
system, the respective principal amounts of the individual Debt Securities
represented by such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have
accounts with such Depositary. Such accounts shall be designated by the dealers,
underwriters or agents with respect to such Debt Securities or by the Company if
such Debt Securities are offered and sold directly by the Company. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to persons that have
accounts with the applicable Depositary ("participants") or persons that may
hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such
Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be
effected only through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its
nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of
participants (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of
participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). The
laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may
impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
 
     So long as the Depositary for a Global Security or its nominee is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such Depositary or its nominee, as the
case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt Securities
of the series represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
Indenture governing such Debt Securities. Except as provided below, owners of
beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have any of
the individual Debt Securities of the series represented by such Global
                                        5
<PAGE>   14
 
Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of any such Debt Securities in definitive form and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture governing such Debt
Securities.
 
     Payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
individual Debt Securities represented by a Global Security registered in the
name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security
representing such Debt Securities. Neither the Company, the Trustee for such
Debt Securities, any paying agent nor the registrar for such Debt Securities
will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating
to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the Global
Security for such Debt Securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing
any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
     The Company expects that the Depositary for a series of Debt Securities or
its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest in
respect of a Global Security representing any such Debt Securities, immediately
will credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to
their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global
Security for such Debt Securities as shown on the records of such Depositary or
its nominee. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in such Global Security held through such participants will
be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered
in "street name". Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.
 
     If the Depositary for a series of Debt Securities is at any time unwilling,
unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue individual Debt
Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Security representing such
series of Debt Securities. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its
sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Debt Securities, determine not to have any Debt
Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities and, in such
event, will issue individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for the
Global Security or Securities representing such series of Debt Securities.
Further, if the Company so specifies with respect to the Debt Securities of a
series, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security representing Debt
Securities of such series may, on terms acceptable to the Company and the
Depositary for such Global Security, receive individual Debt Securities of such
series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any limitations
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities. In any
such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security will be
entitled to a physical delivery of individual Debt Securities of the series
represented by such Global Security equal in principal amount to such beneficial
interest and to have such Debt Securities registered in its name. Individual
Debt Securities of such series so issued will be issued in denominations, unless
otherwise specified by the Company, of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
 
     Events of Default. Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement,
an Event of Default is defined under each Indenture with respect to the Debt
Securities of any series issued under such Indenture as being: (a) default in
the payment of any interest with respect to Debt Securities of such series when
due, continued for a period of 30 days; (b) default in the payment of principal
or premium, if any, with respect to Debt Securities of such series when due; (c)
default in the payment or satisfaction of any sinking fund or other purchase
obligation with respect to Debt Securities of such series when due; (d) default
in the performance of any other covenant of the Company applicable to Debt
Securities of such series, continued for 60 days after written notice by the
Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of such series then outstanding (or, in the case of any series of
Debt Securities originally issued at a discount from their stated principal
amount, at least 25% of the amount of principal thereof that would be due and
payable on such date of determination in the event of an acceleration of the
maturity of such series on such date); (e) certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization; and (f) default under any instrument under which
there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any
Indebtedness (as defined in such Indenture) for money borrowed of the Company or
(in the case of the Senior Debt Indenture) any Subsidiary resulting in the
acceleration of such Indebtedness, or any default in payment of any such
Indebtedness (after expiration of any applicable grace periods and presentation
of any
                                        6
<PAGE>   15
 
debt instruments, if required), if the total of all such Indebtedness which has
been so accelerated and with respect to which there has been such a default in
payment shall exceed $15,000,000 and there shall have been a failure to obtain
rescission or annulment of all such accelerations or to discharge all such
defaulted Indebtedness within 10 days after written notice of the type specified
in the foregoing clause (g) (Section 5.1). If any Event of Default shall occur
and be continuing, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Debt Securities of such series then outstanding (or, in
the case of any series of Debt Securities originally issued at a discount from
their stated principal amount, not less than 25% of the amount of principal
thereof that would be due and payable on such date of determination in the event
of an acceleration of the maturity of such series on such date), by notice in
writing to the Company (and to the Trustee, if given by the holders), may
declare the Debt Securities of such series due and payable immediately, but the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of
such series then outstanding (or, in the case of any series of Debt Securities
originally issued at a discount from their stated principal amount, a majority
of the amount of principal thereof that would be due and payable on such date of
determination in the event of an acceleration of the maturity of such series on
such date), by notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind
such declaration if all defaults under such Indenture are cured or waived
(Section 5.1).
 
     Each Indenture provides that no holder of any series of Debt Securities
then outstanding may institute any suit, action or proceeding with respect to,
or otherwise attempt to enforce, such Indenture, unless (i) such holder shall
have given to the Trustee written notice of default and of the continuance
thereof, (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of
such series of Debt Securities then outstanding (or, in the case of any series
of Debt Securities originally issued at a discount from their stated principal
amount, not less than of the amount of principal thereof that would be due and
payable on such date of determination in the event of an acceleration of the
maturity of such series on such date) shall have made written request to the
Trustee to institute such suit, action or proceeding and shall have offered to
the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require with respect thereto and
(iii) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and
offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such
action, suit or proceeding; provided that, subject to the subordination
provisions applicable to the Subordinated Debt Securities, the right of any
holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest, if any, on such Debt Security, on or after the respective due
dates, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment shall not be
impaired or affected without the consent of such holder (Section 5.4). The
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of
such series then outstanding (or, in the case of any series of Debt Securities
originally issued at a discount from their stated principal amount, a majority
of the amount of principal thereof that would be due and payable on such date of
determination in the event of an acceleration of the maturity of such series on
such date) may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power
conferred on the Trustee, provided that such direction shall not be in conflict
with any rule of law or the Indenture or involve the Trustee in personal
liability (Section 5.7).
 
     The Company is required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement as
to the fulfillment by the Company of all of its obligations under each Indenture
(Section 4.3).
 
     Consolidation, Merger, Sale, Etc. Each Indenture provides that the Company
may consolidate or merge with or into any other corporation, and may sell,
lease, exchange or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property
and assets to any other corporation, provided that in any such case (i)
immediately after such transaction the Company will not be in default under such
Indenture, (ii) the corporation (if other than the Company) formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger, or to which such sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition shall have been made, shall be a corporation
organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or
the District of Columbia, and (iii) the corporation (if other than the Company)
formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged,
or the corporation which shall have acquired or leased such property and assets,
shall assume, by a supplemental indenture, the Company's obligations under such
Indenture (Section 9.1). In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition and upon any such assumption by the successor
corporation, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for
the Company, with the same effect as if it had
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   16
 
been named in such Indenture as the Company, and the Company shall be relieved
of any further obligation under such Indenture and any Debt Securities issued
thereunder (Section 9.2 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture and Section 9.3 of
the Senior Debt Indenture).
 
     Discharge and Defeasance. The Company may discharge or defease its
obligations with respect to each series of Debt Securities as set forth below
(Article Ten).
 
     The Company may discharge all of its obligations (except those set forth
below) to holders of any series of Debt Securities issued under either Indenture
which have not already been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and which
either have become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within
one year (or are to be called for redemption within one year) by depositing with
the Trustee cash or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, as
trust funds in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due the
principal of premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all outstanding Debt
Securities of such series and to make any mandatory sinking fund payments
thereon when due (Section 10.1(B)).
 
     Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Company may also discharge at any time all of its obligations (except those set
forth below) to holders of any series of Debt Securities issued under either
Indenture ("defeasance") only if, among other things: (i) the Company
irrevocably deposits with the Trustee cash or U.S. Government Obligations, or a
combination thereof, as trust funds in an amount certified by a nationally
recognized firm of independent public accountants to be sufficient to pay when
due the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all outstanding
Debt Securities of such series and to make any mandatory sinking fund payments
thereon when due and such funds have been so deposited for 91 days; (ii) such
defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or cause a default
under, any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which
it is bound; and (iii) the Company delivers to the Trustee an opinion of counsel
to the effect that the holders of such series of Debt Securities will not
recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as
a result of such defeasance and that defeasance will not otherwise alter the
United States federal income tax treatment of such holders' principal and
interest payments on such series of Debt Securities. Such opinion of counsel
must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in United
States federal income tax law occurring after the date of the Indenture relating
to the Debt Securities of such series (Section 10.1(C)).
 
     In the event of such discharge and defeasance of a series of Debt
Securities, the holders thereof would be entitled to look only to such trust
funds for payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Debt
Securities.
 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, no discharge or defeasance described above
shall affect the following obligations to or rights of the holders of any series
of Debt Securities: (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Debt
Securities of such series; (ii) rights of substitution of mutilated, defaced,
destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities of such series; (iii) rights of
holders of Debt Securities of such series to receive payments of principal
thereof and premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon, when due and to
receive mandatory sinking fund payments thereon when due, if any, from the trust
funds held by the Trustee; (iv) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities
of the Trustee; (v) the rights of holders of Debt Securities of such series as
beneficiaries with respect to property deposited with the Trustee payable to all
or any of them; and (vi) the obligations of the Company to maintain an office or
agency in respect of Debt Securities of such series.
 
     Modification of Indenture. Each Indenture provides that the Company and the
Trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the
holders of the Debt Securities to (a) evidence the assumption by a successor
corporation of the obligations of the Company under such Indenture, (b) add
covenants or new events of default for the protection of the holders of such
Debt Securities, (c) cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the
Indenture, (d) establish the form and terms of such Debt Securities, (e)
evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee, (f) amend the
Indenture in any other manner which the Company may deem necessary or desirable
and which will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of Debt
Securities issued thereunder or (g), in the case of Senior Debt Securities,
secure such Debt Securities (Section 8.1).
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   17
 
     Each Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of each series then outstanding
(or, in the case of any series of Debt Securities originally issued at a
discount from their stated principal amount, not less than a majority of the
amount of principal thereof that would be due and payable on such date of
determination in the event of an acceleration of the maturity of such series on
such date) and affected, to add any provisions to, or change in any manner or
eliminate any of the provisions of, such Indenture or modify in any manner the
rights of the holders of the Debt Securities of such series, provided that the
Company and the Trustee may not, without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding Debt Security affected thereby, (a) extend the stated maturity of
the principal of any Debt Security, reduce the principal amount thereof, reduce
the rate or extend the time of payment of any interest thereon, reduce or alter
the method of computation of any amount payable on redemption, repayment or
purchase thereof, reduce the portion of the principal amount of any Original
Issue Discount Security (as defined in the Indentures) payable upon acceleration
or provable in bankruptcy, change the coin or currency in which principal and
interest, if any, are payable, impair or affect the right to institute suit for
the enforcement of any payment, repayment or purchase thereof or, if applicable,
adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the holder or (b)
reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of any
series issued under such Indenture, the consent of the holders of which is
required for any such modification (Section 8.2).
 
     The Subordinated Debt Indenture may not be amended to alter the
subordination of any outstanding Subordinated Debt Securities without the
consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding that would be
adversely affected thereby (Section 8.6 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture).
 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE SOLELY TO SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
 
     General. Senior Debt Securities will be issued under the Senior Debt
Indenture, and each series will rank pari passu as to the right of payment of
principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with each other series and
with all other Senior Debt (as defined below) of the Company.
 
     Certain Definitions. For purposes of the following discussion, the
following definitions, together with those under "Provisions Applicable to Both
Senior and Subordinated Debt Securities -- Certain Definitions", are applicable
(Article One of the Senior Debt Indenture).
 
     "Assets" means any property of the Company or a Subsidiary used in
businesses in which the Company and its Subsidiaries are engaged at the date of
the Senior Debt Indenture.
 
     "Attributable Debt" means, with respect to any Sale and Lease-Back
Transaction (as defined below) as of any particular time, the present value of
the obligations of the lessee under the lease for net rental payments during the
term of such lease determined by discounting such net rental payments at the
rate of interest implicit in the terms of such lease.
 
     "Capitalized Lease" means any lease of property where the obligations of
the lessee thereunder are required to be classified and accounted for as a
capitalized lease on a balance sheet of such lessee under generally accepted
accounting principles.
 
     "Consolidated Net Worth" at any date means the amount of total
stockholders' equity that would be shown on a consolidated balance sheet of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of such date.
 
     "Indebtedness" means (i) any indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary
for money borrowed or for the deferred purchase price of property or services
including obligations as lessee under Capitalized Leases, (ii) any such
indebtedness or obligation of others secured by any lien on the assets of the
Company or any Subsidiary, and (iii) any such indebtedness or obligation of
others which the Company or any Subsidiary has directly or indirectly
guaranteed, endorsed with recourse (otherwise than for collection, deposit or
other similar transactions in the ordinary course of business), agreed to
purchase or repurchase or in respect of which the Company or any Subsidiary has
agreed contingently to supply or advance funds.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   18
 
     "Senior Debt" means Indebtedness which is not (i) Indebtedness of the
Company to any Subsidiary and (ii) Indebtedness of the Company which by its
terms is subordinate or junior in any respect to any other Indebtedness or other
obligation of the Company.
 
     Limitations on Liens. The Company will not, nor will it permit any
Subsidiary to, issue, assume, guarantee or suffer to exit any Indebtedness if
such Indebtedness is secured by a mortgage, pledge, security interest or lien
("Secured Debt" and a "mortgage" or "mortgages") upon any properties of the
Company or any Subsidiary or upon any shares of stock or indebtedness of any
Subsidiary (whether such properties, shares or indebtedness is now owned or
hereafter acquired) without in any such case effectively providing that the
Securities shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Secured
Debt, except that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to: (a) mortgages
on any property acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any
Subsidiary after the date of the Senior Debt Indenture which are created within
180 days after such acquisition (or in the case of property constructed or
improved, after the completion and commencement of commercial operation of such
property, whichever is later) to secure or provide for the payment of the
purchase price or cost thereof, provided that in the case of such construction
or improvement the mortgages shall not apply to any property theretofore owned
by the Company or any Subsidiary other than theretofore unimproved real
property; (b) existing mortgages on property acquired (including mortgages on
any property acquired from a Person which is consolidated with or merged with or
into the Company or a Subsidiary) and mortgages outstanding at the time any
corporation becomes a Subsidiary, provided that such mortgages shall only apply
to property owned by such corporation at the time it becomes a Subsidiary or
that is acquired thereafter other than from the Company or another Subsidiary;
(c) mortgages in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary; (d) mortgages in favor
of domestic or foreign governmental bodies to secure advances or other payments
pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure indebtedness incurred to
finance the purchase price or cost of constructing or improving the property
subject to such mortgages, including mortgages to secure Secured Debt of the
pollution control or industrial revenue bond type; and (e) any extension,
renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements), in
whole or in part, of any mortgage referred to in the foregoing clauses (a), (b),
(c) or (d), inclusive, provided that the principal amount of Secured Debt
secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of Secured Debt so secured
at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension,
renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property which
secured the mortgage so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements in such
property). (Section 3.6 of the Senior Debt Indenture).
 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and any Subsidiary may, without
securing the Senior Debt Securities, issue, assume or guarantee Secured Debt
(which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions) in an aggregate
amount which, together with all such Secured Debt and the Attributable Debt in
respect of Sale and Lease-Back Transactions of the Company and its Subsidiaries
existing at such time (other than Sale and Lease-Back Transactions the proceeds
of which have been applied to the retirement of Senior Debt or which are
referred to in the last sentence under "Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back
Transactions"), does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Worth as of a date not
more than 90 days prior to the proposed transaction. (Section 3.6 of the Senior
Debt Indenture).
 
     Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. The Company will not, nor
will it permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement with any Person
providing for the leasing by the Company or a Subsidiary of any property
acquired or placed in service more than 180 days prior to such arrangement
(except for leases of three years or less), whereby such property has been or is
to be sold or transferred by the Company or any Subsidiary to such Person
(herein referred to as a "Sale and Lease-Back Transaction"), unless either: (a)
the Company or such Subsidiary would be entitled to incur Secured Debt on the
property to be leased in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt with respect
to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction without equally and ratably securing the
Senior Debt Securities; or (b) the Company shall apply an amount equal to the
net proceeds from the sale of the property so leased to (i) the retirement
(other than any mandatory retirement), within 90 days of the effective date of
any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, of Securities or of Senior Debt of the
Company or a Subsidiary or (ii) the purchase or acquisition, within twelve
months of such effective date, of Assets. This covenant shall not apply to, and
there shall be excluded from any computation of Attributable Debt under this
covenant, any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction (1) entered into
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   19
 
in connection with an industrial revenue bond or pollution control financing or
(2) between the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries. (Section 3.7 of the
Senior Debt Indenture).
 
     Senior Debt Securities to be Secured in Certain Events. If, upon any
consolidation or merger of the Company, or any sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition of all or of substantially all of its property, permitted by the
Senior Debt Indenture, any property of the Company or a Subsidiary would become
subject to any mortgage or lien (other than those permitted by Section 3.6 of
the Senior Debt Indenture), then the Company, at or prior to the consummation of
any such transaction, shall by supplemental indenture secure all Senior Debt
Securities then outstanding equally and ratably with (or prior to) all
Indebtedness secured thereby (Section 9.2 of the Senior Debt Indenture).
 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE SOLELY TO SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
 
     Subordination. The Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinate and
junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Subordinated Debt
Indenture, to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company. If the Company should
default in the payment of any principal of or premium or interest on any Senior
Indebtedness when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a
date fixed for prepayment or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise, then,
upon written notice of such default to the Company by the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness or any trustee therefor and subject to certain rights of the
Company to dispute such default and subject to proper notification of the
Trustee, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall
have ceased to exist, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property,
securities, by set-off or otherwise) will be made or agreed to be made for
principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt
Securities, or in respect of any redemption, retirement, purchase or other
acquisition of the Subordinated Debt Securities other than those made in capital
stock of the Company (or cash in lieu of fractional shares thereof) (Sections
13.1, 13.4 and 13.5 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture).
 
     "Senior Indebtedness" is defined in Article One of the Subordinated Debt
Indenture as Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company outstanding at any
time except (a) any Indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument
creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that such Indebtedness is not
senior in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt Securities, (b) the
Subordinated Debt Securities, (c) any Indebtedness of the Company to a
wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company, (d) interest accruing after the filing
of a petition initiating certain bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings unless
such interest is an allowed claim enforceable against the Company in a
proceeding under federal or state bankruptcy laws and (e) trade accounts
payable. "Indebtedness" is defined in Article One of the Subordinated Debt
Indenture as, with respect to any Person, (a)(i) the principal of and premium
and interest, if any, on indebtedness for money borrowed of such Person
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or obligations, including any guaranty by
such Person of any indebtedness for money borrowed of any other Person, whether
any such indebtedness or guaranty is outstanding on the date of the Subordinated
Debt Indenture or is thereafter created, assumed or incurred, (ii) the principal
of and premium and interest, if any, on indebtedness for money borrowed,
incurred, assumed or guaranteed by such Person in connection with the
acquisition by it or any of its subsidiaries of any other businesses, properties
or other assets and (iii) lease obligations which such Person capitalizes in
accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13 promulgated
by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other generally accepted
accounting principles as may be from time to time in effect, (b) any other
indebtedness of such Person, including any indebtedness representing the balance
deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property or interest therein,
including any such balance that constitutes a trade account payable, and any
guaranty, endorsement or other contingent obligation of such Person in respect
of any indebtedness of another, which is outstanding on the date of the
Subordinated Debt Indenture or is thereafter created, assumed or incurred by
such Person and (c) any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or
extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described as Indebtedness in clause
(a) or (b) above.
 
     If (i) without the consent of the Company a court shall enter (A) an order
for relief with respect to the Company under the United States federal
bankruptcy laws, (B) a judgment, order or decree adjudging the Company a
bankrupt or insolvent, or (C) an order for relief for reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under the
United States federal bankruptcy laws or state
                                       11
<PAGE>   20
 
insolvency laws or (ii) the Company shall institute proceedings for the entry of
an order for relief with respect to the Company under the United States federal
bankruptcy laws or for an adjudication of insolvency, or shall consent to the
institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or shall file a
petition seeking, or seek or consent to reorganization, arrangement, composition
or similar relief under any applicable law, or shall consent to the filing of
such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official in respect of the Company or
of substantially all of its property, or the Company shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors, then all Senior Indebtedness (including
any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings)
will first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property, is made on account of the principal of, premium,
if any, or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities. In such event,
any payment or distribution on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities, whether in cash,
securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other
corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment
of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in the subordination
provisions with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities, to the payment of
all Senior Indebtedness then outstanding and to any securities issued in respect
thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), which would
otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in
respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities will be paid or delivered directly
to the holders of Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then
existing among such holders until all Senior Indebtedness (including any
interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) has
been paid in full. If any payment or distribution on account of the principal
of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities of
any character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than
securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of
reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to
the extent provided in the subordination provisions with respect to the
Subordinated Debt Securities, to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness then
outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof under any such plan
of reorganization or readjustment), shall be received by the Trustee or any
holder of any Subordinated Debt Securities in contravention of any of the terms
of the Subordinated Debt Indenture, such payment or distribution will be
received in trust for the benefit of, and will be paid over or delivered and
transferred to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding in
accordance with the priorities then existing among such holders for application
to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent
necessary to pay all such Senior Indebtedness in full. In the event of any such
proceeding, after payment in full of all sums owing with respect to Senior
Indebtedness, the holders of Subordinated Debt Securities, together with the
holders of any obligations of the Company ranking on a parity with the
Subordinated Debt Securities, will be entitled to be repaid from the remaining
assets of the Company the amounts at that time due and owing on account of
unpaid principal of or any premium or any interest on the Subordinated Debt
Securities and such other obligations before any payment or other distribution,
whether in cash, property or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital
stock or obligations of the Company ranking junior to the Subordinated Debt
Securities and such other obligations (Section 13.1 of the Subordinated Debt
Indenture).
 
     By reason of such subordination, in the event of the insolvency of the
Company, holders of Senior Indebtedness and holders of other obligations of the
Company that are not subordinated to Senior Indebtedness may receive more,
ratably, than holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities. Such subordination
will not prevent the occurrence of an Event of Default or limit the right of
acceleration in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities.
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
     Pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, should a default
occur with respect to either the Senior Debt Securities or the Subordinated Debt
Securities, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York would be required to
resign as Trustee under one of the Indentures within 90 days of such default
unless such default were cured, duly waived or otherwise eliminated.
 
     Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the Trustee under both
Indentures, is a depositary for funds of, and performs other services for the
Company in the normal course of business.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   21
 
     J. P. Morgan Securities Inc. may act as an underwriter, dealer or agent
with respect to the offer and sale of the Debt Securities. Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company of New York, the Trustee under both Indentures, is affiliated with J. P.
Morgan Securities Inc. by virtue of their common ownership by J. P. Morgan & Co.
Incorporated.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
GENERAL
 
     The Company may sell Offered Debt Securities to or through underwriters or
dealers, and also may sell Offered Debt Securities directly to one or more other
purchasers or through agents. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will set
forth the names of any underwriters or agents involved in the sale of the
Offered Debt Securities and any applicable commissions or discounts.
 
     Underwriters, dealers or agents may offer and sell the Offered Debt
Securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to
time at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. In connection with the sale of
the Offered Debt Securities, underwriters or agents may be deemed to have
received compensation from the Company in the form of underwriting discounts or
commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the Offered Debt
Securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters or agents may sell the
Offered Debt Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive
compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the
underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.
 
     Offered Debt Securities, when first issued, will have no established
trading market. Any underwriters or agents to or through whom Offered Debt
Securities are sold by the Company for public offering and sale may make a
market in such Offered Debt Securities, but such underwriters or agents will not
be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without
notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for
any Offered Debt Securities.
 
     Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the distribution of
Offered Debt Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and
commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the
Offered Debt Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commission under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers or agents may be
entitled, under agreements entered into with the Company, to indemnification
against or contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act.
 
DELAYED DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS
 
     If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will
authorize underwriters or other persons acting as the Company's agents to
solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase Offered Debt Securities from
the Company pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future
date. Institutions with which such contracts may be made include commercial and
savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies,
educational and charitable institutions and others, but in all cases will be
subject to the approval of the Company. The obligations of any purchaser under
any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of Offered
Debt Securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws
of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The underwriters and
such agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or
performance of such contracts.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
     The legality of the Offered Debt Securities, as well as certain tax matters
in connection therewith, are being passed upon for the Company by Wright,
Lindsey & Jennings, Little Rock, Arkansas. Certain legal matters in connection
with the Offered Debt Securities may be passed upon for any underwriters,
dealers or agents by Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., Houston, Texas.
                                       13
<PAGE>   22
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements and schedules of J.B. Hunt Transport
Services, Inc. and subsidiaries, as of December 31, 1992 and 1991, and for each
of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1992, incorporated by
reference herein and elsewhere in the registration statement have been
incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance
upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick, independent certified public accountants,
incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing. To the extent that KPMG Peat Marwick audits and
reports on consolidated financial statements of the Company at future dates, and
consents to the use of their report thereon, such financial statements also will
be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement in reliance upon
their report and said authority. The report of KPMG Peat Marwick covering the
December 31, 1991 financial statements refers to a change in revenue recognition
method for freight in transit and the report of KPMG Peat Marwick covering the
December 31, 1992 financial statements refers to a change in method of
accounting for the cost of tires in service.
 
     With respect to the unaudited interim financial information for the periods
ended March 31, 1993 and 1992 incorporated by reference herein, the independent
certified public accountants have reported that they applied limited procedures
in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information.
However, their separate report included in the Company's quarterly report on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1993 and incorporated by reference
herein, state that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that
interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their
reports on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature
of the review procedures applied. The accountants are not subject to the
liability provisions of section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their
report on the unaudited interim financial information because that report is not
a "report" or a "part" of the registration statement prepared or certified by
the accountants within the meaning of sections 7 and 11 of the Act.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   23
 
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  NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE
OFFERING COVERED BY THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS. IF GIVEN OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR UNDERWRITERS. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE
PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY, THE NOTES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE, OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM, IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER OR
THEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS
NOT BEEN ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE
PROSPECTUS OR IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        PAGE
                                        ----
<S>                                     <C>
The Company...........................  S-2
Use of Proceeds.......................  S-4
Selected Historical Consolidated
  Financial and Operating Data........  S-5
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges....  S-6
Description of Notes..................  S-6
Underwriting..........................  S-7
Legal Matters.........................  S-8
Experts...............................  S-8
Available Information.................  S-8
 
                 PROSPECTUS
Available Information.................    2
Incorporation of Certain Information
  by Reference........................    2
The Company...........................    3
Use of Proceeds.......................    3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges....    3
Description of Debt Securities........    3
Plan of Distribution..................   13
Legal Opinions........................   13
Experts...............................   14
</TABLE>
 
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
             ------------------------------------------------------
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                                  $100,000,000
 
                                 J.B. HUNT LOGO
 
                              J.B. HUNT TRANSPORT
                                 SERVICES, INC.
 
                                     % SENIOR
                                 NOTES DUE 2006
                            ------------------------
 
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
                            ------------------------
                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
 
                               J.P. MORGAN & CO.
 
                           MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
 
                         BANCAMERICA ROBERTSON STEPHENS
                                AUGUST   , 1998
 
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