J.B. Hunt (JBHT) was climbing in after hours trading following the transport company’s better-than-expected first-quarter earnings report.

The company said it earned $67.7 million, or 57 cents per share, compared to 40 cents a share in the year-ago period. Revenue grew 17%  to  $1.17 billion, compared to $1 billion in the first quarter of 2011.

Analysts were expecting the company to report a 30% increase in earnings to 52 cents a share, on  revenue of $1.15 billion.