WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Three of the largest truckload carriers in the United States, including J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., posted lower quarterly profits, but said they were optimistic about a gradual recovery in 2010.

Trucking companies have been hit by weak demand since the fourth quarter of 2007 as freight volumes dropped due to industries cutting production and consumers backtracking on spending.

Knight Transportation Inc. and Werner Enterprises were the other companies to report results.

Werner, in a statement, said, ''The company is planning for a better relative freight pricing market and more freight opportunities in 2010 compared to what transpired in the first half of 2009.'' It added that shipment volumes continued to stabilize in fourth quarter.

Knight's Chief Executive Kevin Knight said the truckload freight market was in the early stages of a turnaround.

The companies expressed concern over excess capacity and pricing in the market, with Werner saying excess capacity continues to be supported by lender leniency, which was not ultimately sustainable.

JB Hunt's fourth-quarter net income fell 22 percent to $41.7 million, or 32 cents a share. Total operating revenue fell marginally to $877 million.

Analysts were expecting earnings of 32 cents a share on revenue of $840.5 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

''All of our business segments experienced pricing pressure and resulting margin contraction aggravated by the on-going recession,'' said JB Hunt's CEO Kirk Thompson.

The trucking segment's profitability is ''hindered by freight rates that are insufficient to produce acceptable financial results,'' the company said.