Now, that shortage is about 80,000 truck drivers, he said.
“During the pandemic, we all shut down — and not all (drivers) returned back to the market,” he said.
Robert Ragan is chief financial officer of Tulsa-based Melton Trucking Lines, which operates about 1,200 trucks and moves more flatbed freight than any other trucking company in the country, he said.
Melton had about 1,350 drivers when the pandemic hit, but the company lost about 250 as it wore on, Ragan said.
“Not to get political here, but when the government aid and support came available for workers, many of our guys choose to receive the benefits and not work (anymore),” he said.
Ragan said Melton has increased driver pay by 20% in the past 10 months. Many are now making $75,000 per year, he said.
“And we’re still having a hard time filling the trucks (with drivers),” he said.
“Our labor costs are up significantly, so we’re of course passing it on to our customers.”
Oklahoma has about 10,000 registered licensed truck drivers that claim residence in the state, Newport said.
The majority of drivers, he said, are independent contractors, who often spend two to four weeks on the road at a time.
