Keep on Trucking | Video

Alex Hagan | 12/6/2012

There is plenty of economic growth that goes right along with the oil boom in our state. Trucking is one of the industries that capitalizes on the need to get things from here to there and the need for transporting goods has never been greater.

When a state`s economy is doing well, usually that means the trucking industry is doing the same. Goods such as food, building materials, and oil equipment are needed out west and that means deliveries are on the rise.

"Everything that we purchase on a day to day basis comes by truck so when the trucking industry is doing well, that means the economy and retail sales are doing well," said Tom Balzer with the North Dakota Motor Carrier Association.

Midwest Motor Express is one of many truck companies with business picking up recently. They had a 20 percent increase in deliveries from 2010 to 2011.

"It`s been very good, a lot of freight up for the oil companies up there, Williston, Dickinson, Minot. Building materials," said truck driver Robert B. Mattingley.

Midwest Motor Express has been delivering freight for almost 100 years, but they are definitely not the only ones out on the road. Highway Patrol officers say there are more than 700 new truck companies since the boom started. There are more than 2,000 companies in the state.

"Transport goods from North dakota to places outside of North Dakota, and then again goods coming from other places into the state of North Dakota," said Cpt. Eldon Mehrer with the North Dakota Highway Patrol.

But with a growing economy, comes some challenges. Finding truck drivers is a hassle when companies have to compete with the oil industry.

"Williston North Dakota is probably our highest wage base within out entire company for the driver pool," said Midwest Motor Express President.

Finding destinations is hard as well.

"Lot of rural deliveries too, the zip code footprints in western North Dakota are much larger than you see just about anywhere else," Kling said.

As long as energy and agriculture are successful in the state, the trucking industry will continue to boom along with it. Midwest Motor Express also works with trucking companies outside of the North Dakota service area as well.

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