Hodges Trucking has a rich history that spans more than 75 years. Founded in 1932 by Bill Hodges, the company started business with only three trucks in the height of the Great Depression.
Hodges’ three sons, Jack, J.D. and Clarence, learned the business from the ground up, starting as “swampers” or general helpers. The three brothers climbed the company ladder and purchased the business from their father in 1964.
Hodges continued to set new standards for the Oklahoma oilfield and trucking industry by bringing in large mobile cranes to streamline the process of transporting rigs from one location to another. Over time, the company expanded and began to transport a variety of equipment including trains, bridges and airplanes. It adopted the slogan, “If there is anything that can be moved, we can move it.”
A new manufacturing and maintenance facility was completed in September 1975. The facility, which also served as Hodges’ corporate headquarters, doubled in size just a few months later. A heavy haul division was added in 1991, enabling the company to transport loads in excess of 500,000 pounds.
Since January 2006, Hodges has operated as a wholly owned subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy Corporation. Joe and Jimmy Hodges currently lead the company, now in its fourth generation of family management. Through the efforts of generations of dedicated employees, Hodges has grown into one of the largest heavy equipment transportation firms in the world. With a fleet of more than 130 trucks and 13 cranes, Hodges has terminals in Elk City, Enid, Woodward, Wilburton and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Bryan and Alvarado, Texas.
Look over the timeline below to see the history of Hodges Trucking.