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Tulsa, OK

Freight hub guide — rates, shippers, parking, and opportunities for owner-operators in Tulsa.

1,995

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Southwest

Region

Who Operates Out of Tulsa

1,995 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Tulsa. Here is how that base breaks down by fleet size — useful for judging whether you would be competing against owner-operators or against fleets with dedicated freight locked up.

941

Owner-operators (1 truck)

537

Small fleets (2-5)

191

Mid fleets (6-20)

95

Large fleets (20+)

47% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 168 are registered to haul hazardous materials.

Source: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census (active carriers, US physical addresses), retrieved 2026-07-18.

Average Rates Per Mile

Equipment TypeRate / Mile
Dry Van$2.51
Reefer$2.92
Flatbed$3.18

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

I-44US-412/Broken Arrow ExpresswayUS-75US-169I-244US-64

Top Industries

Aerospace and aviation
Energy (oil and gas)
Manufacturing

Major Distribution Centers

Amazon TUL1
QuikTrip corporate distribution
Dollar Tree DC Marietta OK

Top Shippers

A
American Airlines
S
Spirit AeroSystems
O
ONEOK
Q
QuikTrip Corporation
U
Unit Corporation

Nearby Ports

Nearest major port accessible via I-44

Truck Stops

QuikTrip (I-44 Exit 222)
Pilot Travel Center (I-44 Exit 227)
Love's #347 (I-44 Exit 215)

Challenges

  • I-44 turnpike tolls adding to operating costs, aerospace loads requiring oversized permits, Inner Dispersal Loop construction in downtown, and extreme weather (ice storms in winter, tornadoes in spring).
  • Extreme summer heat can cause tire blowouts and equipment stress
  • Cross-border freight at Laredo and El Paso creates long wait times
  • Oil price volatility affects freight demand in energy-dependent areas

Opportunities

  • Cross-border NAFTA freight through Laredo and El Paso is enormous
  • Texas is the highest freight-generating state in the US
  • Year-round operations with minimal weather disruptions
  • Oil and gas industry creates premium-rate flatbed and hotshot demand

Seasonal Freight Patterns

Cross-border produce peaks January through April. Oil and gas freight follows rig counts year-round. Holiday retail surge runs September through December. Summer heat (June-August) requires attention to tire and equipment maintenance.

Trucking in Tulsa — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Tulsa: Dry Van $2.51, Reefer $2.92, Flatbed $3.18. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.
Truck parking in Tulsa is rated "fair." Popular stops include QuikTrip (I-44 Exit 222), Pilot Travel Center (I-44 Exit 227), Love's #347 (I-44 Exit 215). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.
Top shippers operating in the Tulsa freight market include American Airlines, Spirit AeroSystems, ONEOK, QuikTrip Corporation, Unit Corporation. Key industries driving freight demand are aerospace and aviation, energy (oil and gas), manufacturing.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Tulsa include: I-44 turnpike tolls adding to operating costs, aerospace loads requiring oversized permits, Inner Dispersal Loop construction in downtown, and extreme weather (ice storms in winter, tornadoes in spring).; Extreme summer heat can cause tire blowouts and equipment stress; Cross-border freight at Laredo and El Paso creates long wait times. However, opportunities include cross-border nafta freight through laredo and el paso is enormous.

Nearby Freight Hubs

Other Cities in Oklahoma

Running freight in Tulsa? Get dispatched.

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