Energy Workers to Compete with Record Number of Memorial Day Travelers

Amidst those energy trucks hauling equipment to and from sites, whether it’s oil and gas well sites or wind farms or even downed utility lines will be a record number of Americans this Memorial Day weekend.

It’s what AAA is projecting as it indicates an estimated 39.3 million Americans will take a trip 50 miles or more.

“The expected spike in Memorial Day travel mirrors the positive growth seen throughout the travel industry this year,” said Chuck Mai, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “Higher confidence has led to more consumer spending and many of us are putting that extra cash into travel over the holiday.”

The more than 39 million travelers is a million more than last year and also will create the highest Memorial Day travel volume since 2005.

The 2017 forecast is 29 percent higher than the 2009 post-recession low of 30.5 million.

More than 88 percent of this year’s travelers will be going by car or truck while 7.4 percent will travel by air. The number of those traveling by car, 34.6 million is an increase of 2.4 percent over a year ago. The number of air travelers is an increase of 5.5 percent over last year.

At the same time, drivers will pay the highest Memorial Day gas prices since 2015. In addition, airfares, car rental rates and mid-range hotels are all trending higher than last Memorial Day.