Oil boom fueling pickup sales

Increasing oil and natural gas production is spurring pickup sales, according to a report from USA TODAY and the Detroit Free Press.

“Every time we add a number of wells, we add a lease operator — and that requires a truck,” said Pat Gibson, vice president of Michigan-based West Bay Exploration.

General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota reported truck sales were up at least 10 percent in March or the first quarter, according to the report.

Don Johnson, GM’s vice president for U.S. sales, said a lot of the increase in heavy-duty truck sales can be attributed to the oil and gas industry.

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