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July 12, 2006 2:45 PM, EDT

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hesapeake Energy Corp. has acquired Hodges Trucking Co., the Oklahoman newspaper reported Tuesday.

Ownership of the trucking company will help Chesapeake reduce its costs and more quickly move its drilling rigs from one well site to another, the Oklahoma City paper said.

The purchase price was not released, the Oklahoman reported.

Hodges will operate as a subsidiary of Chesapeake and most Hodges employees will remain with the company. Chesapeake already has begun hiring more trucking workers, the paper said.

Hodges has 100 tractors and about 150 trailers, according to American Trucking Associations’ 2005 fleet directory.