Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse Truck Dispatch
Freight route from Anchorage, AK to Deadhorse, AK (847 miles). It is the main route to North Slope oilfield work on the Dalton Highway, a demanding, specialized haul.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Anchorage to Deadhorse?
Anchorage to Deadhorse is an 847-mile lane paying about $2,710 - $3,388 per load, near $3.20 - $4.00 a mile. Freight is mostly oilfield equipment, fuel products and heavy equipment.
- Distance
- 847 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $2,710 - $3,388
- Rate per mile
- $3.20 - $4.00
- Transit time
- 2-3 days
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this specialized haul-road lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse
Anchorage to Deadhorse is an 847-mile, multi-day run north, the last stretch running the Dalton Highway (the 'Haul Road') to the farthest-north point reachable by road in the US. Built in just 5 months in 1974 to supply Trans-Alaska Pipeline construction, the highway is dominated by commercial trucks hauling fuel, equipment and supplies to the Prudhoe Bay oil fields, where Hilcorp's newly announced Project Taiga targets 40,000 barrels a day of new production.
Origin
Anchorage, AK
Destination
Deadhorse, AK
Distance
847 miles
Transit Time
2-3 days
Average Rate
$2,710 - $3,388
Rate per Mile
$3.20 - $4.00
847-mile lane, a multi-day run ending on the Dalton Highway
The Dalton Highway was built in 5 months in 1974 to supply Trans-Alaska Pipeline construction
Hilcorp's new Project Taiga targets 40,000 barrels a day of additional Prudhoe Bay production
Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse: route facts a driver should know
The Dalton Highway sees about 3,700 trucks a month, even in winter
The Dalton Highway runs 414 miles from Livengood to Deadhorse near Prudhoe Bay, and roughly 3,700 large trucks travel it each month, even through the Arctic winter. This is one of the most remote roads in North America, so plan your trip with real margin.
Source: The MILEPOST, Dalton Highway route guide. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Atigun Pass has 40 to 50 avalanche paths
Atigun Pass on the Dalton Highway has 40 to 50 known avalanche paths, and Alaska DOT uses 11-foot avalanche guns to bring down snow before it can slide onto the road. Check current pass conditions before you head north in winter.
Source: Bureau of Land Management, Dalton Highway visitor guide. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Carry two full-size spare tires
The Bureau of Land Management recommends carrying two full-size spare tires mounted on rims for any trip on the Dalton Highway, given how far apart services and tire shops are along the route.
Source: Bureau of Land Management, Dalton Highway visitor guide. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse?
About $963.50 this week. The lane is 847 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 130 gallons, and diesel is averaging $7.39 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 847 mi
- Diesel needed
- 130 gal
- Price used
- $7.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $963.50
Common Freight Types
Oilfield equipment, fuel products and heavy equipment fill the trailers heading to the North Slope.
- Oilfield Equipment
- Drilling Materials
- Industrial Supplies
What makes the Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse lane difficult?
The Dalton Highway can close without warning; a June 2025 washout at milepost 315 shut the road and stranded roughly 300 truckers and companies
The Dalton Highway can close without warning; a June 2025 washout at milepost 315 shut the road and stranded roughly 300 truckers and companies.
Extreme cold and remote conditions demand specialized equipment and preparation
Extreme cold and remote conditions demand specialized equipment and preparation.
The length requires a full multi-day trip plan with fuel and rest stops mapped in advance
The length requires a full multi-day trip plan with fuel and rest stops mapped in advance.
What freight moves on the Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse lane?
What travels between Anchorage and Deadhorse, and why the oil fields matter here.
Primary Commodities
- •Oilfield Equipment
- •Drilling Materials
- •Industrial Supplies
Secondary Commodities
- •Oilfield equipment and supplies
- •Fuel and petroleum products
- •Heavy equipment
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Oilfield equipment (steady)
- •Fuel products (steady)
- •Heavy equipment (seasonal peaks)
When is the Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse lane busiest?
Steady oilfield operations keep this lane busy year-round.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
Little seasonal dip; oilfield operations run year-round.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Freight can climb as operators stage supplies before the harshest winter months.
Produce Season?
Not a factor on this lane.
- •Summer oilfield resupply season
- •Winter ice-road and heavy-equipment freight
- •Year-round steady oilfield freight
Hurricane Risk?
None. Extreme cold and road washouts are this corridor's real risks.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Oilfield freight on this lane runs year-round, even through the Arctic winter, though winter trips take longer and carry more real risk from weather and avalanche conditions at Atigun Pass.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need haul-road expertise.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
3-5 days out is typical for a haul this long and remote.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical oilfield equipment freight tends to pay a strong premium given the specialized haul-road expertise required.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fixed delivery window without checking current Dalton Highway conditions first.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse
- •
Price this lane for what it is: one of the most remote hauls in the country. The Dalton Highway alone runs 414 miles with few services.
- •
Check Atigun Pass conditions before you head north in winter. Avalanche control can close the road with little notice.
- •
Carry two full-size mounted spare tires. A flat far from Livengood or Deadhorse can strand a load for hours.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse lane?
Prudhoe Bay's ongoing oilfield operations make a southbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Deadhorse, AK
- •Regional distribution hubs near Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With Hilcorp's Project Taiga adding new production, backhaul freight for haul-road specialists should keep growing.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Secure the Deadhorse return before you leave whenever you can. Fairbanks is the main domestic reload hub. Coldfoot/central Dalton chances are specialized. Take them only with confirmed freight.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Prudhoe Bay's oilfield operations generate real return freight, mostly equipment and supplies heading back south.
- •
Reconstruction work is planned on Dalton Highway mile markers 109 to 144 starting in 2026. Check current construction status before your return trip.
- •
Book Deadhorse-area return loads well in advance. This is not a market where you can expect same-day backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay / Deadhorse lane?
Three notes before this Haul Road run.
Check current Dalton Highway conditions before departing; washouts and closures happen with little warning.
Confirm cold-weather equipment readiness before this haul-road run.
Plan fuel and rest stops carefully given the remote stretches with no services.
Before you book Anchorage to Prudhoe Bay, confirm you're carrying two mounted spare tires and check current Atigun Pass avalanche and weather conditions.
Anchorage to Deadhorse Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Dalton Highway, and Prudhoe Bay's oil operations.
The lane data shows about $2,710 - $3,388 per load, or $3.20 - $4.00 a mile, across 847 miles.
Alaska's 'Haul Road,' built in 5 months in 1974 to supply Trans-Alaska Pipeline construction, running to Deadhorse, the farthest-north point reachable by road in the US.
Yes. A June 2025 washout at milepost 315 shut the road and stranded roughly 300 truckers and companies.
Reasonably, for haul-road-qualified carriers, given steady and growing oilfield operations.
Other Alaska freight lanes we dispatch
- Anchorage to Kenai
- Anchorage to Fairbanks
- Anchorage to Seward
- Anchorage to Valdez
- Anchorage to Juneau
- Anchorage to Kodiak
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
Read the case studyNeed help running Anchorage, AK to Deadhorse, AK consistently?
Running Anchorage to Deadhorse often? Ask about a free custom growth plan.