Los Angeles to San Francisco Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Los Angeles, CA to San Francisco, CA (380 miles). Connects LA to the Bay Area's tech/consumer market via I-5.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Los Angeles to San Francisco?
Los Angeles to San Francisco is a 380-mile lane paying about $874 - $1,026 per load, near $2.30 - $2.70 a mile. The lane data lists transit as same-day, 6 hours. Freight is mostly technology equipment, consumer goods and retail distribution.
- Distance
- 380 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $874 - $1,026
- Rate per mile
- $2.30 - $2.70
- Transit time
- Same day / 6 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and Port of Oakland volume. See our dispatch fee structure.
Los Angeles to San Francisco
Los Angeles to San Francisco is a 380-mile run north, mostly on I-5 then CA-580/CA-880, about 6 hours of driving. The Bay Area's own container gateway, the Port of Oakland, processed 1.54 million TEU through the first eight months of 2025, up 1.7% from the year before, so freight moving into the Bay often connects to drayage and transload work around Oakland as much as to the tech-heavy consumer freight San Francisco itself is known for. I-5 through the Central Valley is flat and fast, but the final stretch into the Bay Area brings some of the state's heaviest traffic, especially through the Altamont Pass and into Oakland.
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Destination
San Francisco, CA
Distance
380 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 6 hrs
Average Rate
$874 - $1,026
Rate per Mile
$2.30 - $2.70
380-mile lane, typically a same-day run on I-5 and CA-580/880
The Port of Oakland moved 1.54 million TEU in the first 8 months of 2025
The Altamont Pass and Bay Area approach carry some of California's heaviest traffic
Los Angeles to San Francisco: route facts a driver should know
The Port of Oakland is running soft into 2026
The Port of Oakland's total TEU volume ran 4.5 percent below the same period in 2025 through August 2026, with full imports down 4.6 percent even as full exports held roughly flat. Check current volume trends before assuming strong port-connected demand.
Source: Port of Oakland, monthly cargo statistics. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
CARB's Clean Truck Check now runs twice a year
California's Clean Truck Check program requires most diesel trucks over 14,000 pounds to pass emissions testing twice a year, with deadlines tied to DMV registration, applying to out-of-state trucks operating in California too.
Source: California Air Resources Board, Clean Truck Check overview. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A medium lane: plan for a real HOS break
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 380-mile lane runs close to 6 hours, so plan your break into the schedule.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Los Angeles to San Francisco?
About $481.84 this week. The lane is 380 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 58 gallons, and diesel is averaging $8.24 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
- 380 mi
- Diesel needed
- 58 gal
- Price used
- $8.24/gal
- Fuel cost
- $481.84
Common Freight Types
Technology equipment, consumer goods and retail distribution fill the trailers heading north.
- Technology Equipment
- Consumer Goods
- Retail Distribution
What makes the Los Angeles to San Francisco lane difficult?
The Altamont Pass and Bay Area approach can add significant time at rush hour
The Altamont Pass and Bay Area approach can add significant time at rush hour.
Bay Area delivery windows and dock access can be tight in dense urban areas
Bay Area delivery windows and dock access can be tight in dense urban areas.
Port of Oakland gate congestion can slow a drayage pickup
Port of Oakland gate congestion can slow a drayage pickup.
What freight moves on the Los Angeles to San Francisco lane?
What travels between Los Angeles and the Bay Area, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Technology Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
- •Retail Distribution
Secondary Commodities
- •Port of Oakland drayage and transload freight
- •Technology equipment
- •E-commerce fulfillment freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Technology equipment (steady all year)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge, October-December)
- •Retail distribution (steady)
When is the Los Angeles to San Francisco lane busiest?
Steady tech freight softens the usual retail seasonality on this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
January and February soften after the holiday rush, though steady technology-sector freight keeps the lane from going quiet.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and retail distribution climb from October through December, and Oakland's import volume often rises ahead of the holidays too.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor; technology and consumer freight drive this lane more than agriculture.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady technology-equipment freight all year
- •Port import surges
Hurricane Risk?
None. This is a Pacific coastal route with no hurricane exposure; winter storms and Altamont Pass wind are the real weather risks.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Port-connected freight into the Bay Area has run somewhat soft through 2026, though general distribution freight stays steady year-round.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Los Angeles to San Francisco lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need extra dock time.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for this steady lane.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical technology-sector freight and priority Oakland drayage tend to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful pricing a Bay Area rush-hour delivery window without extra time built in.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Los Angeles to San Francisco
- •
Check current Port of Oakland volume trends before quoting port-connected freight, since 2026 volume has run below 2025's pace.
- •
Confirm your truck's Clean Truck Check status before departing.
- •
This lane runs close to 6 hours, so plan your required HOS break into the schedule.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Los Angeles to San Francisco lane?
Southbound freight out of the Bay Area, including Oakland port drayage, runs steady.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the southbound load:
- •San Francisco, CA
- •Regional distribution hubs near San Francisco
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
Port of Oakland drayage freight is a reliable backup if a direct backhaul is thin.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Port of Oakland import containers moving south to the Inland Empire are a reliable backhaul. Central Valley farm freight through Stockton and Fresno also fills southbound trucks.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
The Bay Area's dense tech and distribution economy gives this lane real backhaul options beyond port-connected freight alone.
- •
Check current Port of Oakland export trends, since exports have held steadier than imports through 2026.
- •
Confirm Clean Truck Check compliance covers the full round trip.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Los Angeles to San Francisco lane?
Three notes before you hit the Bay Area traffic.
Avoid a Bay Area arrival during weekday evening rush hour if the dock allows flexibility.
Confirm dock access rules before a downtown San Francisco or Oakland delivery; urban docks are tighter than suburban ones.
If reloading through Oakland, check current gate wait times before you plan your day.
Ask about staging or drop-yard options before a downtown San Francisco delivery.
Before you book Los Angeles to San Francisco, check current Port of Oakland volume trends if your load is port-connected.
Los Angeles to San Francisco Lane FAQs
Answers on driving time, Bay Area traffic, and the Port of Oakland.
The lane data shows about $874 - $1,026 per load, or $2.30 - $2.70 a mile, across 380 miles.
It moved 1.54 million TEU in the first eight months of 2025, up 1.7% year over year. Expect gate lines during an import surge, especially ahead of the holidays.
Yes, especially through the Altamont Pass and the final approach into Oakland or San Francisco. Plan around weekday evening rush hour when you can.
Reasonably. Steady technology-sector freight and Port of Oakland drayage both give you options for a southbound return load.
Other California freight lanes we dispatch
- Los Angeles to San Diego
- Los Angeles to Las Vegas
- Los Angeles to Sacramento
- Los Angeles to Fresno
- Los Angeles to Dallas
- Los Angeles to Houston
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
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