Los Angeles to Seattle Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA (1135 miles). Connects LA's port complex to the Pacific Northwest's port/tech sector via I-5.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Los Angeles to Seattle?
Los Angeles to Seattle is a 1,135-mile lane paying about $2,384 - $2,838 per load, near $2.10 - $2.50 a mile. The lane data lists transit as 2 days. Freight is mostly consumer goods, technology equipment and retail distribution.
- Distance
- 1135 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $2,384 - $2,838
- Rate per mile
- $2.10 - $2.50
- Transit time
- 2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 30-35%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and Northwest Seaport Alliance volume. See our dispatch fee structure.
Los Angeles to Seattle
Los Angeles to Seattle is a 1,135-mile, 2-day run north, mostly on I-5 the whole way. The destination end ships through the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the combined Seattle and Tacoma port operation, which handled 3.16 million TEU of container volume with 631,230 intermodal lifts through the reported period of 2025, though tariff-driven swings pushed some months up sharply and others down. I-5 through Oregon and Washington runs through mountainous terrain in spots and can see winter weather, especially around the Siskiyou Pass near the California-Oregon line.
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Destination
Seattle, WA
Distance
1135 miles
Transit Time
2 days
Average Rate
$2,384 - $2,838
Rate per Mile
$2.10 - $2.50
1,135-mile lane, typically a 2-day run entirely on I-5
Feeds the Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle + Tacoma), which handled 3.16 million TEU in 2025
I-5 crosses the Siskiyou Pass near the California-Oregon line, which can see winter weather
Los Angeles to Seattle: route facts a driver should know
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 long lane: plan for a real HOS break
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 1,135-mile lane runs well over one driving day, so plan multiple breaks and possibly an overnight stop.
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 Seattle?
About $1365.14 this week. The lane is 1,135 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 175 gallons, and diesel is averaging $7.82 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 the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 1,135 mi
- Diesel needed
- 175 gal
- Price used
- $7.82/gal
- Fuel cost
- $1365.14
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, technology equipment and retail distribution fill the trailers heading north.
- Consumer Goods
- Technology Equipment
- Retail Distribution
What makes the Los Angeles to Seattle lane difficult?
The Siskiyou Pass near the California-Oregon border can see snow or ice in winter
The Siskiyou Pass near the California-Oregon border can see snow or ice in winter.
Port volume at the Northwest Seaport Alliance has swung with tariff policy through 2025, so freight availability can vary
Port volume at the Northwest Seaport Alliance has swung with tariff policy through 2025, so freight availability can vary.
A 2-day haul needs a proper rest period built in
Understanding and preparing for this challenge helps optimize your operations and maximize profitability on this lane.
What freight moves on the Los Angeles to Seattle lane?
What travels between Los Angeles and Seattle, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Technology Equipment
- •Retail Distribution
Secondary Commodities
- •Northwest Seaport Alliance drayage and transload freight
- •Technology equipment
- •Retail distribution
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Technology equipment (steady)
- •Retail distribution (steady)
When is the Los Angeles to Seattle lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady tech freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady technology-sector freight into Seattle.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this cross-country lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady technology-equipment freight
- •Port import surges
Hurricane Risk?
None; this is a Pacific coastal route. Winter storms over the Siskiyou Pass are the real weather risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Distribution freight on this lane runs steady year-round, with winter conditions through Northern California and Oregon adding real time from November through March.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Los Angeles to Seattle lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-4 days out is typical for this 2-day haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical technology-sector freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful pricing a winter Siskiyou Pass crossing without a weather plan.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Los Angeles to Seattle
- •
Plan your route and any overnight stop before you leave Los Angeles. This lane runs well beyond a single driving day.
- •
Confirm your truck's Clean Truck Check status before departing California.
- •
Winter conditions through Northern California and Oregon can add real time. Check conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Los Angeles to Seattle lane?
The Northwest Seaport Alliance's port volume keeps a southbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the southbound load:
- •Seattle, WA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Seattle
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 30-35%
Check current Seattle-Tacoma port drayage freight; volume has swung with tariff policy through 2025, so it pays to check before you commit.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Port of Seattle/Tacoma import containers moving south, plus Boeing supply-chain freight, give fairly steady southbound loads. This lane has more deadhead risk than shorter West Coast runs, though.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
The Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle and Tacoma combined) gives this lane strong port-connected backhaul options.
- •
Consider a mid-route reload in the Bay Area or Portland if a full round trip doesn't pencil out on one load.
- •
Check winter road conditions for your return trip too.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Los Angeles to Seattle lane?
Three notes before this Pacific Northwest run.
Check Siskiyou Pass conditions before a winter run; chains are sometimes required.
If reloading through Seattle or Tacoma, confirm current port volume, since it has swung month to month through 2025.
Plan your required rest period into the 2-day schedule before you leave LA.
Keep paperwork current through Oregon and Washington; both run active I-5 weigh station enforcement.
Before you book Los Angeles to Seattle, plan your route with a possible overnight stop, since this lane runs well beyond a single driving day.
Los Angeles to Seattle Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Siskiyou Pass, and the Seattle-Tacoma ports.
The lane data shows about $2,384 - $2,838 per load, or $2.10 - $2.50 a mile, across 1,135 miles.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance, the combined Seattle and Tacoma operation, handled 3.16 million TEU with 631,230 intermodal lifts in 2025, though tariff-driven swings pushed monthly volume up and down through the year.
It can see winter weather, including chain requirements, near the California-Oregon line. Check conditions before a winter run.
Generally reasonable, thanks to steady technology-sector freight and port drayage, though check current port volume since it has been variable through 2025.
Other California freight lanes we dispatch
- Los Angeles to Denver
- Los Angeles to Houston
- Los Angeles to Salt Lake City
- Los Angeles to Sacramento Valley/Stockton
- Los Angeles to Chicago
- Los Angeles to Reno
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
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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