Honolulu to Oakland Truck Dispatch
Freight route from Honolulu, HI to Oakland, CA (2400 miles). Another main mainland gateway next to Los Angeles for Matson/Pasha ocean freight.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Honolulu to Oakland?
Honolulu to Oakland is a 2,400-mile ocean lane paying about $5,400 - $6,600 per container load, near $2.25 - $2.75 a mile, with typical transit of 5-7 days by ship.
- Distance
- 2400 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $5,400 - $6,600
- Rate per mile
- $2.25 - $2.75
- Transit time
- Ocean / 5-7 days
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers reflect 2026 ocean-freight pricing on Matson's Northern California route. See our dispatch fee structure.
Honolulu to Oakland
Honolulu to Oakland is a 2,400-mile ocean freight lane, typically 5-7 days by container ship, connecting Hawaii's main port to Matson's Northern California gateway terminal. This lane feeds Bay Area distribution and agricultural-export freight into Hawaii's retail and construction supply chain.
Origin
Honolulu, HI
Destination
Oakland, CA
Distance
2400 miles
Transit Time
Ocean / 5-7 days
Average Rate
$5,400 - $6,600
Rate per Mile
$2.25 - $2.75
2,400-mile ocean lane, typically 5-7 days by container ship
Connects to Matson's Northern California gateway terminal in Oakland
Feeds Bay Area distribution freight into Hawaii's retail supply chain
Honolulu to Oakland: route facts a driver should know
The Port of Oakland handled over 2.25 million TEUs in 2025
The Port of Oakland handled 2,253,976 TEUs in full-year 2025, essentially flat compared with 2024, with a roughly even split between imports and exports.
Source: Port of Oakland, 2025 cargo volume announcement. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Matson runs its own exclusive Oakland marine terminal
Matson operates an exclusive marine terminal in Oakland running sailings to Hawaii roughly every 14 days, including roll-on/roll-off service for non-containerized wheeled freight and trailers.
Source: Matson, Port of Oakland service overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Honolulu to Oakland?
About $2886.65 this week. The lane is 2,400 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 369 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
- 2,400 mi
- Diesel needed
- 369 gal
- Price used
- $7.82/gal
- Fuel cost
- $2886.65
Common Freight Types
General consumer goods, building materials and agricultural-export-connected freight fill the containers on this lane.
- General Consumer Goods
- Retail Distribution
- Building Materials
What makes the Honolulu to Oakland lane difficult?
Jones Act vessel requirements keep rates structurally higher than foreign-flag routes
Jones Act vessel requirements keep rates structurally higher than foreign-flag routes.
Container availability can tighten around Hawaii's peak shipping seasons
Container availability can tighten around Hawaii's peak shipping seasons.
Bay Area port congestion can affect drayage timing on the mainland side
Bay Area port congestion can affect drayage timing on the mainland side.
What freight moves on the Honolulu to Oakland lane?
What moves between Honolulu and Oakland, and why Matson's Bay Area terminal matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •General Consumer Goods
- •Retail Distribution
- •Building Materials
Secondary Commodities
- •Drayage-connected freight (Matson Oakland terminal)
- •Building materials
- •Agricultural-export-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •General consumer goods (Q4 holiday surge)
- •Building materials (spring/summer construction)
- •Agricultural-export freight (steady)
When is the Honolulu to Oakland lane busiest?
Retail restocking and construction-materials timing both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holiday restocking surge works through Hawaii's retail inventory.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer-goods container volume climbs sharply from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not directly a factor; this lane runs on consumer goods and building materials rather than produce.
- •Q4 holiday season restocking
- •Back-to-school season (Jul-Aug)
- •Spring construction-materials season
Hurricane Risk?
Pacific hurricane season (June-November) can affect Hawaii-side port operations, though this route has no Atlantic/Gulf exposure.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, with a modest bump in consumer-goods volume ahead of the Q4 holiday season.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Honolulu to Oakland lane?
When to book, what pays more, and which loads need a congestion buffer.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Book container space 1-2 weeks ahead during normal periods, earlier during Q4 and back-to-school peaks.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical drayage connecting to a tight vessel sailing window tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight drayage appointment without confirming Bay Area port congestion levels.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Honolulu to Oakland
- •
This is an ocean lane, not a point-to-point truck route. Grow Trucking's role here is drayage coordination on each end, feeding Matson's container and Ro/Ro service.
- •
Book drayage around the vessel's actual arrival window, not the published sailing schedule.
- •
Roll-on/roll-off wheeled freight is worth asking about given Matson's dedicated Oakland service for it.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Honolulu to Oakland lane?
Oakland's Bay Area distribution network makes a return load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Oakland, CA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Oakland
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
With Matson running consistent weekly sailings, there is real capacity to plan around.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Similar transit profile to the LA route. Carrier choice depends on the sailing schedule.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Oakland's port volume gives drayage carriers steady backhaul options on the mainland end.
- •
Honolulu Harbor's role as the hub for Hawaii's imports keeps steady local drayage demand on the island end.
- •
Plan drayage pickup around vessel ETAs, which can shift with weather or port congestion.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Honolulu to Oakland lane?
Three notes before booking this Northern California gateway lane.
Book container space early during Q4 and back-to-school peak shipping windows.
Coordinate drayage pickup at the Oakland terminal around the vessel's actual arrival, not the published ETA.
Build in a buffer for Bay Area port and highway congestion.
This is ocean freight, not interstate trucking. Oakland's dedicated Matson terminal, including Ro/Ro service, makes this worth prioritizing for wheeled and containerized freight alike.
Honolulu to Oakland Lane FAQs
Answers on transit time, Matson's Oakland terminal, and port congestion.
The lane data shows about $5,400 - $6,600 per container load, or $2.25 - $2.75 a mile, across 2,400 miles.
It's Matson's Northern California gateway terminal, feeding Bay Area distribution freight into Hawaii's supply chain.
Typically 5-7 days by container ship.
Reasonably, given Oakland's Bay Area distribution network, though port congestion can affect timing.
Other Hawaii freight lanes we dispatch
- Honolulu to Seattle
- Honolulu to Los Angeles
- Honolulu to Maui (Kahului)
- Honolulu to Hilo
- Honolulu to Kawaihae
- Honolulu to Nawiliwili
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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