Boise to Missoula Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Boise, ID to Missoula, MT (400 miles). Connects Boise to Western Montana's timber/agricultural base via US-95/I-90.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Boise to Missoula?
Boise to Missoula is a 400-mile lane paying about $960 - $1,120 per load, near $2.40 - $2.80 a mile. Freight is mostly timber products, agricultural products and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 400 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $960 - $1,120
- Rate per mile
- $2.40 - $2.80
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 25-30%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and winter mountain conditions. See our dispatch fee structure.
Boise to Missoula
Boise to Missoula is a 400-mile, roughly 7-hour run northeast, mostly on I-84 to I-90. Missoula anchors western Montana logistics on I-90, roughly 3 hours east of Spokane, serving as a key link between Pacific Northwest and Midwest supply chains. The city relies on Montana Rail Link and BNSF Railway for timber, agricultural and manufactured goods, and warehouse space in Montana's primary cities runs $4.00 to $6.50 a square foot.
Origin
Boise, ID
Destination
Missoula, MT
Distance
400 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$960 - $1,120
Rate per Mile
$2.40 - $2.80
400-mile lane, roughly 7 hours on I-84 to I-90
Missoula anchors western Montana logistics on I-90
Served by both Montana Rail Link and BNSF Railway
Boise to Missoula: route facts a driver should know
Missoula's timber industry has shrunk sharply in recent years
Missoula County's timber sector has been shrinking, not growing: Roseburg Forest Products and Pyramid Mountain Lumber closed in 2024, and UFP Edge closed in 2025, a combined loss of about 350 jobs marking what one economist called the end of 150 years of wood products as a driver of the local economy.
Source: Montana State University Exponent, forestry industry decline coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Micron's $200 billion expansion adds a second Boise fab
Micron Technology, headquartered in Boise, announced a $200 billion US semiconductor manufacturing and R&D expansion that includes a second Boise memory fab, projected to create 17,000-plus jobs across its two Idaho fabs.
Source: BoiseDev, Micron second Boise fab announcement. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Boise to Missoula?
About $395.20 this week. The lane is 400 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 62 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.42 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
- 400 mi
- Diesel needed
- 62 gal
- Price used
- $6.42/gal
- Fuel cost
- $395.20
Common Freight Types
Timber products, agricultural products and consumer goods fill the trailers heading northeast.
- Timber Products
- Agricultural Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Boise to Missoula lane difficult?
I-90 through the Idaho panhandle and into Montana can see winter weather
I-90 through the Idaho panhandle and into Montana can see winter weather.
Missoula's freight base is smaller than the larger Pacific Northwest hubs
Missoula's freight base is smaller than the larger Pacific Northwest hubs.
Timber freight can require specialized flatbed equipment
Timber freight can require specialized flatbed equipment.
What freight moves on the Boise to Missoula lane?
What travels between Boise and Missoula, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Timber Products
- •Agricultural Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Timber products
- •Agricultural products
- •Manufactured goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Timber products (steady, with a summer construction bump)
- •Agricultural products (harvest season)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
When is the Boise to Missoula lane busiest?
Timber and agricultural freight both stay fairly steady through the year.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady timber and rail-connected freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb through the holidays.
Produce Season?
A modest factor tied to regional agricultural harvest.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady timber and agricultural freight
- •Summer construction season
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter mountain-pass weather through the Idaho-Montana border area is the real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs fairly steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Boise to Missoula lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need special equipment.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for this lane.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical timber or manufactured-goods freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful pricing a winter mountain-pass crossing without a weather plan.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Boise to Missoula
- •
This is a long haul at 400 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Missoula's timber-manufacturing base has shrunk sharply since 2024, so confirm current freight volume before committing capacity there.
- •
Semiconductor and industrial freight out of Boise is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Boise to Missoula lane?
Missoula's timber and rail-connected freight base gives real backhaul options.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the southbound load:
- •Missoula, MT
- •Regional distribution hubs near Missoula
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
Check both Montana Rail Link and BNSF connections in Missoula for rail-adjacent reload freight.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Timber-industry freight from Missoula is a steady, though weather-seasonal, backhaul base.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Missoula's university and outdoor-recreation economy gives you some backhaul options, though the timber-freight base has declined.
- •
Boise's manufacturing base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Boise to Missoula lane?
Three notes before this mountain-pass run.
Check I-90 mountain-pass conditions in winter through the Idaho-Montana border area.
Confirm equipment requirements before hauling timber products.
If reloading through Missoula, check both Montana Rail Link and BNSF connections for freight.
Missoula's timber-manufacturing base has declined sharply since 2024. University of Montana and outdoor-recreation freight are steadier bets now.
Boise to Missoula Lane FAQs
Answers on driving time, Missoula's rail connections, and timber freight.
The lane data shows about $960 - $1,120 per load, or $2.40 - $2.80 a mile, across 400 miles.
It anchors western Montana logistics on I-90, serving as a key link between Pacific Northwest and Midwest supply chains, served by both Montana Rail Link and BNSF Railway.
It can see winter weather through the Idaho panhandle and into Montana; check conditions before a winter run.
Reasonably, given the timber, agricultural and rail-connected freight in the area.
Other Idaho freight lanes we dispatch
- Boise to Phoenix
- Boise to Idaho Falls
- Boise to Chicago
- Boise to San Francisco
- Boise to Ogden
- Boise to Bend
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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