Boise to Pocatello Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Boise, ID to Pocatello, ID (235 miles). Connects Boise to southeastern Idaho's phosphate mining corridor via I-84/I-86.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Boise to Pocatello?
Boise to Pocatello is a 235-mile lane paying about $599 - $693 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly phosphate fertilizer, mining products and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 235 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $599 - $693
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- Transit time
- Same day / 3-4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and stay fairly steady given the region's industrial freight base. See our dispatch fee structure.
Boise to Pocatello
Boise to Pocatello is a 235-mile, 3-to-4-hour run southeast on I-84 to I-15, into one of the top inland rail hubs in the Pacific Northwest. Union Pacific's Pocatello Yard is a major crew-change and classification point for transcontinental freight, moving over 10 million tons of freight a year and supporting more than 2,000 direct and indirect jobs with an estimated $1.2 billion annual economic impact. The Savage Rail Port of Southern Idaho, a 27-acre intermodal facility that opened in 2021, ships up to 250 containers a week on 125 rail cars, moving agricultural products between truck and rail.
Origin
Boise, ID
Destination
Pocatello, ID
Distance
235 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3-4 hrs
Average Rate
$599 - $693
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
235-mile lane, typically a 3-4 hour run on I-84 to I-15
Union Pacific's Pocatello Yard moves over 10 million tons of freight a year
The Savage Rail Port of Southern Idaho ships up to 250 containers a week between truck and rail
Boise to Pocatello: route facts a driver should know
Simplot's Pocatello plant has produced phosphate fertilizer since 1944
J.R. Simplot's Don Plant in Pocatello has operated since 1944, producing more than 1 million tons a year of phosphate fertilizers and industrial products, and employs about 350 people.
Source: US EPA, Simplot Pocatello settlement announcement. 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 Pocatello?
About $232.18 this week. The lane is 235 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 36 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
- 235 mi
- Diesel needed
- 36 gal
- Price used
- $6.42/gal
- Fuel cost
- $232.18
Common Freight Types
Phosphate fertilizer, mining products and consumer goods fill the trailers heading southeast.
- Phosphate Fertilizer
- Mining Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Boise to Pocatello lane difficult?
Rail-connected freight schedules at Pocatello Yard can shift with train timing
Rail-connected freight schedules at Pocatello Yard can shift with train timing.
I-15 through southeastern Idaho can see winter weather
I-15 through southeastern Idaho can see winter weather.
Phosphate and mining freight can require specialized equipment
Phosphate and mining freight can require specialized equipment.
What freight moves on the Boise to Pocatello lane?
What travels between Boise and Pocatello, and why the freight base runs steady.
Primary Commodities
- •Phosphate Fertilizer
- •Mining Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Phosphate fertilizer
- •Mining products
- •Savage Rail Port intermodal freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Phosphate fertilizer (steady)
- •Mining products (steady)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
When is the Boise to Pocatello lane busiest?
Phosphate and mining freight keep this lane steady through the year.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
Little seasonal dip; phosphate and mining freight run on a steady year-round schedule.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb through the holidays on top of the steady industrial freight base.
Produce Season?
A modest factor tied to agricultural freight moving through the Savage Rail Port during regional harvest.
- •Steady phosphate and mining freight year-round
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Rail-transfer freight tied to agricultural harvest
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather through southeastern Idaho is the real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, tracking the fertilizer plant's consistent production schedule.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Boise to Pocatello lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need special equipment.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day to 1-2 days out is typical for this short lane.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical rail-transfer freight tied to a specific train schedule tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight window on freight that depends on rail-transfer timing at Pocatello Yard.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Boise to Pocatello
- •
This is a long haul at 235 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Bulk fertilizer and industrial freight is worth asking about given Simplot's long-running Pocatello plant.
- •
Semiconductor and industrial freight out of Boise is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Boise to Pocatello lane?
Pocatello's rail hub and phosphate industry give real backhaul options.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Pocatello, ID
- •Regional distribution hubs near Pocatello
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
The Savage Rail Port's growing intermodal volume adds backhaul possibilities beyond straight truck freight.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •ON Semiconductor's manufacturing presence gives a steady, non-seasonal backhaul base.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Pocatello's phosphate-fertilizer base gives you real backhaul options for bulk freight.
- •
Boise's manufacturing base keeps westbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Boise to Pocatello lane?
Three notes before you haul into Pocatello.
If reloading through the Savage Rail Port, confirm current rail-transfer schedules.
Check I-15 winter conditions through southeastern Idaho.
Confirm equipment requirements before hauling phosphate or mining products.
Simplot's Pocatello plant has run continuously since 1944. A genuinely steady lane for bulk and hopper freight.
Boise to Pocatello Lane FAQs
Answers on driving time, Pocatello's rail hub, and phosphate freight.
The lane data shows about $599 - $693 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 235 miles.
Union Pacific's Pocatello Yard is a major crew-change and classification point, moving over 10 million tons of freight a year with an estimated $1.2 billion annual economic impact.
A 27-acre intermodal facility that opened in 2021, shipping up to 250 containers a week on 125 rail cars, moving agricultural products between truck and rail.
About 3 to 4 hours for the 235 miles, an easy same-day run.
Other Idaho freight lanes we dispatch
- Boise to Sacramento
- Boise to Spokane
- Boise to Idaho Falls
- Boise to Missoula
- Boise to Phoenix
- Boise to Chicago
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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