Billings to Bismarck Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Billings, MT to Bismarck, ND (414 miles). Connects Billings to North Dakota's capital and Bakken-adjacent freight base via I-94.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Billings to Bismarck?
Billings to Bismarck is a 414-mile lane paying about $994 - $1,180 per load, near $2.40 - $2.85 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, rail/distribution-connected freight and building-materials freight.
- Distance
- 414 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $994 - $1,159
- Rate per mile
- $2.40 - $2.80
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing, including the January 2026 general rate increase. See our dispatch fee structure.
Billings to Bismarck
Billings to Bismarck is a 414-mile, multi-hour run east on I-94, connecting Montana's biggest freight hub to North Dakota's state capital at the crossroads of I-94 and US-83. Midwest Motor Express, a Bismarck-based carrier founded in 1918 with $176.8 million in revenue, anchors a logistics hub serving the Northern Plains.
Origin
Billings, MT
Destination
Bismarck, ND
Distance
414 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$994 - $1,159
Rate per Mile
$2.40 - $2.80
414-mile lane, a multi-hour run on I-94
Bismarck sits at the crossroads of I-94 and US-83, a premier Northern Plains logistics hub
Midwest Motor Express, founded in Bismarck in 1918, posted $176.8 million in revenue
Billings to Bismarck: route facts a driver should know
Bismarck's economy runs on government, health care, and energy
Bismarck's largest employment sectors are government (10,944 jobs), health care and social assistance (9,460 jobs), and retail trade (7,830 jobs), with oil, gas, and coal production as major economic factors tied to nearby Bakken activity.
Source: City of Bismarck, ND, City Portrait. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Billings runs three oil refineries
Yellowstone County is home to three oil refineries: Phillips 66 in Billings, Par Pacific in Lockwood, and CHS Inc. in nearby Laurel, making Billings a genuine fuel-freight hub.
Source: Wikipedia, Billings Refinery (Phillips 66). Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Billings to Bismarck?
About $406.80 this week. The lane is 414 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 64 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.39 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
- 414 mi
- Diesel needed
- 64 gal
- Price used
- $6.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $406.80
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, rail/distribution-connected freight and building-materials freight fill the trailers heading east.
- Oilfield Equipment
- Agricultural Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Billings to Bismarck lane difficult?
Winter weather exposure is significant on this northern route
Winter weather exposure is significant on this northern route.
The length requires careful hours-of-service planning
The length requires careful hours-of-service planning.
A 5
A 5.9% general rate increase took effect January 1, 2026, affecting contract pricing.
What freight moves on the Billings to Bismarck lane?
What travels between Billings and Bismarck, and why the state capital's logistics-hub role matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Oilfield Equipment
- •Agricultural Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Rail/distribution-connected freight (Bismarck)
- •Building-materials-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Rail/distribution-connected freight (steady)
- •Building-materials freight (spring/summer construction)
When is the Billings to Bismarck lane busiest?
Steady rail/distribution freight and construction-season demand both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady rail/distribution-connected freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady rail/distribution-connected freight year-round
- •Spring/summer construction season
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather across the northern Plains is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Billings to Bismarck lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a rate-increase check.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical rail/distribution-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Billings to Bismarck
- •
This is a long haul at 430 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Oil, gas, and government-contract freight is worth asking about given Bismarck's economic base.
- •
Fuel and tanker freight out of Billings is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Billings to Bismarck lane?
Bismarck's crossroads position makes a westbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Bismarck, ND
- •Regional distribution hubs near Bismarck
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With Midwest Motor Express anchoring the city's freight base, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Bakken-linked oilfield freight from the Bismarck area offers a reliable, if specialized, backhaul base.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Bismarck's government and energy-sector freight base gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Billings's three-refinery fuel economy keeps westbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Billings to Bismarck lane?
Three notes before this state-capital corridor run.
Plan your hours-of-service before this multi-hour eastbound run.
Check winter road conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Confirm current contract rates given the January 2026 general rate increase.
Bismarck's mix of government and Bakken-adjacent energy freight makes this a reasonably steady lane in either direction.
Billings to Bismarck Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Bismarck's logistics-hub role, and rate increases.
The lane data shows about $994 - $1,180 per load, or $2.40 - $2.85 a mile, across 414 miles.
It sits at the crossroads of I-94 and US-83, and is home to Midwest Motor Express, founded there in 1918 with $176.8 million in revenue.
It's a multi-hour run given the 414 miles.
Reasonably, given the city's role as a Northern Plains logistics hub.
Other Montana freight lanes we dispatch
- Billings to Boise
- Billings to Missoula
- Billings to Portland
- Billings to Salt Lake City
- Billings to Rapid City
- Billings to Seattle
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.
Read the case studyNeed help running Billings, MT to Bismarck, ND consistently?
Running Billings to Bismarck often? Ask about a free custom growth plan.