Billings to Bozeman Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Billings, MT to Bozeman, MT (145 miles). Short direct I-90 route southwest — no major detour.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Billings to Bozeman?
Billings to Bozeman is a 145-mile lane paying about $399 - $464 per load, near $2.75 - $3.20 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, tech-sector-connected freight and tourism-connected freight.
- Distance
- 145 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $341 - $399
- Rate per mile
- $2.35 - $2.75
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this Montana tech-hub corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Billings to Bozeman
Billings to Bozeman is a 145-mile, roughly 2.5-hour run west on I-90, connecting Montana's biggest freight hub to the state's largest tech hub. Bozeman hosts over a third of the Montana High Tech Business Alliance's members, including companies like Oracle, Workiva and Bridger Photonics, with Montana State University's new Gianforte Hall for computing set to open in fall 2026.
Origin
Billings, MT
Destination
Bozeman, MT
Distance
145 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$341 - $399
Rate per Mile
$2.35 - $2.75
145-mile lane, about 2.5 hours on I-90
Bozeman hosts over a third of Montana High Tech Business Alliance members
Montana State University's Gianforte Hall for computing opens fall 2026
Billings to Bozeman: route facts a driver should know
Bozeman is called the 'Silicon Valley of the Rockies'
Bozeman has a nationally recognized photonics cluster of 30-plus companies grown largely out of Montana State University research spinoffs, and MSU hit a record $288.7 million in research expenditures in 2025.
Source: Technical.ly, Bozeman tech hub coverage. 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 Bozeman?
About $143.26 this week. The lane is 145 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 22 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
- 145 mi
- Diesel needed
- 22 gal
- Price used
- $6.42/gal
- Fuel cost
- $143.26
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, tech-sector-connected freight and tourism-connected freight fill the trailers heading west.
- Consumer Goods
- Agricultural Products
- Retail Distribution
What makes the Billings to Bozeman lane difficult?
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Winter weather across Montana's mountain passes can affect road conditions from November through March
Winter weather across Montana's mountain passes can affect road conditions from November through March.
Rapid population growth has increased local competition for freight capacity
Rapid population growth has increased local competition for freight capacity.
What freight moves on the Billings to Bozeman lane?
What travels between Billings and Bozeman, and why Montana's largest tech hub matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Agricultural Products
- •Retail Distribution
Secondary Commodities
- •Tech-sector-connected freight (Bozeman)
- •Tourism-connected freight (Yellowstone/Big Sky)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge, steady population growth)
- •Tech-sector-connected freight (steady)
- •Tourism-connected freight (summer peak)
When is the Billings to Bozeman lane busiest?
Steady tech-sector growth and the summer Yellowstone/Big Sky tourist season both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by Bozeman's steady population and tech-sector growth.
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 tech-sector-connected freight year-round
- •Summer tourist season (Yellowstone/Big Sky)
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather across Montana's mountain passes 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 Bozeman lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a market check.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical tech-sector and tourism-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a slow-season load in a market this fast-growing without checking current rates.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Billings to Bozeman
- •
At 140 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
- •
Tech and photonics-component freight is worth asking about given Bozeman's growing optics and sensor industry.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Billings to Bozeman lane?
Bozeman's rapid growth makes an eastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Bozeman
- •Billings
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
With Bozeman as one of Montana's major intermodal air-freight facilities, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Bozeman's growing tech-sector freight offers an increasingly reliable backhaul source.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Bozeman's tech and university research base gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Billings's three-refinery fuel economy keeps eastbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough for a same-day or next-day backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Billings to Bozeman lane?
Three notes before this tech-hub corridor run.
Check Montana mountain-pass winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Book ahead given Bozeman's growing inbound consumer-goods demand.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Bozeman's photonics cluster, built on Montana State University research, is a genuinely growing niche freight source.
Billings to Bozeman Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Bozeman's tech-hub growth, and tourism season.
The lane data shows about $399 - $464 per load, or $2.75 - $3.20 a mile, across 145 miles.
It's Montana's largest tech hub, hosting over a third of Montana High Tech Business Alliance members, with rapid population and inbound-freight growth.
About 2.5 hours for the 145 miles.
Reasonably, given the city's rapid growth and role as a major intermodal air-freight facility.
Other Montana freight lanes we dispatch
- Billings to Casper
- Billings to Cheyenne
- Billings to Kalispell
- Billings to Sioux Falls
- Billings to Denver
- Billings to Minneapolis
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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