Billings to Denver Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Billings, MT to Denver, CO (550 miles). Denver's Mountain West distribution hub connects via I-90/I-25.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Billings to Denver?
Billings to Denver is a 550-mile lane paying about $1,265 - $1,513 per load, near $2.30 - $2.75 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, distribution/e-commerce-connected freight and agricultural/cattle-connected freight.
- Distance
- 550 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,292 - $1,512
- Rate per mile
- $2.35 - $2.75
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this Northern Rockies-to-Front Range corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Billings to Denver
Billings to Denver is a 550-mile, multi-hour run south, connecting Montana's biggest freight hub, known as the "rail hub of the West," to Colorado's Front Range distribution and energy hub. Billings sits where I-90 and I-94 meet and is served by BNSF Railway and Montana Rail Link, feeding steady freight south into Denver's dense, growing warehousing and e-commerce network.
Origin
Billings, MT
Destination
Denver, CO
Distance
550 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$1,292 - $1,512
Rate per Mile
$2.35 - $2.75
550-mile lane, a multi-hour run south
Billings is known as the "rail hub of the West," served by BNSF Railway and Montana Rail Link
Denver anchors Colorado's Front Range distribution and energy hub
Billings to Denver: route facts a driver should know
Billings runs three oil refineries
Yellowstone County is home to three oil refineries: Phillips 66 in Billings (about 62,900 barrels/day capacity), 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.
Union Pacific just opened a 620-acre rail park east of Denver
Denver hosts intermodal rail yards for both BNSF and Union Pacific, and in 2025 Union Pacific opened its 620-acre Rocky Mountain Rail Park east of the city.
Source: Progressive Railroading, Union Pacific Colorado rail park. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Billings to Denver?
About $543.40 this week. The lane is 550 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 85 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
- 550 mi
- Diesel needed
- 85 gal
- Price used
- $6.42/gal
- Fuel cost
- $543.40
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, distribution/e-commerce-connected freight and agricultural/cattle-connected freight fill the trailers heading south.
- Retail Distribution
- Energy Equipment
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Billings to Denver lane difficult?
The length requires careful hours-of-service and fuel-stop planning
The length requires careful hours-of-service and fuel-stop planning.
Winter weather across Wyoming and Colorado's Front Range can significantly affect road conditions
Winter weather across Wyoming and Colorado's Front Range can significantly affect road conditions.
Sparse population along much of the route limits mid-lane reload options
Sparse population along much of the route limits mid-lane reload options.
What freight moves on the Billings to Denver lane?
What travels between Billings and Denver, and why the "rail hub of the West" matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Energy Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Distribution/e-commerce-connected freight (Denver)
- •Agricultural/cattle-connected freight (Billings)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Grain and cattle (fall harvest and shipping season)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Distribution/e-commerce-connected freight (steady)
When is the Billings to Denver lane busiest?
Fall harvest and the Q4 e-commerce peak both shape this lane's demand.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after harvest and holiday season wind down.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and distribution-connected freight both climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
The fall harvest and cattle-shipping season is a real factor for this corridor's origin-side freight.
- •Fall harvest and cattle-shipping season
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady distribution/e-commerce freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather across Wyoming and Colorado 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 Denver lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a multi-day plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for a haul this long.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical distribution/e-commerce-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight winter delivery without checking Front Range road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Billings to Denver
- •
This is a long haul at 550 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Fuel and tanker freight is worth asking about given Billings's three active oil refineries.
- •
Rail-linked freight is worth checking on the Denver end too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Billings to Denver lane?
Denver's growing distribution network makes a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Denver, CO
- •Regional distribution hubs near Denver
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With Denver's dense e-commerce and warehousing base, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Denver is a big distribution gateway, which offers reasonable backhaul options despite the long, exposed route.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Denver's expanding intermodal rail capacity gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Billings's three-refinery fuel economy keeps northbound 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 Denver lane?
Three notes before this Front Range corridor run.
Plan your hours-of-service and fuel stops before this multi-hour run.
Check Wyoming and Front Range winter road conditions closely before a late-fall through early-spring run.
This lane pairs well with a return load out of Denver's dense distribution network.
If you haul tanker freight, Billings's three refineries make this a strong lane to prioritize.
Billings to Denver Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Denver's distribution hub, and Billings's rail-hub role.
The lane data shows about $1,265 - $1,513 per load, or $2.30 - $2.75 a mile, across 550 miles.
It sits where I-90 and I-94 meet and is served by BNSF Railway and Montana Rail Link.
It's a multi-hour run given the 550 miles.
Yes, generally, given the metro's dense and growing distribution network.
Other Montana freight lanes we dispatch
- Billings to Minneapolis
- Billings to Sioux Falls
- Billings to Spokane
- Billings to Calgary
- Billings to Sidney
- Billings to Great Falls
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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