Billings to Great Falls Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Billings, MT to Great Falls, MT (220 miles). Connects Billings to north-central Montana's Golden Triangle wheat region via US-87.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Billings to Great Falls?
Billings to Great Falls is a 220-mile lane paying about $572 - $671 per load, near $2.60 - $3.05 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, defense-connected freight and agricultural-connected freight.
- Distance
- 220 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $561 - $649
- 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 for this central Montana corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Billings to Great Falls
Billings to Great Falls is a 220-mile, multi-hour run northwest on US-87, connecting Montana's biggest freight hub to the home of Malmstrom Air Force Base. Malmstrom is the largest of the Air Force's three Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile bases and hosts the 341st Missile Wing of Air Force Global Strike Command, generating steady defense-connected freight demand.
Origin
Billings, MT
Destination
Great Falls, MT
Distance
220 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3-4 hrs
Average Rate
$561 - $649
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
220-mile lane, a multi-hour run on US-87
Malmstrom Air Force Base is the largest of the Air Force's three Minuteman III ICBM bases
Home of the 341st Missile Wing of Air Force Global Strike Command
Billings to Great Falls: route facts a driver should know
Malmstrom AFB anchors Great Falls's economy
Malmstrom Air Force Base generates about $444 million in annual economic impact for Great Falls, with roughly 3,371 active-duty military and 525 civilian employees, home to the 341st Missile Wing operating Minuteman III ICBMs.
Source: Billings Gazette, Malmstrom AFB economic impact 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 Great Falls?
About $217.36 this week. The lane is 220 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 34 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
- 220 mi
- Diesel needed
- 34 gal
- Price used
- $6.42/gal
- Fuel cost
- $217.36
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, defense-connected freight and agricultural-connected freight fill the trailers heading northwest.
- Wheat & Grain
- Agricultural Equipment
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Billings to Great Falls lane difficult?
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Winter weather across central Montana can affect road conditions from November through March
Winter weather across central Montana can affect road conditions from November through March.
Base-connected freight can require security clearance and specialized handling
Base-connected freight can require security clearance and specialized handling.
What freight moves on the Billings to Great Falls lane?
What travels between Billings and Great Falls, and why Malmstrom Air Force Base matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Wheat & Grain
- •Agricultural Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Defense-connected freight (Malmstrom AFB)
- •Agricultural-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Defense-connected freight (steady, year-round)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Agricultural-connected freight (fall harvest)
When is the Billings to Great Falls lane busiest?
Steady defense-connected freight shapes this lane more than any retail calendar.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
Little seasonal dip; the base's defense mission runs on a steady, year-round basis.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb modestly from October through December.
Produce Season?
The fall harvest is a real factor for this corridor's agricultural freight.
- •Steady defense-connected freight year-round
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Fall harvest season
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather across central Montana 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 Great Falls lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need security clearance.
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, security-cleared defense-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to base-connected freight without confirming security clearance requirements.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Billings to Great Falls
- •
At 225 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
- •
Military-support freight is worth asking about given Malmstrom AFB's $444 million annual economic footprint.
- •
Fuel and tanker freight out of Billings is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Billings to Great Falls lane?
Malmstrom's ongoing defense mission makes a return load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Great Falls, MT
- •Regional distribution hubs near Great Falls
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With the 341st Missile Wing based there, there is real backhaul variety tied to defense logistics.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Federal/defense-linked freight from Great Falls offers a steady, non-seasonal backhaul base.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Great Falls's military-anchored economy gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Billings's three-refinery fuel economy keeps southbound 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 Great Falls lane?
Three notes before this central Montana defense-corridor run.
Check central Montana winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Confirm security clearance and handling requirements before hauling base-connected freight.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Malmstrom AFB's $444 million economic footprint makes Great Falls worth prioritizing for military-support freight.
Billings to Great Falls Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Malmstrom Air Force Base, and security clearance.
The lane data shows about $572 - $671 per load, or $2.60 - $3.05 a mile, across 220 miles.
It's the largest of the Air Force's three Minuteman III ICBM bases, home to the 341st Missile Wing of Air Force Global Strike Command.
It's a multi-hour run given the 220 miles.
Reasonably, given the base's steady, year-round defense logistics demand.
Other Montana freight lanes we dispatch
- Billings to Missoula
- Billings to Sidney
- Billings to Bismarck
- Billings to Boise
- Billings to Portland
- Billings to Salt Lake City
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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