Billings to Seattle Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Billings, MT to Seattle, WA (830 miles). Connects Montana's timber/grain economy to Seattle's port complex via I-90.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Billings to Seattle?
Billings to Seattle is an 830-mile lane paying about $1,785 - $2,158 per load, near $2.15 - $2.60 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port/container-connected freight and refrigerated agricultural-export freight.
- Distance
- 830 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,784 - $2,116
- Rate per mile
- $2.15 - $2.55
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 30-35%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this long Northern Rockies-to-Pacific Northwest corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Billings to Seattle
Billings to Seattle is an 830-mile, multi-day run west, connecting Montana's biggest freight hub to the Pacific Northwest's major port gateway. The Northwest Seaport Alliance, combining Seattle and Tacoma, handles roughly 3.3-3.4 million TEUs a year, with refrigerated capacity expanded to over 1,500 plugs to support Washington's booming agricultural exports.
Origin
Billings, MT
Destination
Seattle, WA
Distance
830 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,784 - $2,116
Rate per Mile
$2.15 - $2.55
830-mile lane, a multi-day run west
The Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle and Tacoma combined) handles roughly 3.3-3.4 million TEUs a year
Refrigerated capacity has expanded to over 1,500 plugs supporting agricultural exports
Billings to Seattle: route facts a driver should know
Washington's freight system moves over 500 million tons of goods a year
Washington's freight system moves more than 500 million tons of goods annually, valued at over $600 billion, with Seattle serving as the primary distribution hub for the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and parts of Western Canada.
Source: Washington Trucking Associations, freight corridors overview. 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 Seattle?
About $882.10 this week. The lane is 830 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 128 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.91 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
- 830 mi
- Diesel needed
- 128 gal
- Price used
- $6.91/gal
- Fuel cost
- $882.10
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, port/container-connected freight and refrigerated agricultural-export freight fill the trailers heading west.
- Timber Products
- Wheat & Grain
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Billings to Seattle lane difficult?
The length requires a full multi-day trip plan with fuel, rest stops and mountain-pass routing mapped in advance
The length requires a full multi-day trip plan with fuel, rest stops and mountain-pass routing mapped in advance.
Winter weather across the Rockies and Cascades can significantly affect road conditions and mountain-pass access
Winter weather across the Rockies and Cascades can significantly affect road conditions and mountain-pass access.
Container volume has been volatile, down 13
Container volume has been volatile, down 13.9% year-over-year in January 2026 as tariff-driven frontloading faded.
What freight moves on the Billings to Seattle lane?
What travels between Billings and Seattle, and why the Northwest Seaport Alliance matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Timber Products
- •Wheat & Grain
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Port/container-connected freight (Northwest Seaport Alliance)
- •Refrigerated agricultural-export freight
- •Breakbulk-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday import/export surge)
- •Refrigerated agricultural-export freight (steady, growing)
- •Breakbulk-connected freight (growing in 2026)
When is the Billings to Seattle lane busiest?
Import/export timing and Washington's agricultural-export season both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A real dip in early 2026 as post-tariff container volume normalized downward.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Import/export-connected freight and consumer goods both climb ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
Washington's agricultural-export season is a real factor, supported by the port's expanded refrigerated capacity.
- •Q4 holiday import/export season
- •Steady port-connected freight year-round
- •Summer agricultural-export season
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter mountain-pass conditions through the Rockies and Cascades are this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This long-haul lane runs fairly steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Billings to Seattle lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need mountain-pass planning.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
3-4 days out is typical for a haul this long.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical refrigerated agricultural-export and breakbulk-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight winter delivery without checking mountain-pass conditions across multiple ranges.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Billings to Seattle
- •
This is a long haul at 830 miles, so plan multi-day rest and fuel stops.
- •
Port-linked freight is worth asking about given Seattle's scale as the Pacific Northwest's main distribution hub.
- •
Fuel and tanker freight out of Billings is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Billings to Seattle lane?
The Northwest Seaport Alliance's massive container volume makes an eastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Seattle, WA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Seattle
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 30-35%
With refrigerated capacity expanded to over 1,500 plugs and breakbulk volumes up over 42% in early 2026, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Seattle's port-import freight offers a strong, if seasonal, backhaul source.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Seattle's massive freight volume gives you strong backhaul odds in almost any direction.
- •
Billings's three-refinery fuel economy keeps eastbound 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 Seattle lane?
Three notes before this long Pacific Northwest port-corridor run.
Plan your multi-day route with fuel, rest stops and mountain-pass conditions checked before departing.
Check Rockies and Cascades winter conditions closely before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Watch for breakbulk-connected freight opportunities, since breakbulk volumes were up over 42% in early 2026.
This is a true long haul. Seattle's scale as a Pacific Northwest distribution hub makes backhauls easy to find.
Billings to Seattle Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and 2026 volume trends.
The lane data shows about $1,785 - $2,158 per load, or $2.15 - $2.60 a mile, across 830 miles.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance combines both ports into one gateway handling roughly 3.3-3.4 million TEUs a year.
It's a multi-day run given the 830 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's massive container volume, though overall volume was down year-over-year in early 2026 as tariff-driven frontloading faded.
Other Montana freight lanes we dispatch
- Billings to Fargo
- Billings to Rapid City
- Billings to Cheyenne
- Billings to Bozeman
- Billings to Casper
- Billings to Kalispell
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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