Portland to Seattle Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Portland, OR to Seattle, WA (175 miles). A short, high-frequency I-5 corridor connecting two major Pacific Northwest port/freight markets.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Portland to Seattle?
Portland to Seattle is a 175-mile lane paying about $446 - $516 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port-connected freight and technology/distribution freight.
- Distance
- 175 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $446 - $516
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- Transit time
- Same day / 3 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and reflect recent NWSA volume softening. See our dispatch fee structure.
Portland to Seattle
Portland to Seattle is a 175-mile, roughly 3-hour run north on I-5, connecting Oregon's freight gateway to the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the combined Seattle-Tacoma port complex. The NWSA handled 3.2 million TEUs in 2025, with Asia accounting for 90.5% of trade by volume, keeping steady northbound freight demand despite a recent import slowdown.
Origin
Portland, OR
Destination
Seattle, WA
Distance
175 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3 hrs
Average Rate
$446 - $516
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
175-mile lane, about 3 hours on I-5
The Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle-Tacoma) handled 3.2 million TEUs in 2025
Asia accounted for 90.5% of NWSA trade by TEU volume in 2025
Portland to Seattle: route facts a driver should know
I-5 and I-84 carry most of Oregon's truck freight
More than 75% of Oregon's truck freight tonnage moves on either I-5 or I-84, the state's two most critical freight corridors, both connecting directly into Portland.
Source: Oregon Trucking Association. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
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.
Source: Washington Trucking Associations, freight corridors overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Portland to Seattle?
About $199.07 this week. The lane is 175 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 27 gallons, and diesel is averaging $7.39 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 this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 175 mi
- Diesel needed
- 27 gal
- Price used
- $7.39/gal
- Fuel cost
- $199.07
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, port-connected freight and technology/distribution freight fill the trailers heading north.
- Consumer Goods
- Containerized Cargo
- Timber Products
What makes the Portland to Seattle 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.
NWSA container volumes have declined recently, down 12
NWSA container volumes have declined recently, down 12.4% year-to-date through mid-2026.
I-5 through the Seattle-Tacoma corridor can see heavy congestion
I-5 through the Seattle-Tacoma corridor can see heavy congestion.
What freight moves on the Portland to Seattle lane?
What travels between Portland and Seattle, and why the NWSA's scale matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Containerized Cargo
- •Timber Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Port import-connected freight (NWSA)
- •Consumer goods
- •Technology/distribution-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday import surge)
- •Port-connected freight (steady, softening recently)
- •Technology-connected freight (steady)
When is the Portland to Seattle lane busiest?
Import timing and steady technology-sector freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays as import volume normalizes.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Import-connected freight climbs ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday import season
- •Summer freight demand
- •Steady port-connected freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
None. Pacific Northwest winter storms are 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 Portland to Seattle lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a market check.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day to 1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical port import-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a slow-season load given recent NWSA volume declines without checking current rates.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Portland to Seattle
- •
At 175 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run, all on I-5.
- •
Port-linked freight is worth asking about given Seattle's scale as a Pacific Northwest distribution hub.
- •
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Portland to Seattle lane?
The NWSA's port complex makes a southbound 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: 10-15%
With 3.2 million TEUs moving through the NWSA in 2025, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •This is one of the lowest deadhead-risk lanes in the Pacific Northwest. Freight flows constantly both ways between Portland and Seattle's port and distribution economies.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Seattle's massive freight volume gives you strong backhaul odds in almost any direction.
- •
Portland's own container terminal 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 Portland to Seattle lane?
Four notes before this Pacific Northwest corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Confirm current NWSA import volume trends before counting on steady port-connected freight.
Build in extra time for I-5 congestion through Seattle-Tacoma.
Check winter conditions during occasional Pacific Northwest storms.
One of the most direct, heavily used freight corridors in the Pacific Northwest, all on I-5.
Portland to Seattle Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the NWSA's port complex, and recent volume trends.
The lane data shows about $446 - $516 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 175 miles.
The Northwest Seaport Alliance handled 3.2 million TEUs in 2025, though volumes have softened into 2026.
About 3 hours for the 175 miles on I-5.
Reasonably, given the port complex's scale, though check current import trends given recent softening.
Other Oregon freight lanes we dispatch
- Portland to Sacramento
- Portland to Chicago
- Portland to San Francisco
- Portland to Boise
- Portland to Los Angeles
- Portland to Spokane
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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