Seattle to Portland Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Seattle, WA to Portland, OR (175 miles). A short, high-frequency I-5 corridor connecting two major Pacific Northwest port/freight markets.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Seattle to Portland?
Seattle to Portland is a 175-mile lane paying about $446 - $516 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, timber products and containerized cargo.
- 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 shift with fuel prices and I-5 corridor traffic. See our dispatch fee structure.
Seattle to Portland
Seattle to Portland is a short, 175-mile run south on I-5, about 3 hours of driving, the reverse of the busy Portland-to-Seattle apparel and container flow. Portland's own gateway, the Oregon Container Terminal at the Port's Terminal 6, officially launched January 7, 2026 after reopening, with plans to double container volumes over five to seven years, while Seattle-Tacoma freight through the Northwest Seaport Alliance moved 3.16 million TEU in 2025.
Origin
Seattle, WA
Destination
Portland, OR
Distance
175 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3 hrs
Average Rate
$446 - $516
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
175-mile lane, typically a same-day run on I-5
Feeds the Oregon Container Terminal, Oregon's only active international container port
The reverse of the busy Portland-to-Seattle apparel freight flow
Seattle to Portland: 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 I-5 serving as the primary north-south trucking corridor from Canada to California.
Source: Washington Trucking Associations, freight corridors overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
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.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Seattle to Portland?
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, timber products and containerized cargo fill the trailers heading south.
- Consumer Goods
- Timber Products
- Containerized Cargo
What makes the Seattle to Portland lane difficult?
I-5 through the Seattle-Tacoma-Portland corridor carries some of the Pacific Northwest's heaviest traffic
I-5 through the Seattle-Tacoma-Portland corridor carries some of the Pacific Northwest's heaviest traffic.
Port congestion at either end can add time to a pickup
Port congestion at either end can add time to a pickup.
A short, competitive lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range
A short, competitive lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range.
What freight moves on the Seattle to Portland lane?
What travels between Seattle and Portland, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Timber Products
- •Containerized Cargo
Secondary Commodities
- •Timber products
- •Oregon Container Terminal drayage
- •Containerized cargo
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Timber products (steady)
- •Containerized cargo (steady)
When is the Seattle to Portland lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady container freight both shape this short lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady timber and container freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this short lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady timber and container freight
- •Port import surges
Hurricane Risk?
None; this is a Pacific coastal route. Winter I-5 congestion, not storms, is the main seasonal factor.
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 Seattle to Portland lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need extra time.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day to 1-2 days out is typical for this short, fast-turning lane.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical container drayage freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight window during I-5 corridor rush hour.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Seattle to Portland
- •
At 175 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run, all on I-5.
- •
Port-linked freight is worth asking about given Portland's container terminal operations.
- •
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Seattle to Portland lane?
Portland's apparel, footwear and container freight gives a real northbound base.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the northbound load:
- •Portland, OR
- •Regional distribution hubs near Portland
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
This short I-5 corridor lane usually has freight moving both directions.
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 Seattle and Portland's port and distribution economies.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Portland's container terminal gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Seattle's massive freight volume keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough for a same-day or next-day backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Seattle to Portland lane?
Three notes before this short run.
Avoid I-5 through Tacoma or the Portland approach at weekday rush hour if you can.
Check current Oregon Container Terminal volume if reloading through Portland.
This short lane pairs well with a same-day return load.
Watch for morning fog on I-5 near the Nisqually Delta between Tacoma and Olympia.
One of the most direct, heavily used freight corridors in the Pacific Northwest, all on I-5.
Seattle to Portland Lane FAQs
Answers on driving time, I-5 traffic, and Portland's port.
The lane data shows about $446 - $516 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 175 miles.
About 3 hours for the 175 miles on I-5, an easy same-day run.
It can be, especially through Tacoma and the Portland approach at rush hour.
Reasonably, given Portland's apparel, footwear and container freight base.
Other Washington freight lanes we dispatch
- Seattle to Spokane
- Seattle to San Francisco
- Seattle to Sacramento
- Seattle to Los Angeles
- Seattle to Boise
- Seattle to Denver
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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