How much of the US apple and hop supply comes from Yakima?

The Yakima Valley produces more than 60% of US fresh apples and roughly 75% of US hop acreage, about one-quarter of global hop production.

FREIGHT LANE

Seattle to Yakima Truck Dispatch

Freight route connecting Seattle, WA to Yakima, WA (145 miles). Connects Seattle's port complex to the Yakima Valley's massive apple/cherry/hops reefer freight base.

QUICK ANSWER

What do truck dispatch rates run from Seattle to Yakima?

Seattle to Yakima is a 145-mile lane paying about $399 - $464 per load, near $2.75 - $3.20 a mile. Freight is mostly produce/perishables, hops and wine grapes.

Distance: 145 miles
Avg. rate / load: $399 - $464
Rate per mile: $2.75 - $3.20
Transit time: Same day / 2-3 hrs
Deadhead risk: 10-15%

Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift hard with the harvest calendar; DAT has flagged tight reefer capacity on Yakima's outbound lanes recently. See our dispatch fee structure.

LANE INFORMATION

Seattle to Yakima

Seattle to Yakima is a 145-mile, 2-to-3-hour run east on I-90 to I-82 across the Cascades, into what growers call the agricultural-freight capital of the Pacific Northwest. The Yakima Valley produces more than 60% of US fresh apples, roughly 75% of US hop acreage (about one-quarter of global hop production), the bulk of the region's cherry crop, and grapes from the country's first federally recognized Pacific Northwest wine AVA. DAT's 2026 reefer produce report flagged Yakima Valley reaching a slight shortage on all 10 outbound apple and pear lanes for the first time on record.

Origin

Seattle, WA

Destination

Yakima, WA

Distance

145 miles

Transit Time

Same day / 2-3 hrs

Average Rate

$399 - $464

Rate per Mile

$2.75 - $3.20

145-mile lane, typically a 2-3 hour run on I-90 to I-82
The Yakima Valley grows more than 60% of US fresh apples and about 75% of US hop acreage
DAT flagged Yakima Valley reefer capacity as tight on all 10 outbound apple/pear lanes for the first time in 2026

Seattle to Yakima: route facts a driver should know

The Yakima Valley grows about 70-75% of all US hops
The Yakima Valley produces roughly 70-75% of the commercial hop crop in the United States, with most of the remaining US hops grown in Oregon and Idaho. Only about 2% of US hops come from outside the Pacific Northwest.
Source: High Country News, Yakima hops harvest coverage. 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 Seattle to Yakima?

About $164.94 this week. The lane is 145 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 22 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: 145 mi
Diesel needed: 22 gal
Price used: $7.39/gal
Fuel cost: $164.94

West Coast diesel prices ($7.39) Fuel cost calculator

FREIGHT TYPES

Common Freight Types

Produce and perishables, hops and wine grapes fill the trailers on this short agricultural run.

Produce/Perishables
Hops
Wine Grapes

CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS

What makes the Seattle to Yakima lane difficult?

Reefer capacity has been unusually tight in recent seasons, according to DAT's own reporting

Reefer capacity has been unusually tight in recent seasons, according to DAT's own reporting.

I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass can see winter snow

Understanding and preparing for this challenge helps optimize your operations and maximize profitability on this lane.

Multiple harvests overlap (cherries, hops, apples) creating sharp seasonal peaks

Multiple harvests overlap (cherries, hops, apples) creating sharp seasonal peaks.

FREIGHT ANALYSIS

What freight moves on the Seattle to Yakima lane?

What the Yakima Valley ships, and how much of the US supply it accounts for.

Primary Commodities

•Produce/Perishables
•Hops
•Wine Grapes

Secondary Commodities

•Apples and pears
•Hops
•Wine grapes

Seasonal Cargo

Peak seasons for this lane:

•Produce/perishables (apple and cherry harvest peaks)
•Hops (late summer harvest)
•Wine grapes (fall harvest)

SEASONAL ANALYSIS

When is the Seattle to Yakima lane busiest?

The harvest calendar drives this lane more than anything else.

Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?

A quieter stretch after the fall harvest and shipping season winds down.

Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?

Apple and pear shipments run heavy into the fall as the harvest moves to storage and distribution.

Produce Season?

The defining factor: cherries in summer, hops in late summer, and apples and pears through fall drive nearly all freight on this lane.

•Cherry season (June-August)
•Apple and pear harvest (fall)
•Hop harvest (late summer)

Hurricane Risk?

None. Winter weather over Snoqualmie Pass is the real seasonal risk.

Seasonal Strategy Summary

This lane runs fairly steady year-round, with a major bump in hop-harvest freight from late August through September.

RATE STRATEGY

How do I negotiate the best rate on the Seattle to Yakima lane?

When to book, what pays a premium, and what needs a reefer plan.

When to Book

Suggested booking window:

Book well ahead during peak harvest, especially given recently reported tight reefer capacity on Yakima's outbound lanes.

What Brokers Pay More

Loads that command more:

Time-critical reefer freight during cherry or apple peak season pays a real premium.

When to Avoid

Loads to price carefully:

Be careful committing to a tight window without confirming reefer availability first, given documented capacity shortages.

Rate Negotiation Tips for Seattle to Yakima

•
At 140 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
•
Hop and produce freight is worth asking about given Yakima Valley's dominant share of US hop production.
•
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day round trip.

BACKHAUL OPTIMIZATION

How do I find a backhaul load on the Seattle to Yakima lane?

Yakima's agricultural volume keeps freight moving in both directions during harvest season.

Best Return Cities

Where to look for the return load:

•Yakima, WA
•Regional distribution hubs near Yakima

Deadhead Risk %

Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%

Backhaul availability tracks the harvest calendar closely.

Alternative Routes

If the first load falls through, try these:

•Westbound produce, hop, and wine freight from the Yakima Valley is a reliable backhaul source. It moves back into Seattle-area distribution and export consolidation, especially during and after harvest season.

Backhaul Optimization Tips

•
Yakima Valley's hop and apple-growing base gives you real backhaul options for reefer and ag freight.
•
Seattle's massive freight volume keeps westbound loads flowing too.
•
This lane is short enough for a same-day or next-day backhaul.

INSIDER TIPS

What do experienced dispatchers know about the Seattle to Yakima lane?

Three notes before you haul into the Yakima Valley.

Tip #1

Confirm reefer temperature requirements before you load; different crops need different settings.

Tip #2

Check Snoqualmie Pass conditions before a winter run.

Tip #3

Book ahead during overlapping harvest peaks, when capacity has been running tight.

Tip #4

Confirm cold-storage space is available at the destination during overlapping harvest peaks, not just truck capacity.

If you haul reefer or ag freight, Yakima Valley's hop-harvest season (late August through September) is worth building a seasonal relationship around.

LANE FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Seattle to Yakima Lane FAQs

Answers on driving time, harvest season, and reefer capacity.

Get lane help

The lane data shows about $399 - $464 per load, or $2.75 - $3.20 a mile, across 145 miles, with real seasonal swings tied to harvest.

Driver result

Reefer owner-operator, Northeast: +$2,100/week after moving to $2.75/mi on produce / pharmaceutical / seafood freight.

Read the case study

GROWTH ACCELERATOR

Need help running Seattle, WA to Yakima, WA consistently?

Running Seattle to Yakima often? Ask about a free custom growth plan.

Get Started Today