Cheyenne to Billings Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Cheyenne, WY to Billings, MT (440 miles). Connects Cheyenne to Montana's energy/agricultural freight base via I-25/I-90.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Cheyenne to Billings?
Cheyenne to Billings is a 440-mile lane paying about $1,034 - $1,232 per load, near $2.35 - $2.80 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, rail-connected freight and agricultural/cattle-connected freight.
- Distance
- 440 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,056 - $1,232
- Rate per mile
- $2.40 - $2.80
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this Rocky Mountain-to-Northern Plains corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Cheyenne to Billings
Cheyenne to Billings is a 440-mile, multi-hour run north on I-25 and I-90, connecting Wyoming's I-25/I-80 freight crossroads to Montana's largest city, known as the "rail hub of the West." Billings is served by BNSF Railway and Montana Rail Link, with beets, grain, cattle and coal moving in or out of the city every day.
Origin
Cheyenne, WY
Destination
Billings, MT
Distance
440 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$1,056 - $1,232
Rate per Mile
$2.40 - $2.80
440-mile lane, a multi-hour run on I-25 and I-90
Billings is known as the "rail hub of the West," served by BNSF Railway and Montana Rail Link
Beets, grain, cattle and coal move in or out of Billings every day
Cheyenne to Billings: route facts a driver should know
Billings runs three oil refineries
Yellowstone County is home to three oil refineries: Phillips 66 in Billings (about 62,900 barrels/day capacity), 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.
Cheyenne became Union Pacific's Mountain Division headquarters in 1867
Union Pacific designated Cheyenne its Mountain Division headquarters on July 4, 1867, and the city grew into a key helper-locomotive and repair-shop town for trains climbing Sherman Hill toward the Rockies.
Source: WyoHistory.org, Wyoming State Historical Society. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Cheyenne to Billings?
About $434.72 this week. The lane is 440 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 68 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
- 440 mi
- Diesel needed
- 68 gal
- Price used
- $6.42/gal
- Fuel cost
- $434.72
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, rail-connected freight and agricultural/cattle-connected freight fill the trailers heading north.
- Energy Equipment
- Agricultural Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Cheyenne to Billings lane difficult?
The length requires careful hours-of-service and fuel-stop planning
The length requires careful hours-of-service and fuel-stop planning.
Winter weather across Wyoming and Montana can significantly affect road conditions
Winter weather across Wyoming and Montana can significantly affect road conditions.
Sparse population along much of the route limits mid-lane reload options
Sparse population along much of the route limits mid-lane reload options.
What freight moves on the Cheyenne to Billings lane?
What travels between Cheyenne and Billings, and why the "rail hub of the West" matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Energy Equipment
- •Agricultural Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Rail-connected freight (BNSF, Montana Rail Link)
- •Agricultural/cattle-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Grain and cattle (fall harvest and shipping season)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Coal/energy-connected freight (steady)
When is the Cheyenne to Billings lane busiest?
Fall harvest and cattle-shipping season drive this lane's demand.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after harvest and holiday season wind down.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
The fall harvest and cattle-shipping season is a real factor for this corridor.
- •Fall harvest and cattle-shipping season
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady rail-connected freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather across Wyoming and Montana is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, tracking the refineries' consistent production schedule.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Cheyenne to Billings lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need extra planning.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for a haul this long.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical rail-connected and agricultural freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight winter delivery without checking road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Cheyenne to Billings
- •
This is a long haul at 440 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Fuel and tanker freight is worth asking about given Billings's three active oil refineries.
- •
Rail-linked freight out of Cheyenne is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Cheyenne to Billings lane?
Billings's rail-hub role makes a southbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Billings, MT
- •Regional distribution hubs near Billings
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With BNSF Railway and Montana Rail Link both serving the city, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Energy-sector freight from Billings offers a backhaul option despite the route's length and lower density.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Billings's three-refinery fuel economy gives you real backhaul options for tanker freight.
- •
Cheyenne's rail-town freight base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Cheyenne to Billings lane?
Three notes before this Rocky Mountain-to-Northern Plains run.
Plan your hours-of-service and fuel stops before this multi-hour cross-state run.
Check Wyoming and Montana winter road conditions closely before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Consider agricultural and energy-connected freight windows tied to the region's beet, grain, cattle and coal cycles.
If you haul tanker freight, Billings's three refineries make this a strong lane to prioritize.
Cheyenne to Billings Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Billings's rail-hub role, and seasonal freight.
The lane data shows about $1,034 - $1,232 per load, or $2.35 - $2.80 a mile, across 440 miles.
It's served by BNSF Railway and Montana Rail Link, with beets, grain, cattle and coal moving through daily.
It's a multi-hour run given the 440 miles.
Reasonably, given the city's rail-hub role and diversified commodity base.
Other Wyoming freight lanes we dispatch
- Cheyenne to Gillette
- Cheyenne to Salt Lake City
- Cheyenne to Rock Springs
- Cheyenne to Casper
- Cheyenne to Omaha
- Cheyenne to Boise
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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