Los Angeles, CA → Seattle, WA
Route Details
I-5 Pacific Corridor
I-5 · 1,381 total miles · north south
California Trucking
California is the gateway for international trade and domestic distribution. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach han...
Washington Trucking
Washington state is the Pacific Northwest freight leader with Seattle-Tacoma serving as a major international trade gate...
I-5
1,135 miles from Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA
Freight on This Lane
The dominant freight categories moving between Los Angeles, CA and Seattle, WA
Retail & Consumer Goods
Retail freight is the backbone of dry van trucking, representing $190+ billion in annual US transportation spend across 12 million truckloads per year...
Produce & Perishables
Produce and perishable freight accounts for roughly $48 billion in annual US trucking revenue, with over 3.1 million reefer loads moved each year. Cal...
Electronics & Technology
Electronics freight moves $95+ billion in consumer electronics, components, data center hardware, and semiconductor products across 2.8 million US tru...
Rate Breakdown
Seasonal Patterns
Northbound from LA is strong year-round due to port freight distribution. Produce from the Central Valley peaks March through September at $3.20-$3.40/mile reefer. Holiday retail (October-December) pushes dry van rates to $3.00-$3.20/mile as goods flow from LA/Long Beach port to Pacific Northwest distribution centers.
Backhaul Guide
Return load strategy for the Seattle, WA to Los Angeles, CA direction
Southbound from Seattle averages $2.30-$2.70/mile, driven by lumber from Oregon and Washington, Boeing supplier freight, and paper products. Grab lumber loads from Portland or Tacoma — they pay better than empty miles and position you for premium northbound produce out of the Central Valley.
Compatible Truck Types
Equipment types that run profitably on this lane
The Grapevine (Tejon Pass) closes 5-10 times per winter for snow — check Caltrans QuickMap before dispatching November through March. US-101 coastal route adds 60 miles but rarely closes. Oregon weigh stations at Woodburn and Ashland pull in nearly every truck — pre-scale before entering Oregon. Oregon has a weight-mile tax ($0.0285/mile at 80k lbs) instead of fuel tax.
Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA FAQ
Common questions about this freight lane
What are produce rates on the LA to Seattle lane?+
Does California AB5 affect owner-operators on this lane?+
What is the best time to drive through LA?+
Get Dispatched on the Los Angeles, CA to Seattle, WA Lane
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