Seattle, WA → Portland, OR
Route Details
I-5 Pacific Corridor
I-5 · 1,381 total miles · north south
Washington Trucking
Washington state is the Pacific Northwest freight leader with Seattle-Tacoma serving as a major international trade gate...
Oregon Trucking
Oregon is the Pacific Northwest freight corridor with Portland serving as a major port and distribution hub. The state o...
I-5
175 miles from Seattle, WA to Portland, OR
Freight on This Lane
The dominant freight categories moving between Seattle, WA and Portland, OR
Lumber & Building Products
Lumber and building product freight moves 45 billion board feet of lumber and $180 billion in building materials annually, generating 3.8 million flat...
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...
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...
Rate Breakdown
Seasonal Patterns
Electronics and retail freight from the Port of Seattle spikes September through December as holiday inventory moves south — expect rates to jump 18-25% above baseline. Lumber loads run heaviest April through October when Pacific Northwest mills operate at full capacity. January and February are the softest months, with rates dropping 10-15% below annual averages.
Backhaul Guide
Return load strategy for the Portland, OR to Seattle, WA direction
Portland to Seattle backhauls are plentiful thanks to Portland's position as a distribution hub for Nike, Columbia Sportswear, and Daimler Trucks North America. Expect $2.60-$3.00/mile northbound on dry van. Short-haul turnaround makes double-loads in a single day possible — drivers regularly run 2 round trips in a 14-hour HOS window.
Compatible Truck Types
Equipment types that run profitably on this lane
This 175-mile lane is a money-maker when you stack it — book a Seattle-to-Portland load in the morning and a Portland-to-Seattle return by early afternoon. Target $650-$750 gross per round trip. Avoid I-5 through Tacoma during the 3-6 PM commute window; the JBLM military base traffic adds 45-90 minutes. Use SR-167 bypass instead.
Seattle, WA to Portland, OR FAQ
Common questions about this freight lane
Is the Seattle to Portland lane profitable for owner-operators?+
What are the biggest challenges on the Seattle to Portland route?+
What types of freight are most common on this lane?+
Get Dispatched on the Seattle, WA to Portland, OR Lane
Our dispatchers know this lane inside and out. 6% commission, no contracts, and we pre-book your backhaul before you depart.
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