1135 miles · Est. 16.7 hours · Avg $2.80/mile · Gross $3,178
Lane Overview
1,135
Miles
$2.80
Avg rate/mile
$3,178
Avg gross rate
easy
Competition
Los Angeles to Seattle on I-5 northbound is the premium West Coast long haul. Port of LA freight — electronics, consumer goods, retail merchandise — heads north through California's Central Valley, Oregon, and into the Pacific Northwest tech corridor. Amazon's Seattle operations alone generate enormous inbound demand. At $2.70–$2.90/mile for a 1,135-mile run, this is one of the highest-grossing lanes on the West Coast for owner-operators.
I-5 through the Sacramento Valley is high-speed, but Oregon's I-5 near Portland narrows with heavy urban congestion. Washington weigh station near Olympia on I-5 northbound is very active — have your paperwork and permit documentation ready. The $15 toll estimate is for California bridge tolls. Winter conditions in the Siskiyou Pass on the CA/OR border can cause closures — check ODOT and Caltrans before departure. Seattle return loads to LA (Lane 70) run strong at $2.65–$2.80/mile, making this a premier round-trip.
Driver Tip
At 16.7 hours drive time, HOS planning is critical. Use our HOS Calculator to map your 70-hour cycle before dispatch.
Multi-Day Costs
Fuel Estimate
$420
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$15
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$2,743
Before your other costs
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Driver's Complete Guide
LA to Seattle is the premier West Coast long haul and the numbers reflect it. At $2.80/mile on a 1,135-mile run, you're averaging $3,178 per load, and both ends of this lane generate freight at a level most corridors can't match. Port of Los Angeles, the largest container port in the Western Hemisphere, generates outbound product in every category. Seattle's Amazon fulfillment empire and the broader Pacific Northwest tech corridor create demand that doesn't seasonally fluctuate the way produce lanes do. This is a run worth structuring a business around if you're based on the West Coast.
Port of LA freight dominates northbound: electronics, consumer goods, retail merchandise off the container ships from Asia heading to Seattle area distribution centers and Amazon fulfillment nodes. Technology products — servers, networking equipment, semiconductor goods — flow toward the tech-dense Puget Sound region where Amazon, Microsoft, and Boeing all have significant inbound supply chains. Produce from California's San Joaquin Valley (Central Valley grapes, stone fruit, leafy vegetables) moves north in reefer trucks toward Pacific Northwest grocery chains. Southbound return carries Washington apples, cherries, and Walla Walla onions alongside manufactured goods from Boeing's supply chain.
I-5 north from LA through the Inland Empire, Sacramento, and into the Central Valley. The Sacramento Valley on I-5 north of Sacramento runs fast and relatively clear outside of fog season (December through February, when tule fog in the valley can reduce visibility to near zero — slow down). Redding, CA is a good fuel break. The Siskiyou Pass on the California/Oregon border reaches 4,310 feet and closes in winter ice/snow conditions — check Caltrans District 2 and ODOT before departure in December through March. Oregon's I-5 through Eugene and Salem is smooth; Portland approaches on I-5 get congested through the downtown bridges. The Washington weigh station near Olympia on I-5 northbound is consistently active — it has a reputation for pulling trucks for full Level 1 inspections. Seattle delivery is typically off I-5/I-405 in the south Kent-Auburn distribution corridor.
Easy difficulty rating means freight is available and shippers need trucks — you can hold $2.80/mile without significant pushback. Technology equipment loads from Port LA bound for Seattle tech companies pay $2.85–$2.95/mile because of handling requirements and time sensitivity. Port logistics brokers who handle LA container freight are your best source for top-rate loads. Establish accounts with three or four of them and you'll rarely touch a load board.
Seattle to LA on the return runs $2.65–$2.80/mile — strong rates that make this one of the best bilateral pairs on the West Coast. Washington state agricultural products, technology goods moving south, and Boeing-related industrial freight provide genuine return volume. Pre-book your LA-bound return before you deliver in Seattle — the South King County warehouse district has trucks looking for southbound loads too.
When does the Siskiyou Pass close and how do I find out?
Closures happen during ice storms, typically December through March. Caltrans District 2 (Redding, CA) posts closures on the 511 system and their website. ODOT also posts Oregon-side closures. Check both before heading north through that area in winter. Some drivers detour via US-97 through Klamath Falls as an alternative when I-5 at Siskiyou closes.
What's the Washington Olympia weigh station like for inspections?
Washington State Patrol operates the I-5 northbound scales near Mounts Road in Tumwater (just south of Olympia). They run Level 1 CVSA inspections regularly and pull trucks that show any exterior issues. Have your annual inspection sticker current, lights working, and ELD compliant. Washington also enforces agricultural inspection requirements for produce loads.
Is the Kent-Auburn delivery area in Seattle easy to navigate?
Reasonably so — the industrial parks off I-167 and SR-167 south of Seattle are standard warehouse district layouts. Traffic on SR-167 from Auburn north toward Renton can back up during morning rush. Plan deliveries for 10am or later if possible. The area around Pacific and Kent handles a large share of the e-commerce and consumer goods volume for the Seattle metro.
Return Freight
Seattle to Los Angeles
1135 miles · $2.75/mile avg
Dispatch Service
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