381 miles · Est. 5.7 hours · Avg $2.60/mile · Gross $991
Lane Overview
381
Miles
$2.60
Avg rate/mile
$991
Avg gross rate
competitive
Competition
San Francisco to Los Angeles southbound on I-5 or US-101 carries Silicon Valley's tech output to Southern California's port and consumer market. Technology goods from Apple, Google, and Meta supplier networks, combined with Bay Area wine and spirits from Napa and Sonoma, and general consumer goods create diverse southbound cargo. Competitive rates at $2.50–$2.70/mile reflect California's dense carrier market — you need broker relationships or direct shipper accounts to consistently hit top rates.
I-5 south through the Central Valley is faster but passes through fog country in winter. US-101 south through San Jose, Salinas, and San Luis Obispo is scenic but adds 45 minutes. The Tejon Pass (I-5 Grapevine) at 4,183 feet is the final obstacle before LA — check Caltrans for winter closures. CARB California emissions compliance is mandatory throughout. LA delivery: most tech and consumer goods go to the City of Industry, Torrance, or Carson industrial corridors east and south of downtown. Return LA to San Francisco (Lane 25) brings port goods and consumer merchandise northbound at $2.45–$2.65/mile.
Driver Tip
This is a competitive lane — negotiate hard. Use our Load Profitability Calculator to establish your floor rate before entering broker conversations.
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Trip Costs
Fuel Estimate
$141
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$10
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$840
Before your other costs
Return Freight
Los Angeles to San Francisco
381 miles · $2.55/mile avg
Driver's Complete Guide
San Francisco to Los Angeles is the California Corridor — the most iconic run on the West Coast and one of the most carrier-saturated freight lanes in the country. The tech freight component from Silicon Valley makes this different from a generic consumer goods haul. Apple, Google, and Meta supplier freight is premium cargo when you can get it. The wine and spirits component from Napa and Sonoma adds reefer volume for carriers equipped for temperature-sensitive loads. But make no mistake: CARB compliance is the entry ticket, and if your equipment isn't compliant, you're locked out of this corridor entirely.
Silicon Valley technology freight is the headline — hardware components, server equipment, finished electronics from Apple's Cupertino supplier ecosystem and Google's Mountain View operations. Napa and Sonoma wine and spirits heading south to LA's enormous hospitality and retail market add reefer loads, particularly during harvest season (September–November). General consumer goods from the Bay Area's massive distribution infrastructure round out the dry-van volume. This lane has more freight diversity than almost any other in the database, which means load options are plentiful if you know where to look.
Two options: I-5 south through the Central Valley — faster, flatter, passes through Fresno. Or US-101 south through the Peninsula, Salinas, San Luis Obispo — more scenic, 45 minutes slower, but passes through the Central Coast wine country and avoids the Valley's summer heat. Tule fog on I-5 in December through February is the primary winter hazard — dense, zero-visibility fog that forms in the Central Valley and shuts I-5 without warning. CHP fog alerts are posted on Caltrans QuickMap. The Tejon Pass (Grapevine) on I-5 southbound has a mandatory brake check area — heavy loads must stop and verify brake condition before the descent. Winter chain law applies. CARB compliance checkpoint and CHP weigh station at Wheeler Ridge southbound.
At $2.50–$2.70/mile with approximately $10 in tolls, the California carrier density keeps rates from spiking much above that range on standard loads. Tech freight from direct Silicon Valley shipper relationships can push $2.80–$3.00/mile when it's time-sensitive. The wine and spirits reefer market during harvest season also spikes. Develop direct shipper contacts in the Valley — spot market on this corridor is a race to the bottom.
LA to San Francisco northbound (Lane 25) brings Port of LA import goods, consumer merchandise, and Central Valley produce heading north at $2.45–$2.65/mile. Consistent and available.
How do I check if my truck is CARB compliant before running this lane?
Visit the California ARB TRUCRS (Truck and Bus Regulation Compliance Reporting System) website and enter your VIN. Your engine model year must be 2010 or newer, or you need a CARB-approved DPF retrofit. Non-compliant trucks face significant fines at CHP inspection stations.
What's the best I-5 fuel stop between the Bay Area and LA?
Kettleman City on I-5, roughly the midpoint at about 180 miles south of the Bay Area. Multiple fuel options there. If you're running US-101, San Luis Obispo is the best fuel stop at about 220 miles south.
How do I get access to Silicon Valley tech freight as an owner-operator?
Develop relationships with freight brokers who specialize in Bay Area tech — companies like Coyote, Echo, and C.H. Robinson have Bay Area tech programs. Direct shipper outreach to Apple, Google, and Meta's logistics teams requires a solid MC authority history and CARB-compliant equipment.
Dispatch Service
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