Intermodal Trucking in Missoula, MT

Market rates, top lanes, earnings estimates, and freight insights for intermodal owner-operators in Missoula.

$2.22

Rate / Mile

$18,870

Est. Gross / Month

$12,266

Est. Net / Month

Mountain West

Market Region

About Intermodal Trucking

Intermodal drayage involves hauling containers between rail yards, ports, and distribution centers. Short-haul but high-frequency work, concentrated around major rail hubs and port cities.

Statewide Intermodal Overview

Intermodal rates, lanes, and regulations across all of Montana

Intermodal Earnings in Montana

Detailed earnings data for intermodal owner-operators in MT

Intermodal Market in the Mountain West

Mountain West dry van operations face unique challenges from long distances between freight hubs and high deadhead percentages. Denver and Salt Lake City are the primary load origins, with Phoenix adding significant volume in the south. Carriers who can secure round-trip freight between these hubs perform well, but one-way loads into rural areas often require repositioning. The I-70 and I-80 corridors are critical arteries.

Top Intermodal Lanes from Missoula

Denver CO → Salt Lake City UT

Phoenix AZ → Albuquerque NM

Boise ID → Salt Lake City UT

Las Vegas NV → Denver CO

Why Missoula for Intermodal

Key Industries

Timber & Forest products
Healthcare
Education
Tourism
Craft brewing

Key Highways

I-90US-93US-12

Top Shippers

University of Montana
Community Medical Center
Roseburg Forest Products

Distribution Centers Near Missoula

Sysco Western Montana

Universal Forest Products

Costco regional

Need Intermodal Dispatch in Missoula?

Compare top dispatch services for intermodal carriers operating in the Missoula, MT market. Find the right partner for your lanes and equipment.

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Intermodal Trucking in Missoula — FAQ

The modelled intermodal rate for Missoula is $2.22 per loaded mile. This is a regional baseline for the Mountain West region adjusted for metro size — it is an estimate, not observed lane data, and real rates vary significantly by lane, broker, season, and load specifics. Check a load board for live rates before pricing a load.

Based on current market estimates, a intermodal owner-operator based in Missoula can expect approximately $18,870 gross monthly revenue and around $12,266 net after typical expenses (fuel, insurance, maintenance). Actual earnings depend on miles driven, load selection, and operating efficiency.

Top intermodal lanes from the Missoula market include: Denver CO → Salt Lake City UT, Phoenix AZ → Albuquerque NM, Boise ID → Salt Lake City UT, Las Vegas NV → Denver CO. These lanes reflect the Mountain West freight patterns and may vary by season.

Missoula sits in the Mountain West freight region, and its freight base is driven by timber & forest products, healthcare, education. It is served by I-90, US-93, US-12, so reloads are generally easier to find than in markets off the interstate network. Whether it works for intermodal depends on which of those industries actually ship your equipment type — check a load board for live outbound volume.

Key highways for intermodal freight in Missoula include I-90, US-93, US-12. These corridors connect to major distribution centers and freight lanes across the Mountain West region.