Seattle, WA
Freight hub guide — rates, shippers, parking, and opportunities for owner-operators in Seattle.
#19
Freight Rank
2,341
Carriers Based Here
Truck Parking
West Coast
Region
Who Operates Out of Seattle
2,341 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Seattle. Here is how that base breaks down by fleet size — useful for judging whether you would be competing against owner-operators or against fleets with dedicated freight locked up.
1,225
Owner-operators (1 truck)
572
Small fleets (2-5)
197
Mid fleets (6-20)
78
Large fleets (20+)
52% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 142 are registered to haul hazardous materials.
Source: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census (active carriers, US physical addresses), retrieved 2026-07-18.
Average Rates Per Mile
| Equipment Type | Rate / Mile |
|---|---|
| Dry Van | $2.45 |
| Reefer | $2.85 |
| Flatbed | $3.15 |
Rates by Equipment Type
Key Highways
Top Industries
Major Distribution Centers
Top Shippers
Nearby Ports
Truck Stops
Challenges
- I-5 through Seattle-Tacoma is consistently ranked among the worst congestion in the US
- Mountain passes (Snoqualmie I-90, Stevens US-2) close during winter storms
- Washington state requires chain carry from November through March on mountain routes
- Limited truck parking in the Puget Sound area
Opportunities
- Amazon HQ proximity means constant e-commerce fulfillment freight
- Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle-Tacoma) handles major Asian imports
- Boeing 777X and 787 production creates specialized aerospace freight
- Pacific Northwest agriculture (apples, cherries, hops) generates seasonal reefer loads
Seasonal Freight Patterns
Apple harvest (August-November) creates massive reefer outbound from Yakima/Wenatchee. Holiday e-commerce from Amazon peaks October-December. Boeing production is steady year-round. Cherry season (June-July) is short but intense. Winter weather closes mountain passes periodically.
Trucking in Seattle — FAQ
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