Freight Shipping from Birmingham to Tacoma
Ship freight from Birmingham, AL to Tacoma, WA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $5,807-$7,158, LTL from $1,686-$2,696. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
2,701 mi
Drive Time
49 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$5,807-$7,158
LTL Rate Est.
$1,686-$2,696
Industrial Freight Lane
Birmingham → Tacoma Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
79–94
running this lane
Weekly Loads
87–99
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
76/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$37–$61 one-way passing through AL, WA, TN, KY, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, NM. 7 typical fuel stops along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Tue, Wed, Thu. Avoid: Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Birmingham to Tacoma Freight Corridor
Birmingham sits at the crossroads of I-20 and I-65, making it the natural distribution pivot between the Gulf Coast and the upper Southeast. The metro's steel heritage lives on through McWane and U.S. Steel operations that keep flatbed demand consistently high. Mercedes-Benz and Honda assembly plants in Tuscaloosa and Lincoln create a steady diet of JIT automotive freight moving on dedicated lanes to suppliers across the Midwest.
Tacoma is the southern anchor of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, handling the bulk of container vessel calls for the Pacific Northwest. The Port of Tacoma's deep-water terminals process millions of TEUs annually, with direct rail connections to BNSF's transcontinental network. Joint Base Lewis-McChord, the largest military installation on the West Coast, generates substantial defense logistics freight including vehicle movements, equipment deployments, and supply chain operations.
The Birmingham-to-Tacoma corridor spans 2,701 miles via I-20, I-65, I-5, SR-16. This lane connects automotive manufacturing and steel production freight from the Birmingham market to port logistics and military (joint base lewis-mcchord) demand in Tacoma. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Birmingham
Birmingham's economy is driven by automotive manufacturing, steel production, medical devices, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
steel coils & pipe
automotive parts
medical equipment
coal & coke
poultry products
cast iron fittings
What Tacoma Receives
Tacoma's port logistics, military (joint base lewis-mcchord), manufacturing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Birmingham.
containerized imports (Asia)
vehicles
petroleum products
construction materials
military supplies
consumer goods
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Birmingham and Tacoma, these equipment types best serve this corridor.
Dry Van (FTL)
Ideal for palletized consumer goods, electronics, packaged foods, and general merchandise. Enclosed protection from weather and theft.
$5,807-$7,158 estimated for this lane
Refrigerated (Reefer)
Required for temperature-sensitive freight including fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Maintains precise temperature control throughout transit.
$7,158-$9,048 estimated for this lane
Flatbed
Best for steel, lumber, machinery, building materials, and oversized loads that cannot be palletized or loaded through standard dock doors.
$7,698-$9,859 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$8,508-$11,479 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Birmingham to Tacoma lane (2,701 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $5,807-$7,158 | 49 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,686-$2,696 | 51-53 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $8,778-$12,155 | 33 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $3,646-$4,997 | 52-54 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Birmingham and Tacoma that drive volume on this lane.
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International
U.S. Steel
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama
Port of Tacoma / NW Seaport Alliance
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Simpson Tacoma Kraft
Shipping Tips for Birmingham to Tacoma
Birmingham Seasonal Advisory
Steel shipments peak Q1-Q2 as construction season ramps up. Automotive freight dips during the two-week July shutdown at Mercedes and Honda plants.
Tacoma Seasonal Advisory
Container import volumes peak mid-summer through early fall for holiday retail inventory. Military freight follows deployment and exercise schedules at JBLM. Grain export season (August-November) from eastern Washington drives heavy truck-to-ship transfers at the port.
Consider Team Drivers
At 2,701 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 49 hours without mandatory 10-hour rest breaks, cutting transit time nearly in half compared to a solo driver.
Book Early for Best Rates
Spot market rates fluctuate daily. Booking 3-5 days in advance typically saves 10-15% compared to same-day or next-day freight requests. For recurring shipments, ask about contract rates.
Logistics Infrastructure
How freight actually flows in and out of Birmingham and Tacoma — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Birmingham, AL
- Metro Population
- 1.1M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-20, I-65, I-59
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Irondale Intermodal; CSX Boyles Yard
- Warehouse Districts
- Irondale/Eastwood, Bessemer/I-20 Corridor
“Flatbed carriers running steel out of Birmingham often deadhead to the Alabama poultry belt around Decatur and Cullman for backhaul reefer loads, creating one of the Southeast's most efficient two-way lane combinations.”
Destination
Tacoma, WA
- Metro Population
- 920K metro (Pierce County)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-5, SR-16, SR-167
- Rail / Intermodal
- Port of Tacoma Intermodal Yard; BNSF South Tacoma Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Tacoma / Northwest Seaport Alliance (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Port of Tacoma/Tideflats, Fredrickson/I-5 South, Fife/SR-167 Corridor
“The Tacoma Tideflats industrial area is one of the densest freight zones on the West Coast, with port terminals, rail yards, and warehouses packed into a small area. Carriers who master the local routing through this zone — avoiding the chronic congestion on SR-509 — gain a significant time advantage on port drayage runs.”
Return Loads from Tacoma
Tacoma generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Birmingham is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Tacoma
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Birmingham to Tacoma Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Birmingham to Tacoma?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Birmingham, AL to Tacoma, WA currently range $5,807-$7,158 (roughly $2.16-$2.67 per mile over 2,701 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,686-$2,696 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently balanced on this corridor, so booking 3-5 days out locks in the best pricing. Request a custom quote for exact rates.
How long does freight take from Birmingham to Tacoma?
Standard FTL transit from Birmingham to Tacoma is approximately 49 hrs by truck over 2,701 miles, with 7 typical fuel stops along the corridor. LTL shipments add 2-4 business days due to terminal transfers. Expedited service with team drivers can reduce FTL transit by up to 40%. Intermodal rail-truck service via Norfolk Southern Irondale Intermodal to Port of Tacoma Intermodal Yard takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Birmingham to Tacoma freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Birmingham commonly ships steel coils & pipe, automotive parts, medical equipment, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Tacoma commonly receives containerized imports (Asia), vehicles, petroleum products. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Tacoma to Birmingham?
Strong backhaul (scored 76/100 based on Tacoma's outbound commodity mix). Tacoma generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Birmingham is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Tacoma's top outbound commodities — containerized exports (grain, hay), lumber & wood products, military equipment — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Birmingham to Tacoma?
The Birmingham-to-Tacoma corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Birmingham's top outbound commodities include steel coils & pipe, automotive parts, medical equipment, coal & coke, poultry products, cast iron fittings. Tacoma's primary inbound freight includes containerized imports (Asia), vehicles, petroleum products, construction materials, military supplies, consumer goods. Industries driving this lane include automotive manufacturing and steel production from Birmingham and port logistics and military (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) in Tacoma.
What tolls should I expect on the Birmingham to Tacoma route?
Expect roughly $37-$61 in tolls round-trip passing through AL, WA, TN, KY, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, NM. Most rate quotes either include tolls in the line-haul or bill them as a separate pass-through — ask your dispatcher to confirm which model applies to your lane.
When are rates highest on the Birmingham to Tacoma lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to automotive manufacturing and steel production cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable); Mar-Oct (construction season) (+8-14% on flatbed). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Should I use team drivers for the Birmingham to Tacoma lane?
At 2,701 miles, this route exceeds a solo driver's hours-of-service limits and requires at least one 10-hour break, adding roughly 14-18 hours to transit. Team drivers typically deliver in 29-35 hours — nearly half the solo transit — at a 20-35% rate premium. For time-critical freight over 1,200 miles, teams generally pay for themselves.
Get Exact Rates for Birmingham to Tacoma
We maintain working relationships with 79+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Birmingham–Tacoma corridor. Tell us about your freight and we will match you with one that fits your commodity, timing, and budget. Free quote, no obligation.
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