Freight Shipping from Des Moines to Seattle
Ship freight from Des Moines, IA to Seattle, WA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $4,089-$5,040, LTL from $1,246-$2,017. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,902 mi
Drive Time
35 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$4,089-$5,040
LTL Rate Est.
$1,246-$2,017
Port Drayage Corridor
Des Moines → Seattle Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
75–90
running this lane
Weekly Loads
83–102
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
73/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$20–$33 one-way passing through IA, WA. 5 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.
Des Moines to Seattle Freight Corridor
Des Moines sits at the junction of I-80 and I-35, making it the natural crossroads of the upper Midwest agricultural belt. The city punches above its weight in freight thanks to a concentration of food processing plants (Tyson, Barilla, Kemin) and Hy-Vee's distribution network that services grocery stores across eight states. Meta's massive data center campus in Altoona has added a new dimension of high-value technology freight for server equipment and infrastructure.
Seattle is the Pacific Northwest's freight powerhouse, combining one of the nation's largest container ports with the headquarters of Amazon, Boeing, Microsoft, and Costco. The Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle + Tacoma) is the fourth-largest container gateway in North America, funneling Asian imports into the U.S. interior via BNSF and Union Pacific rail. Amazon's explosive last-mile network has transformed the region's freight landscape, with dozens of delivery stations and fulfillment centers scattered across the Puget Sound.
The Des Moines-to-Seattle corridor spans 1,902 miles via I-80, I-35, I-5, I-90. This lane connects insurance & financial services and food processing freight from the Des Moines market to technology and aerospace (boeing) demand in Seattle. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Des Moines
Des Moines's economy is driven by insurance & financial services, food processing, agriculture, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
processed meats
corn products & ethanol
insurance documents
animal feed
soybeans
egg products
What Seattle Receives
Seattle's technology, aerospace (boeing), e-commerce (amazon) sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Des Moines.
containerized imports (Asia)
consumer electronics
automotive vehicles
construction materials
industrial machinery
food & beverage
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Des Moines and Seattle, 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.
$4,089-$5,040 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.
$5,040-$6,372 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.
$5,421-$6,942 estimated for this lane
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
Cost-effective for shipments under 10,000 lbs or fewer than 10 pallets. Shared trailer space with other shippers reduces cost for smaller loads.
$1,246-$2,017 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Des Moines to Seattle lane (1,902 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $4,089-$5,040 | 35 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,246-$2,017 | 37-39 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $6,182-$8,559 | 23 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,568-$3,519 | 38-40 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Des Moines and Seattle that drive volume on this lane.
John Deere (Des Moines Works)
Hy-Vee (HQ)
Principal Financial (HQ)
Amazon (HQ)
Boeing Everett/Renton
Microsoft (Redmond)
Shipping Tips for Des Moines to Seattle
Des Moines Seasonal Advisory
Harvest season (September-November) transforms the freight market as grain trucks flood the highways and competition for drivers intensifies. Holiday food processing peaks October through December. Data center construction freight has become a year-round constant.
Seattle Seasonal Advisory
Port volumes peak July-October as retailers stock for holidays. Apple and cherry harvest (July-September) from eastern Washington creates heavy reefer demand. Boeing production schedules drive oversized and flatbed freight year-round. Amazon Q4 surge (October-December) is the single largest seasonal freight event in the region.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,902 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 35 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 Des Moines and Seattle — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Des Moines, IA
- Metro Population
- 699K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.00-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, I-35, I-235
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Des Moines Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- Ankeny/I-35 North, Altoona/I-80 East, Grimes/I-80/I-35
“Iowa's 80/35 interchange is the most critical truck routing decision point between Chicago and the Great Plains. Carriers heading west can choose I-80 toward Omaha or I-35 toward Kansas City, and rate differentials between these two lanes can swing 15-20% depending on seasonal demand.”
Destination
Seattle, WA
- Metro Population
- 4.0M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-5, I-90, I-405
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Seattle International Gateway; Union Pacific Argo Yard; Port of Seattle Terminal 18
- Port Access
- Port of Seattle / Northwest Seaport Alliance (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Kent Valley/I-5 South, SoDo/Harbor Island, Sumner/I-167
“Seattle's chronic truck driver shortage — driven by sky-high cost of living — means carriers willing to base here command premium rates. The I-5 corridor between Seattle and Portland is one of the most consistently high-paying lanes on the West Coast, especially for reefer loads of Pacific Northwest produce.”
Return Loads from Seattle
Seattle generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Des Moines is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Seattle
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
Des Moines to Seattle Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Des Moines to Seattle?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Des Moines, IA to Seattle, WA currently range $4,089-$5,040 (roughly $2.16-$2.66 per mile over 1,902 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,246-$2,017 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 Des Moines to Seattle?
Standard FTL transit from Des Moines to Seattle is approximately 35 hrs by truck over 1,902 miles, with 5 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 UP Des Moines Intermodal to BNSF Seattle International Gateway takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Des Moines to Seattle freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Des Moines commonly ships processed meats, corn products & ethanol, insurance documents, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Seattle commonly receives containerized imports (Asia), consumer electronics, automotive vehicles. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Seattle to Des Moines?
Strong backhaul (scored 73/100 based on Seattle's outbound commodity mix). Seattle generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Des Moines is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Seattle's top outbound commodities — aircraft & aerospace parts, software/cloud hardware, seafood (Alaska processing) — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Des Moines to Seattle?
The Des Moines-to-Seattle corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Des Moines's top outbound commodities include processed meats, corn products & ethanol, insurance documents, animal feed, soybeans, egg products. Seattle's primary inbound freight includes containerized imports (Asia), consumer electronics, automotive vehicles, construction materials, industrial machinery, food & beverage. Industries driving this lane include insurance & financial services and food processing from Des Moines and technology and aerospace (Boeing) in Seattle.
When are rates highest on the Des Moines to Seattle lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to insurance & financial services and food processing 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 Des Moines to Seattle lane?
At 1,902 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 20-25 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 Des Moines to Seattle
We maintain working relationships with 75+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Des Moines–Seattle corridor. Tell us about your freight and we will match you with one that fits your commodity, timing, and budget. Free quote, no obligation.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM CT | No obligation, no contracts