Freight Shipping from Long Beach to Kent
Ship freight from Long Beach, CA to Kent, WA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,694-$3,320, LTL from $889-$1,465. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,253 mi
Drive Time
23 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,694-$3,320
LTL Rate Est.
$889-$1,465
Industrial Freight Lane
Long Beach → Kent Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
103–119
running this lane
Weekly Loads
42–63
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
74/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$18–$30 one-way passing through CA, WA. 3 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.
Long Beach to Kent Freight Corridor
The Port of Long Beach, paired with the adjacent Port of Los Angeles, forms the San Pedro Bay complex that handles nearly half of all US maritime imports. Long Beach itself has invested billions in on-dock rail infrastructure, allowing containers to move directly from ship to train without a truck dray, though the majority still leave by truck on the notoriously congested I-710. The city's zero-emission truck mandates are reshaping drayage economics as carriers invest in electric and hydrogen-powered equipment.
Kent sits in the heart of the Green River Valley, home to the largest warehouse and distribution concentration in the Pacific Northwest. Over 60 million square feet of industrial space lines the valley floor, housing Amazon fulfillment centers, Blue Origin's rocket manufacturing campus, and REI's national headquarters. The valley's proximity to both the Port of Tacoma and Sea-Tac Airport makes it the natural transload point for imported goods entering the Pacific Northwest.
The Long Beach-to-Kent corridor spans 1,253 miles via I-710, I-405, I-5, SR-167. This lane connects port operations and oil & petrochemicals freight from the Long Beach market to warehousing & distribution and aerospace manufacturing demand in Kent. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Long Beach
Long Beach's economy is driven by port operations, oil & petrochemicals, aerospace, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
transloaded imports
petroleum products
recycled materials
aerospace components
machinery
cotton exports
What Kent Receives
Kent's warehousing & distribution, aerospace manufacturing, food processing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Long Beach.
containerized imports (via Port of Tacoma)
raw materials
packaging supplies
food ingredients
consumer goods
fuel products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Long Beach and Kent, 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.
$2,694-$3,320 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.
$3,571-$4,573 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$3,947-$5,325 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.
$889-$1,465 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Long Beach to Kent lane (1,253 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,694-$3,320 | 23 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $889-$1,465 | 25-27 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $4,072-$5,639 | 15 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,692-$2,318 | 26-28 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Long Beach and Kent that drive volume on this lane.
Virgin Orbit
Boeing C-17 (closed 2015, still parts)
Epson America
Amazon Kent Fulfillment (BFI4/BFI3)
Blue Origin (HQ)
REI Co-op (HQ)
Shipping Tips for Long Beach to Kent
Long Beach Seasonal Advisory
Peak import season runs August through November for holiday retail. The "blank sailing" period during Chinese New Year (January-February) creates a 3-4 week dip before the spring restocking wave.
Kent Seasonal Advisory
Amazon fulfillment drives massive Q4 holiday surges (October-December). Blue Origin rocket component shipments are irregular but high-value. REI seasonal inventory peaks align with outdoor recreation seasons — spring gear (February-March) and winter gear (August-September).
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,253 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 23 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 Long Beach and Kent — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Long Beach, CA
- Metro Population
- 475K city
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.40-$2.80/mi
- Key Highways
- I-710, I-405, SR-47
- Rail / Intermodal
- Pier B On-Dock Rail (UP/BNSF); ITS Terminal; TTI Terminal
- Port Access
- Port of Long Beach (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- North Long Beach, Carson/Dominguez, Signal Hill
“Long Beach's Clean Truck Program now requires all drayage trucks entering the port to meet 2010 or newer emission standards. The upcoming zero-emission mandate is already driving smaller drayage operators out of the market, concentrating volume with larger, better-capitalized fleets.”
Destination
Kent, WA
- Metro Population
- 137K city (part of Seattle metro)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-5, SR-167, SR-516
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Auburn Yard (adjacent)
- Warehouse Districts
- Kent Valley Industrial (Green River), East Hill/SR-167, Auburn/I-5 South
“Kent Valley is the single best place in the Pacific Northwest to find outbound loads. The density of fulfillment centers and distribution warehouses means carriers can often find same-day loads without repositioning, making it the preferred staging area for owner-operators working the Seattle market.”
Return Loads from Kent
Kent generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Long Beach is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Kent
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Long Beach to Kent Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Long Beach to Kent?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Long Beach, CA to Kent, WA currently range $2,694-$3,320 (roughly $2.16-$2.67 per mile over 1,253 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $889-$1,465 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 Long Beach to Kent?
Standard FTL transit from Long Beach to Kent is approximately 23 hrs by truck over 1,253 miles, with 3 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 Pier B On-Dock Rail (UP/BNSF) to BNSF Auburn Yard (adjacent) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Long Beach to Kent freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Long Beach commonly ships transloaded imports, petroleum products, recycled materials, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Kent commonly receives containerized imports (via Port of Tacoma), raw materials, packaging supplies. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Kent to Long Beach?
Strong backhaul (scored 74/100 based on Kent's outbound commodity mix). Kent generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Long Beach is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Kent's top outbound commodities — e-commerce shipments, aerospace components, processed foods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Long Beach to Kent?
The Long Beach-to-Kent corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Long Beach's top outbound commodities include transloaded imports, petroleum products, recycled materials, aerospace components, machinery, cotton exports. Kent's primary inbound freight includes containerized imports (via Port of Tacoma), raw materials, packaging supplies, food ingredients, consumer goods, fuel products. Industries driving this lane include port operations and oil & petrochemicals from Long Beach and warehousing & distribution and aerospace manufacturing in Kent.
When are rates highest on the Long Beach to Kent lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to port operations and oil & petrochemicals cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Get Exact Rates for Long Beach to Kent
We maintain working relationships with 103+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Long Beach–Kent 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