Freight Shipping from Mobile to Tacoma
Ship freight from Mobile, AL to Tacoma, WA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $6,003-$7,399, LTL from $1,736-$2,773. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
2,792 mi
Drive Time
51 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$6,003-$7,399
LTL Rate Est.
$1,736-$2,773
Fresh Food Lane
Mobile → Tacoma Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
69–88
running this lane
Weekly Loads
37–49
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.18–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
70/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$38–$63 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.
Mobile to Tacoma Freight Corridor
Mobile is the Gulf Coast's overlooked freight powerhouse. The Port of Mobile handles 60+ million tons annually and the Airbus A320 final assembly line creates a unique mix of containerized imports, oversize aerospace cargo, and bulk commodities. The AM/NS Calvert steel mill (a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Nippon Steel) is one of the most advanced in North America, generating heavy flatbed volume on I-65 northbound.
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 Mobile-to-Tacoma corridor spans 2,792 miles via I-10, I-65, I-5, SR-16. This lane connects shipbuilding and petrochemicals freight from the Mobile 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 Mobile
Mobile's economy is driven by shipbuilding, petrochemicals, aerospace assembly, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
lumber & timber
petrochemicals
aircraft assemblies
coal exports
paper products
seafood
What Tacoma Receives
Tacoma's port logistics, military (joint base lewis-mcchord), manufacturing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Mobile.
containerized imports (Asia)
vehicles
petroleum products
construction materials
military supplies
consumer goods
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Mobile 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.
$6,003-$7,399 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.
$7,399-$9,353 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.
$7,957-$10,191 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$8,795-$11,866 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Mobile to Tacoma lane (2,792 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $6,003-$7,399 | 51 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,736-$2,773 | 53-55 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $9,074-$12,564 | 34 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $3,769-$5,165 | 54-56 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Mobile and Tacoma that drive volume on this lane.
Airbus U.S. Manufacturing Facility
Austal USA
AM/NS Calvert Steel
Port of Tacoma / NW Seaport Alliance
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Simpson Tacoma Kraft
Shipping Tips for Mobile to Tacoma
Mobile Seasonal Advisory
Hurricane season (June-November) can shut down port operations for days, creating massive post-storm freight surges. Shrimp season drives reefer demand from May through October.
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 2,792 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 51 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 Mobile and Tacoma — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Mobile, AL
- Metro Population
- 430K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-10, I-65, US-98
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Mobile Terminal; APM Terminals Mobile
- Port Access
- Port of Mobile (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Theodore Industrial Canal, Brookley Aeroplex
“The I-10/I-65 interchange south of Mobile is one of the most capacity-constrained freight corridors on the Gulf Coast. Carriers staging at the port often wait 4-6 hours for container pickup, so smart brokers build dwell time into their rate calculations.”
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 Mobile 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
Mobile to Tacoma Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Mobile to Tacoma?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Mobile, AL to Tacoma, WA currently range $6,003-$7,399 (roughly $2.18-$2.66 per mile over 2,792 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,736-$2,773 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 Mobile to Tacoma?
Standard FTL transit from Mobile to Tacoma is approximately 51 hrs by truck over 2,792 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 CSX Mobile Terminal to Port of Tacoma Intermodal Yard takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Mobile to Tacoma freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Mobile commonly ships lumber & timber, petrochemicals, aircraft assemblies, 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 Mobile?
Strong backhaul (scored 70/100 based on Tacoma's outbound commodity mix). Tacoma generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Mobile 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 Mobile to Tacoma?
The Mobile-to-Tacoma corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Mobile's top outbound commodities include lumber & timber, petrochemicals, aircraft assemblies, coal exports, paper products, seafood. Tacoma's primary inbound freight includes containerized imports (Asia), vehicles, petroleum products, construction materials, military supplies, consumer goods. Industries driving this lane include shipbuilding and petrochemicals from Mobile and port logistics and military (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) in Tacoma.
What tolls should I expect on the Mobile to Tacoma route?
Expect roughly $38-$63 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 Mobile to Tacoma lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to shipbuilding and petrochemicals 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 Mobile to Tacoma lane?
At 2,792 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 30-36 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 Mobile to Tacoma
We maintain working relationships with 69+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Mobile–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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