Freight Shipping from Tacoma to St. Louis
Ship freight from Tacoma, WA to St. Louis, MO with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $4,812-$5,931, LTL from $1,431-$2,302. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
2,238 mi
Drive Time
41 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$4,812-$5,931
LTL Rate Est.
$1,431-$2,302
Port Drayage Corridor
Tacoma → St. Louis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
88–112
running this lane
Weekly Loads
108–128
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
77/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$26–$43 one-way passing through WA, MO. 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.
Tacoma to St. Louis Freight Corridor
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.
St. Louis sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, making it a natural multimodal freight hub where barge, rail, and truck converge. Anheuser-Busch's flagship brewery ships millions of cases weekly on dedicated lane networks. Boeing's defense division in north St. Louis County produces F/A-18 and F-15 fighter jets, generating oversize military cargo requiring specialized flatbed carriers.
The Tacoma-to-St. Louis corridor spans 2,238 miles via I-5, SR-16, I-70, I-64. This lane connects port logistics and military (joint base lewis-mcchord) freight from the Tacoma market to beer & beverage and agriculture & food demand in St. Louis. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Tacoma
Tacoma's economy is driven by port logistics, military (joint base lewis-mcchord), manufacturing, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
containerized exports (grain, hay)
lumber & wood products
military equipment
frozen seafood
scrap metal
paper products
What St. Louis Receives
St. Louis's beer & beverage, agriculture & food, defense & aerospace sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Tacoma.
raw grain & barley
aluminum cans & packaging
auto parts
consumer goods
industrial chemicals
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Tacoma and St. Louis, 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.
$4,812-$5,931 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.
$5,931-$7,497 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.
$6,378-$8,169 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$7,050-$9,512 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Tacoma to St. Louis lane (2,238 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $4,812-$5,931 | 41 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,431-$2,302 | 43-45 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $7,274-$10,071 | 27 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $3,021-$4,140 | 44-46 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Tacoma and St. Louis that drive volume on this lane.
Port of Tacoma / NW Seaport Alliance
Joint Base Lewis-McChord
Simpson Tacoma Kraft
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Boeing Defense
General Motors (Wentzville)
Shipping Tips for Tacoma to St. Louis
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.
St. Louis Seasonal Advisory
Beer shipments surge before major holidays (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Super Bowl). Mississippi River flooding in spring can shut down river terminals and divert barge freight to trucks, causing temporary rate spikes.
Consider Team Drivers
At 2,238 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 41 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 Tacoma and St. Louis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
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.”
Destination
St. Louis, MO
- Metro Population
- 2.8M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-70, I-64, I-44
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF St. Louis Intermodal; UP Dupo Yard; NS Luther Yard
- Port Access
- Port of St. Louis (Mississippi River, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Hazelwood/Earth City, Pontoon Beach/I-270 East, Fenton/I-44 Corridor
“St. Louis is one of the few markets where barge-to-truck transloading creates meaningful freight opportunities. Grain and bulk commodities arriving by barge on the Mississippi are transferred to trucks at river terminals for final-mile delivery to processing plants across the Midwest.”
Return Loads from St. Louis
St. Louis generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Tacoma is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from St. Louis
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
Tacoma to St. Louis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Tacoma to St. Louis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Tacoma, WA to St. Louis, MO currently range $4,812-$5,931 (roughly $2.17-$2.65 per mile over 2,238 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,431-$2,302 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently tight 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 Tacoma to St. Louis?
Standard FTL transit from Tacoma to St. Louis is approximately 41 hrs by truck over 2,238 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 Port of Tacoma Intermodal Yard to BNSF St. Louis Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Tacoma to St. Louis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Tacoma commonly ships containerized exports (grain, hay), lumber & wood products, military equipment, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. St. Louis commonly receives raw grain & barley, aluminum cans & packaging, auto parts. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from St. Louis to Tacoma?
Strong backhaul (scored 77/100 based on St. Louis's outbound commodity mix). St. Louis generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Tacoma is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. St. Louis's top outbound commodities — beer & beverages, processed foods, defense equipment — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Tacoma to St. Louis?
The Tacoma-to-St. Louis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Tacoma's top outbound commodities include containerized exports (grain, hay), lumber & wood products, military equipment, frozen seafood, scrap metal, paper products. St. Louis's primary inbound freight includes raw grain & barley, aluminum cans & packaging, auto parts, consumer goods, industrial chemicals, retail merchandise. Industries driving this lane include port logistics and military (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) from Tacoma and beer & beverage and agriculture & food in St. Louis.
What tolls should I expect on the Tacoma to St. Louis route?
Expect roughly $26-$43 in tolls round-trip passing through WA, MO. 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 Tacoma to St. Louis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to port logistics and military (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) 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 Tacoma to St. Louis lane?
At 2,238 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 24-29 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 Tacoma to St. Louis
We maintain working relationships with 88+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Tacoma–St. Louis 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