Find quality carriers and competitive freight shipping rates for I-5 corridor long hauls. Convoy provides instant freight quotes for loads stopping and ending at any point along the I-5 corridor and beyond.
I-5 Corridor Freight Shipping Quotes
Freight Shipping Along the I-5 Corridor
Various factors contribute to I-5’s status as one of the most important freight lanes in the U.S.
For example, the I-5 corridor provides a direct connection between Los Angeles and Seattle, the largest Southernmost and Northernmost markets on the West Coast. Despite the fact that both cities have vast freight infrastructures — including ports that open them up to international trade as well as railroads and airports that connect with the interior of the country — shipping between Los Angeles and Seattle relies primarily on trucking.
The I-5 corridor is also the only continuous interstate highway to reach both Canada and Mexico, at which points it turns into British Columbia Highway 99 and Mexico Federal Highway 1, respectively. This opens I-5 up as a viable alternative to rail, sea, and air for international freight.
Along the I-5 corridor, freight activity tends to be busiest in California and slowest in Oregon, with Washington falling somewhere in between.
For instance, while California had the highest value of outbound freight shipments ($758,337 million) and the second highest value of inbound ($601,187 million) and domestic freight ($1,336,301 million) of any U.S. state in 2017, Oregon came in around 30th place for all three categories. Washington, on the other hand, came in 10th for domestic freight ($243,324 million) and 17th for inbound ($181,831 million) and outbound freight ($174,108 million).
Major Industries and Commercial Activity Along the I-5 Corridor
The industries found along I-5 naturally vary as the corridor makes its way up the West Coast. For example, in the five largest cities that the I-5 corridor passes through, the major industries are:
Seattle: Health and social services, aerospace, transportation, manufacturing, advanced technology, and food processing
Portland: Distribution, high technology, lumber, and manufacturing
Sacramento: Transportation, government, technology services, information, leisure and hospitality, construction, education, and health services
Los Angeles: Manufacturing, banking and finance, retail, health services, education, high-tech research and development, engineering, architecture, and large construction
San Diego: Manufacturing, military and defense, international trade, agriculture, high technology, and biotechnology
Produce season along the West Coast varies (May to August for California, September to December for Oregon, and September to November for Washington), so there’s a long span of time in which carriers could have lower capacity.
The West Coast states produce a variety of crops, including apples and raspberries in Washington; hay, pears, and wine grapes in Oregon; and almonds and grapes in California.
While California trades primarily with Texas, Arizona, Ohio, and Nevada, both Oregon and Washington keep their trade primarily along the West Coast, ensuring a steady supply of freight along the I-5 corridor.
How Weather Impacts Freight Shipping Along the I-5 Corridor
Weather varies widely along the I-5 corridor, with any number of weather events having the potential to affect freight delivery timelines.
For example, winter storms are possible in Washington, Oregon, and Northern California. Even southern California, which is known for its good weather, sees Santa Ana windstorms that can cause damage impacting roads. Wildfires are possible in all three states in the summer and early fall.
Surprisingly, carriers’ chances of hitting extreme weather seem to increase the farther south they get: Between 2007 and 2016, Washington saw 10 extreme weather events (five droughts and five wildfires), Oregon saw 12 events (six droughts and six wildfires), and California saw 14 events (eight droughts and six wildfires).
Although the likelihood of your shipment along the I-5 corridor being affected by weather is low, it is always best to plan ahead and be prepared.
Freight Carriers Along the I-5 Corridor
The I-5 corridor’s sheer length and passage through three states and multiple major cities, as well as the fact that truck driving is the most common job in both Oregon and California, mean that carrier options typically abound along I-5.
Convoy makes it easier for shippers to navigate these options by forming partnerships with carriers that service the I-5 corridor: With nearly 50,000 trucks serving nearly 2,000 facilities along I-5, we make it simple to schedule your shipment.
Our relationships with these trucking companies enable us to connect you with the right carrier — and a competitive rate — for your I-5 corridor long hauls.