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Trucking plays a vital role in Alaska. It puts essentials like groceries, clothing, gear, and other supplies in the hands of Alaska’s residents. It also transports the inventory, supplies, materials, and equipment that keep Alaska’s businesses moving forward and power the state’s economy.
If you’re doing business in Alaska, knowing the ins and outs of trucking will help you move your freight quickly and easily. We’ll show you what you need to know to keep your business operations running smoothly, efficiently, and cost-effectively.
There’s no question: Moving goods around Alaska can be a challenge. 82% of Alaska’s communities are not accessible by road, and Alaska’s punishing winters can take their toll on drivers, roads, and equipment. However, once you gain a deeper understanding of hauling freight over the road in Alaska, you’ll navigate this transportation mode with greater ease.
Alaska Relies on Trucking to Move Freight to, from, and Around the State
46%
percentage of domestic freight moved by truck
Over-the-Road Freight to and from Alaska
When used in combination with air freight and ocean freight, trucking acts as a vital link to get incoming freight to its final destination in Alaska—or to move outgoing freight to a seaport or airport.
Additionally, some freight moves to and from Alaska exclusively via truck, over the ALCAN highway. Some of this freight has its origin or final destination in Canada, one of Alaska’s major trading partners. Other freight merely passes through Canada as it moves between Alaska and the lower 48.
Some trucking companies leverage two-driver teams to move freight between Alaska and the lower 48. This can mean transit times of as little as seven days from Dallas, Texas to Anchorage or Fairbanks. Deliveries to Prudhoe Bay take an additional day (or longer, depending on the weather).
Alaska Trucking Tip: The ALCAN runs through the upper reaches of British Columbia and the Yukon. Severe weather along the ALCAN can significantly impact over-the-road transit times. Be prepared to stay flexible on your timing if you’re expecting freight moving via the ALCAN—especially during the winter months.
Over-the-Road Freight Within Alaska
Communities in Alaska’s Interior like Fairbanks, Delta Junction, North Pole, and Tok—as well as Denali Park and Eielson Air Force Base—all rely on over-the-road freight travekubg via Alaska’s highway system. Additionally, trucking keeps Alaska’s Southcentral communities like Palmer, Eagle Creek, Wasilla, and Seward supplied.
Trucking also transports supplies, materials, equipment, and machinery to Alaska’s Far North, powering the oil and gas operations on the North Slope. If you’ve ever watched Ice Road Truckers, you’ve gotten a sense of how just treacherous the Dalton Highway can be—and what a critical role it plays in moving freight to Alaska’s remote north.
What Trucking Services Are Available in Alaska?
Despite the remoteness of the state, a full slate of trucking services is available within Alaska, including:
FTL (Full-Truckload) Service
LTL (Less-than-Truckload) Service
Temperature-Controlled Transportation / Refrigerated Service / Reefers
Hazardous Materials
Heavy Haul
Oversized Loads
Heavy Haul & Oversized Loads
Given the needs of Alaska’s prevalent oil and gas industry, requests for heavy haul and oversized loads are common. The mining and forestry industry also often has a need to move equipment, machinery, and materials over Alaska’s road systems, and some of these loads may be classified as overweight or oversized.
Overweight and oversized loads are regulated both at the federal level by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and at the state level by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities.
Oversize or Overweight Loads
Federal regulations set a maximum 102″ width limitation for vehicles that travel on the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Additionally, federal regulations also dictate the following maximum weights:
- 80,000 pounds gross vehicle weight
- 20,000 pound single axle weight
- 34,000 pound tandem axle weight
Loads that exceed these specs are considered oversized/overweight.
Permits for these loads are obtained on the state level, and they’re required for every state the equipment has to travel through.
For more information on Alaska requirements for overweight/oversize loads, see the Permits Manual linked on this page from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities website. You’ll find all the details on permits, pilot/escort vehicles, superloads, darkness restrictions, and holiday restrictions.
If your load is moving through Canada, you’ll also need to observe provincial regulations for these loads. You’ll find links to information for Canadian commercial vehicle regulations on the Federal Highway Administration website.
As you can see, transporting overweight and oversized machinery to, from, and around Alaska can get complicated—fast. It pays to work with an experienced trucking provider who can help you navigate these regulations. Reach out to one of our experts if you need help moving an Alaska overweight or oversized load.
Understanding Alaska Trucking Challenges
Even if you’re not likely to get behind the wheel of a commercial truck in Alaska anytime soon, it’s still important for business owners to understand the challenges the trucking industry faces in Alaska. Knowing the pitfalls offers the opportunity for better planning, which can help mitigate problems such as delayed shipments or overspending on transportation costs.
Extreme Weather Conditions
Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can all impact the timeline of over-the-road freight—especially if it’s coming over the ALCAN highway. Moving freight through these weather conditions requires the right expertise and the right equipment, so it’s important to choose your freight provider carefully.
Working closely with a freight forwarder or broker with significant Alaska experience will be vital for maintaining the integrity of your supply chain. An expert partner can help you plan your freight shipments carefully so, whenever possible, you’re going into the winter months with robust inventory and supplies. Additionally, the right partner can also assist with contingency planning so you have a fallback in case of a particularly disruptive weather event.
Seasonal Weight Restrictions
As the winter months start easing off, the spring breakup begins. This means seasonal weight restrictions to prevent damage to Alaska’s road system. A partner with skilled route planning capabilities is essential during these closures to avoid unexpected delays or supply chain disruptions.
Peak Summer Shipping Times
As spring continues, routes clear, and tourism starts to heat up, Alaska’s freight system returns to full operations, just in time to help businesses stock up for the busy summer months. Although availability will be at its peak during the summer months, so will demand. Work closely with your freight forwarder or broker to secure the freight timelines you need to keep your operation running smoothly.
Access to All Modes of Transportation
As important as trucking is to the state, it can’t do everything in Alaska. Many communities simply aren’t accessible by road, so freight has to travel by plane and boat. By using a single freight provider who can assist with your trucking, air cargo, and ocean freight needs, you’ll simplify your operations considerably. Access to multiple modes can also make for easier contingency planning.
Moving Your Alaska Freight with Greater Ease
Transporting freight in Alaska comes with its own set of challenges—remote locations, weather conditions, and more. By understanding the ins and outs of over-the-road Alaska freight, you’ll position yourself to proactively respond to challenges and keep your logistics running smoothly.
Looking to move freight to, from, or around Alaska? We offer a full roster of Alaska freight solutions, including trucking, air freight, ocean freight, and logistics services. Reach out to our team for a complimentary quote.
