IZ Freight - Los Angeles Open Deck and Heavy Haul Logistics
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IZ Freight - Los Angeles Open Deck and Heavy Haul Logistics
Semi truck with a flatbed of netted fresh-cut fir Christmas trees on a gravel road at an Oregon hillside tree farm

Christmas Tree Trucking: Oregon and Washington to California

Dry vans and flatbeds for tree farms, wholesale buyers and retail lots. One coordinator from farm pickup to California delivery.

Oregon is No. 1 in trees cutDry van, reefer, flatbedNovember peak75,000+ carrier partners
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Powered by Armstrong Transport Group and its network of 75,000+ carrier partners, with one IZ Freight coordinator on your loads.

Why the Trees Come From Oregon and Washington

USDA 2022 Census of Agriculture figures.

Christmas tree farm rows in Oakland, Oregon
Farm rows ready for the fall harvest.
4,823,877 treesCut in Oregon in 2022, No. 1 in the U.S. and about a third of all trees cut.
936,904 treesCut in Washington in 2022, No. 4 in the U.S.
1,695 Oregon farmsGrowing Christmas trees on 48,433 acres.
Willamette ValleyClackamas, Polk, Marion and Benton counties lead Oregon.
Sources

Who We Coordinate Trucks For

Farms, buyers, sellers and lots.

Tree farms and growersBook trucks for harvest weeks before the rush.
Wholesale buyers and brokersMultiple farms, many loads, one contact.
Retail lots and garden centersDelivery windows that match lot openings.
Fundraiser lotsChurches, schools and nonprofits ordering a load.

Trailer Options for Christmas Tree Loads

Matched to the trees, the miles and the receiver.

Dry van semi truck with a 53 foot trailer on the highway
Dry van, 53 ft

Most baled tree loads ride in a closed van. Pine trees that are not certified must move in a closed van through California.

Dry van trailer rear doors open at a loading yard
Reefer

When the buyer wants temperature control on longer or warmer runs.

Tall load wrapped in tarps and strapped on a flatbed trailer
Flatbed with tarps

Large specimen trees, stands and farm equipment. Tarped to protect the load.

More: dry van and reefer, flatbed trucking.

Sources

Christmas Tree Shipping Season

Typical timing. Every season is a little different.

September to OctoberBook capacity. Oregon inspectors check fields for export loads ahead of harvest.
Early NovemberHarvest and shipping start across the Pacific Northwest.
Before ThanksgivingThe busiest shipping weeks. Trucks get tight, so book early.
DecemberRefill loads for lots that sell out.
Sources

Loading Notes and Paperwork

From the Oregon Department of Agriculture shipping guide. Growers handle permits; we make sure the truck is ready for them.

Young Christmas trees growing in Oakland, Oregon
Trees take years to reach market size.
Oregon shipping permitEvery load of Oregon-grown trees needs one, including loads to California.
County of origin and speciesCalifornia requires both on the shipping documents.
Pine loadsPine headed to California needs a European pine shoot moth certificate.
Load fast after cuttingShaken and baled trees should be loaded soon to keep pests off.
Sources

California Delivery

Straight down I-5 from the farms.

Los Angeles and Orange CountyLots, garden centers and big retail.
Inland Empire and San DiegoMulti-stop runs to several lots.
Bay Area and SacramentoShorter runs off I-5.
Central ValleyFresno, Bakersfield and the 99 corridor.
Christmas tree lot with trees standing for sale
Retail lots need trees delivered on time.

How Backhaul Pricing Works

No price list. Each quote is based on the load and the week.

Backhaul lanesTrucks that deliver north want a load home, which can help southbound pricing.
TimingPeak weeks cost more. Booking early holds capacity.
Trailer and milesDry van, reefer or flatbed, plus the distance to each stop.
StopsOne drop or several lots on one truck.

Shipping north too? See Los Angeles to Portland freight and Los Angeles to Seattle freight.

Christmas Tree Freight in Pictures

Farms, trucks and lots.

Flatbed loaded with netted Christmas trees, butts out and strapped, parked beside a mall parking lot tree lot
Illustration: trees arriving at a seasonal lot in a mall parking lot.
Workers unloading netted fir trees from a flatbed into a fenced seasonal lot in a large retail parking lot
Illustration: unloading a flatbed of trees at a retail parking lot.
Two workers unloading netted Christmas trees from the open doors of a dry van at a lit tree lot at dusk
Illustration: unloading a dry van of netted trees at a tree lot.
Semi truck hauling a flatbed of strapped Christmas trees on a winding snowy Oregon mountain road
Illustration: a strapped tree load on a snowy two-lane road.
Semi truck with a flatbed of bundled Christmas trees on a snowy mountain interstate
Illustration: a tree load on a snowy mountain interstate.
Dry van semi truck with a 53 foot trailer on the highway
53 ft dry van, a common choice for baled trees.

Christmas Tree Trucking FAQ

Yes. We coordinate dry vans, reefers and flatbeds from Oregon and Washington farms to California buyers and lots.

Harvest and shipping usually start in early November, with the busiest weeks before Thanksgiving.

Most baled loads ride in a 53 ft dry van. Reefers and tarped flatbeds are used when the load or the buyer calls for them.

An Oregon Christmas tree shipping permit, plus county of origin and species on the shipping documents. Pine needs a European pine shoot moth certificate.

Yes. Multi-stop loads are common for retail lots.

It depends on miles, trailer type, stops and the week. Send the details and we quote the load.

Yes. Farms, buyers, sellers and lots all book with one coordinator.

IZ Freight is powered by Armstrong Transport Group and its 75,000+ carrier partners.

Sources

Booking Christmas Tree Loads?

Farm, pickup dates, number of loads, trailer and delivery cities. We send the quote.

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Figures are from the sources listed. Timing is typical. Permit rules can change, so growers should confirm with their state agriculture department. Photos via Wikimedia Commons: John Phelan (CC BY 4.0), Rick Obst (CC BY 4.0), U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public domain); Images marked Illustration are AI-generated and do not show actual shipments. IZ Freight is an independent agency of Armstrong Transport Group, LLC (MC-555609, USDOT 2236080). Transportation is performed by authorized motor carriers.

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