Bakken Oil Region Trucking in North Dakota

The Bakken: A Parallel Trucking Economy

Western North Dakota’s Bakken oil region operates as a parallel trucking economy within the state. Since the shale oil boom began in the mid-2000s, the region around Williston and Watford City has sustained heavy oilfield service truck traffic that created infrastructure challenges the state is still working to resolve. The roads have improved significantly since the initial boom, but the operational realities remain distinct from standard freight corridors.

Key Corridors

US-2 (East-West)

US-2 runs from Grand Forks westward through Minot to Williston, connecting the eastern population centers to the heart of the Bakken. The road carries a mix of oilfield service traffic, agricultural hauling, and through traffic.

US-85 (North-South)

US-85 runs south from Williston through Watford City and Belfield, forming the spine of the Bakken oil region. This route carries the heaviest concentration of oilfield truck traffic in the state.

Infrastructure Realities

Roads

Road quality in the Bakken has improved substantially since the boom years, when heavy truck traffic overwhelmed rural roads designed for agricultural traffic. Key upgrades include US-85 widening and county road improvements. However:

• Some segments of US-85 and connecting roads are still narrower than ideal for heavy truck traffic
• Oilfield access roads vary widely in quality — from paved to maintained gravel to unimproved
• Spring frost law restrictions affect access roads throughout the region
• Dust on unpaved roads reduces visibility during dry seasons

Fuel

Truck Parking

Parking in the Bakken has improved since the boom but remains limited compared to major corridors. Williston has the most capacity. Watford City has expanded. Along US-85 between towns, pull-offs and rest areas are limited.

Cell Coverage

Cell coverage in the Bakken has improved significantly with carrier investment during the boom, but gaps remain, particularly:

• Between Watford City and Belfield on US-85
• On oilfield access roads away from main highways
• In river breaks and terrain features that block signal

Hazmat Crude Oil Transport

Crude oil transport by truck is a significant part of Bakken operations. Key considerations:

:::tip Crude oil transport in the Bakken carries environmental liability that standard trucking insurance does not fully address. A spill on a remote North Dakota road can require cleanup costs exceeding $1M. Environmental coverage is not optional for Bakken crude hauling — it is essential. :::

Weigh Station: Williston

The Williston weigh station at the US-2/US-85 junction serves as the primary enforcement point for Bakken truck traffic. NDHP Motor Carrier Operations officers patrol US-85 and connecting routes with portable scales, and enforcement is active.

Connection to Montana

US-85 continues south through western South Dakota and connects to Montana’s I-94 corridor at the state line. Carriers operating in the Bakken often cross into Montana’s eastern region, where similar remote conditions and limited infrastructure apply. Montana’s remote operations guide covers the conditions across the border.

Insurance for Bakken Operations

Bakken trucking operations carry a higher risk profile than standard North Dakota freight. The combination of:

• Heavy loads on roads that were not originally designed for them
• Remote locations with extended emergency response times
• Hazmat crude oil transport with environmental liability
• Winter conditions that amplify all of the above

This makes $1,000,000 CSL the minimum reasonable coverage for Bakken operations. Crude oil haulers should carry environmental coverage in addition to standard liability. The North Dakota trucking insurance landscape reflects the Bakken’s unique demands — carriers operating in the region should work with an agent who understands oilfield risk.