Freight Shipping from Akron to St. Louis
Ship freight from Akron, OH to St. Louis, MO with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,372-$1,691, LTL from $551-$942. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
638 mi
Drive Time
12 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,372-$1,691
LTL Rate Est.
$551-$942
Auto Manufacturing Corridor
Akron → St. Louis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
128–152
running this lane
Weekly Loads
87–99
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.15–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
61/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$13–$21 one-way passing through OH, MO, KY, VA, IN. 1 typical fuel stop 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.
Akron to St. Louis Freight Corridor
Akron earned the title "Rubber Capital of the World" — Goodyear's global headquarters still anchors the city's economy, along with a deep cluster of polymer science companies, tire retreaders, and rubber product manufacturers that grew up around the original tire industry. The I-76/I-77 junction makes Akron a natural crossroads between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. The University of Akron's polymer science program ensures a constant pipeline of materials innovation that keeps the city's chemical and advanced materials freight volumes growing.
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 Akron-to-St. Louis corridor spans 638 miles via I-76, I-77, I-70, I-64. This lane connects polymer & rubber manufacturing and advanced materials freight from the Akron 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 Akron
Akron's economy is driven by polymer & rubber manufacturing, advanced materials, healthcare, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
tires & rubber products
polymer compounds
oats & cereals (Quaker)
industrial adhesives
specialty chemicals
fabricated metals
What St. Louis Receives
St. Louis's beer & beverage, agriculture & food, defense & aerospace sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Akron.
raw grain & barley
aluminum cans & packaging
auto parts
consumer goods
industrial chemicals
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Akron 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.
$1,372-$1,691 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,010-$2,712 estimated for this lane
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
Cost-effective for shipments under 10,000 lbs or fewer than 10 pallets. Shared trailer space with other shippers reduces cost for smaller loads.
$551-$942 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Akron to St. Louis lane (638 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,372-$1,691 | 12 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $551-$942 | 14-16 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,074-$2,871 | 8 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $861-$1,180 | 15-17 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Akron and St. Louis that drive volume on this lane.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber (HQ)
FirstEnergy (HQ)
Smucker's (Akron bakery)
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Boeing Defense
General Motors (Wentzville)
Shipping Tips for Akron to St. Louis
Akron Seasonal Advisory
Tire production runs year-round but seasonal tire changeover periods (October-November for winter, March-April for summer) create demand surges. FirstEnergy's utility equipment shipments peak before summer cooling season. Quaker Oats production ramps for back-to-school cereal demand.
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.
Overnight Transit
This 638-mile route typically requires one overnight stop for a solo driver. Schedule pickup before noon for next-day delivery in most cases.
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 Akron and St. Louis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Akron, OH
- Metro Population
- 700K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-76, I-77, I-80 (Ohio Turnpike)
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Akron Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- Chapel Hill/I-77, Green/I-77 South, Akron-Canton Airport Industrial
“Tire freight is deceptively challenging — rubber products are lightweight but bulky, meaning carriers cube out before hitting weight limits. Experienced tire haulers use specialized trailer configurations and stacking techniques to maximize load density and revenue per mile.”
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
Backhaul from St. Louis to Akron requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
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
Akron to St. Louis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Akron to St. Louis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Akron, OH to St. Louis, MO currently range $1,372-$1,691 (roughly $2.15-$2.66 per mile over 638 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $551-$942 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently balanced 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 Akron to St. Louis?
Standard FTL transit from Akron to St. Louis is approximately 12 hrs by truck over 638 miles, with 1 typical fuel stop 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 Norfolk Southern Akron Intermodal to BNSF St. Louis Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Akron to St. Louis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Akron commonly ships tires & rubber products, polymer compounds, oats & cereals (Quaker), 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 Akron?
Moderate backhaul (scored 61/100 based on St. Louis's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from St. Louis to Akron requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. 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 Akron to St. Louis?
The Akron-to-St. Louis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Auto Manufacturing Corridor. Akron's top outbound commodities include tires & rubber products, polymer compounds, oats & cereals (Quaker), industrial adhesives, specialty chemicals, fabricated metals. 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 polymer & rubber manufacturing and advanced materials from Akron and beer & beverage and agriculture & food in St. Louis.
When are rates highest on the Akron to St. Louis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to polymer & rubber manufacturing and advanced materials cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Get Exact Rates for Akron to St. Louis
We maintain working relationships with 128+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Akron–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