Freight Shipping from Atlanta to Akron
Ship freight from Atlanta, GA to Akron, OH with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,484-$1,829, LTL from $580-$987. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
690 mi
Drive Time
13 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,484-$1,829
LTL Rate Est.
$580-$987
Fresh Food Lane
Atlanta → Akron Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
144–166
running this lane
Weekly Loads
89–106
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.18–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
59/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$9–$15 one-way passing through GA, OH, TN, KY, VA, SC, NC. 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.
Atlanta to Akron Freight Corridor
Atlanta is the freight crossroads of the Southeast and arguably the most balanced truck market in the country. The convergence of I-75, I-85, and I-20 creates a natural hub where carriers can find loads heading in virtually any direction within hours. UPS and The Home Depot both headquarter their logistics operations here, contributing to a freight ecosystem so dense that the metro has more warehouse space than most states. Norfolk Southern and CSX both maintain major intermodal operations, making Atlanta the rail freight capital of the Southeast.
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.
The Atlanta-to-Akron corridor spans 690 miles via I-75, I-85, I-76, I-77. This lane connects logistics & distribution and film & entertainment freight from the Atlanta market to polymer & rubber manufacturing and advanced materials demand in Akron. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Atlanta
Atlanta's economy is driven by logistics & distribution, film & entertainment, financial technology, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
automobiles (Kia)
poultry products
soft drinks & beverages
carpet & flooring
film equipment
packaged foods
What Akron Receives
Akron's polymer & rubber manufacturing, advanced materials, healthcare sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Atlanta.
raw rubber & latex
polymer resins
chemical feedstocks
consumer goods
steel
packaging materials
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Atlanta and Akron, 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.
$1,484-$1,829 estimated for this lane
Refrigerated (Reefer)
Required for temperature-sensitive freight including fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Maintains precise temperature control throughout transit.
$1,829-$2,312 estimated for this lane
Flatbed
Best for steel, lumber, machinery, building materials, and oversized loads that cannot be palletized or loaded through standard dock doors.
$1,967-$2,519 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.
$580-$987 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Atlanta to Akron lane (690 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,484-$1,829 | 13 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $580-$987 | 15-17 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,243-$3,105 | 8 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $932-$1,277 | 16-18 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Atlanta and Akron that drive volume on this lane.
The Home Depot (HQ)
UPS (HQ)
Coca-Cola (HQ)
Goodyear Tire & Rubber (HQ)
FirstEnergy (HQ)
Smucker's (Akron bakery)
Shipping Tips for Atlanta to Akron
Atlanta Seasonal Advisory
Home improvement freight (Home Depot's supply chain) peaks March through June. Carpet shipments from the Dalton mills 90 miles north run heaviest in spring and fall. Coca-Cola distribution spikes ahead of summer and holiday seasons.
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.
Overnight Transit
This 690-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 Atlanta and Akron — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Atlanta, GA
- Metro Population
- 6.1M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.20-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-75, I-85, I-20
- Rail / Intermodal
- NS Inman Yard; CSX Fairburn Intermodal; NS Austell Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- South Atlanta/I-75 (McDonough/Locust Grove), West Atlanta/I-20 (Douglasville/Lithia Springs), Northeast/I-85 (Braselton/Jefferson)
“Atlanta's I-285 perimeter loop is the single most important freight route in the Southeast. Carriers who understand the clockwise vs. counterclockwise traffic patterns and time their crosstown runs to avoid the I-285/I-85 Spaghetti Junction can save 45-90 minutes per delivery.”
Destination
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.”
Return Loads from Akron
Backhaul from Akron to Atlanta requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Akron
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Atlanta to Akron Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Atlanta to Akron?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Atlanta, GA to Akron, OH currently range $1,484-$1,829 (roughly $2.18-$2.67 per mile over 690 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $580-$987 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 Atlanta to Akron?
Standard FTL transit from Atlanta to Akron is approximately 13 hrs by truck over 690 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 NS Inman Yard to Norfolk Southern Akron Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Atlanta to Akron freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Atlanta commonly ships automobiles (Kia), poultry products, soft drinks & beverages, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Akron commonly receives raw rubber & latex, polymer resins, chemical feedstocks. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Akron to Atlanta?
Moderate backhaul (scored 59/100 based on Akron's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Akron to Atlanta requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Akron's top outbound commodities — tires & rubber products, polymer compounds, oats & cereals (Quaker) — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Atlanta to Akron?
The Atlanta-to-Akron corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Atlanta's top outbound commodities include automobiles (Kia), poultry products, soft drinks & beverages, carpet & flooring, film equipment, packaged foods. Akron's primary inbound freight includes raw rubber & latex, polymer resins, chemical feedstocks, consumer goods, steel, packaging materials. Industries driving this lane include logistics & distribution and film & entertainment from Atlanta and polymer & rubber manufacturing and advanced materials in Akron.
When are rates highest on the Atlanta to Akron lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to logistics & distribution and film & entertainment cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable); Mar-Oct (construction season) (+8-14% on flatbed). 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 Atlanta to Akron
We maintain working relationships with 144+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Atlanta–Akron 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