Freight Shipping from Austin to St. Louis
Ship freight from Austin, TX to St. Louis, MO with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,010-$2,478, LTL from $714-$1,195. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
935 mi
Drive Time
17 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,010-$2,478
LTL Rate Est.
$714-$1,195
Auto Manufacturing Corridor
Austin → St. Louis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
134–154
running this lane
Weekly Loads
195–216
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.68
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
79/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$9–$15 one-way passing through TX, MO, TN, AR, OK. 2 typical fuel stops 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.
Austin to St. Louis Freight Corridor
Austin has transformed from a state capital and college town into a technology and manufacturing powerhouse. Tesla's Gigafactory Texas in southeast Travis County produces the Model Y and Cybertruck, creating a massive new automotive freight corridor. Samsung's $17 billion semiconductor fab in Taylor and NXP's chipmaking facilities make the Austin metro one of America's most important semiconductor freight origins. The city's explosive growth — the fastest-growing large metro in the U.S. — generates enormous inbound construction and consumer goods freight.
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 Austin-to-St. Louis corridor spans 935 miles via I-35, US-183, I-70, I-64. This lane connects technology and semiconductor manufacturing freight from the Austin 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 Austin
Austin's economy is driven by technology, semiconductor manufacturing, state government, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
semiconductors (Samsung/NXP)
Tesla vehicles
computers & electronics
processed foods
technology equipment
building materials
What St. Louis Receives
St. Louis's beer & beverage, agriculture & food, defense & aerospace sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Austin.
raw grain & barley
aluminum cans & packaging
auto parts
consumer goods
industrial chemicals
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Austin 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.
$2,010-$2,478 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.
$2,665-$3,413 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,945-$3,974 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.
$714-$1,195 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Austin to St. Louis lane (935 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,010-$2,478 | 17 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $714-$1,195 | 19-21 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $3,039-$4,208 | 11 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,262-$1,730 | 20-22 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Austin and St. Louis that drive volume on this lane.
Tesla Gigafactory Texas
Samsung Austin Semiconductor
NXP Semiconductors
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Boeing Defense
General Motors (Wentzville)
Shipping Tips for Austin to St. Louis
Austin Seasonal Advisory
Tesla production runs year-round but new model launches create unpredictable freight spikes. Samsung fab output is consistent but construction of new fab capacity generates enormous heavy-haul and oversize equipment moves. SXSW (March) and ACL Festival (October) create temporary local delivery surges.
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 935-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 Austin and St. Louis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Austin, TX
- Metro Population
- 2.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35, US-183, US-290
- Rail / Intermodal
- Union Pacific Austin Terminal
- Warehouse Districts
- Pflugerville/US-130 Toll, Del Valle/Tesla Gigafactory Area, Round Rock/I-35 North
“Austin's I-35 corridor is among the most congested in Texas, and carriers who schedule pickups and deliveries outside peak hours (avoiding 7-9 AM and 4-7 PM) can complete 20-30% more loads per week. Tesla's Gigafactory operates its own logistics network but overflow capacity needs create spot market opportunities.”
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
St. Louis generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Austin is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
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
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Austin to St. Louis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Austin to St. Louis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Austin, TX to St. Louis, MO currently range $2,010-$2,478 (roughly $2.17-$2.68 per mile over 935 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $714-$1,195 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 Austin to St. Louis?
Standard FTL transit from Austin to St. Louis is approximately 17 hrs by truck over 935 miles, with 2 typical fuel stops 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 Union Pacific Austin Terminal to BNSF St. Louis Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Austin to St. Louis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Austin commonly ships semiconductors (Samsung/NXP), Tesla vehicles, computers & electronics, 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 Austin?
Strong backhaul (scored 79/100 based on St. Louis's outbound commodity mix). St. Louis generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Austin is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. 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 Austin to St. Louis?
The Austin-to-St. Louis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Auto Manufacturing Corridor. Austin's top outbound commodities include semiconductors (Samsung/NXP), Tesla vehicles, computers & electronics, processed foods, technology equipment, building materials. 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 technology and semiconductor manufacturing from Austin and beer & beverage and agriculture & food in St. Louis.
When are rates highest on the Austin to St. Louis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to technology and semiconductor manufacturing 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 Austin to St. Louis
We maintain working relationships with 134+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Austin–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