Freight Shipping from Denver to Little Rock
Ship freight from Denver, CO to Little Rock, AR with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,176-$2,682, LTL from $757-$1,260. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,012 mi
Drive Time
18 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,176-$2,682
LTL Rate Est.
$757-$1,260
Energy & Chemicals Route
Denver → Little Rock Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
134–150
running this lane
Weekly Loads
90–105
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
57/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$11–$18 one-way passing through CO, AR, MO, OK, NM. 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.
Denver to Little Rock Freight Corridor
Denver is the Rocky Mountain region's undisputed freight hub and the last major distribution point before the I-70 mountain corridor forces carriers through some of the most challenging terrain in the lower 48. The city's booming population growth has spawned massive warehouse development along the I-76 and E-470 corridors near DIA. Denver's natural foods industry, anchored by WhiteWave, Natural Grocers, and dozens of craft producers, generates high-value reefer freight heading to both coasts.
Little Rock benefits from its central US location at the junction of I-40 and I-30, putting it within a day's drive of Dallas, Memphis, Kansas City, and St. Louis. The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System connects the metro to inland barge traffic, creating intermodal opportunities for bulk shippers. The North Little Rock rail yards are among the busiest in the mid-South, with UP and BNSF both running major classification operations.
The Denver-to-Little Rock corridor spans 1,012 miles via I-25, I-70, I-40, I-30. This lane connects aerospace & defense and technology freight from the Denver market to food processing and steel manufacturing demand in Little Rock. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Denver
Denver's economy is driven by aerospace & defense, technology, natural foods & beverage, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
natural & organic foods
craft beer & spirits
aerospace components
outdoor equipment
meat products
tech hardware
What Little Rock Receives
Little Rock's food processing, steel manufacturing, defense sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Denver.
raw steel
consumer goods
agricultural chemicals
petroleum products
packaging materials
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Denver and Little Rock, 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.
$2,176-$2,682 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.
$2,682-$3,390 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.
$2,884-$3,694 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$3,188-$4,301 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Denver to Little Rock lane (1,012 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,176-$2,682 | 18 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $757-$1,260 | 20-22 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $3,289-$4,554 | 12 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,366-$1,872 | 21-23 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Denver and Little Rock that drive volume on this lane.
Amazon (4 facilities)
Lockheed Martin (Waterton)
Ball Corporation (HQ)
Dillard's (HQ)
Welspun Tubular
L'Oreal Manufacturing
Shipping Tips for Denver to Little Rock
Denver Seasonal Advisory
Construction season (April-October) drives flatbed demand for building materials headed to mountain resort communities. Ski season freight (equipment, supplies) peaks September-November as resorts stock up.
Little Rock Seasonal Advisory
Rice harvest (August-October) drives bulk and hopper trailer demand. Post-Thanksgiving through Christmas, Dillard's distribution network creates retail surge freight on lanes to the Southeast and Midwest.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,012 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 18 hours without mandatory 10-hour rest breaks, cutting transit time nearly in half compared to a solo driver.
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 Denver and Little Rock — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Denver, CO
- Metro Population
- 2.9M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.25-$2.60/mi
- Key Highways
- I-25, I-70, I-76
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Irondale Intermodal; UP Denver Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- DIA/Aurora Corridor, Henderson/I-76, Centennial/I-25 South
“Winter chain laws on I-70 west of Denver (Eisenhower Tunnel) regularly shut down truck traffic, sometimes for days. Experienced carriers build 24-48 hours of buffer into westbound Mountain Corridor loads between November and April.”
Destination
Little Rock, AR
- Metro Population
- 748K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $1.95-$2.25/mi
- Key Highways
- I-40, I-30, I-440
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP North Little Rock Yard; BNSF Little Rock Intermodal
- Port Access
- Port of Little Rock/McClellan-Kerr Waterway (5 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- North Little Rock/I-40, Port of Little Rock Industrial Park
“Arkansas's poultry industry (Tyson, Simmons) generates thousands of reefer loads weekly from processing plants within 100 miles of Little Rock. Savvy carriers position in Little Rock to grab these loads at premium rates during summer grilling season.”
Return Loads from Little Rock
Backhaul from Little Rock to Denver requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Little Rock
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Denver to Little Rock Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Denver to Little Rock?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Denver, CO to Little Rock, AR currently range $2,176-$2,682 (roughly $2.16-$2.65 per mile over 1,012 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $757-$1,260 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 Denver to Little Rock?
Standard FTL transit from Denver to Little Rock is approximately 18 hrs by truck over 1,012 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 BNSF Irondale Intermodal to UP North Little Rock Yard takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Denver to Little Rock freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Denver commonly ships natural & organic foods, craft beer & spirits, aerospace components, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Little Rock commonly receives raw steel, consumer goods, agricultural chemicals. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Little Rock to Denver?
Moderate backhaul (scored 57/100 based on Little Rock's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Little Rock to Denver requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Little Rock's top outbound commodities — processed poultry, steel products, rice & grains — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Denver to Little Rock?
The Denver-to-Little Rock corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Energy & Chemicals Route. Denver's top outbound commodities include natural & organic foods, craft beer & spirits, aerospace components, outdoor equipment, meat products, tech hardware. Little Rock's primary inbound freight includes raw steel, consumer goods, agricultural chemicals, petroleum products, packaging materials, retail merchandise. Industries driving this lane include aerospace & defense and technology from Denver and food processing and steel manufacturing in Little Rock.
When are rates highest on the Denver to Little Rock lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to aerospace & defense and technology cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); 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 Denver to Little Rock
We maintain working relationships with 134+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Denver–Little Rock corridor. Tell us about your freight and we will match you with one that fits your commodity, timing, and budget. Free quote, no obligation.
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