Freight Shipping from Des Moines to Jacksonville
Ship freight from Des Moines, IA to Jacksonville, FL with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,862-$3,527, LTL from $932-$1,531. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,331 mi
Drive Time
24 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,862-$3,527
LTL Rate Est.
$932-$1,531
Auto Manufacturing Corridor
Des Moines → Jacksonville Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
103–122
running this lane
Weekly Loads
89–104
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
71/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$22–$37 one-way passing through IA, FL, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, SC, NC. 3 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.
Des Moines to Jacksonville Freight Corridor
Des Moines sits at the junction of I-80 and I-35, making it the natural crossroads of the upper Midwest agricultural belt. The city punches above its weight in freight thanks to a concentration of food processing plants (Tyson, Barilla, Kemin) and Hy-Vee's distribution network that services grocery stores across eight states. Meta's massive data center campus in Altoona has added a new dimension of high-value technology freight for server equipment and infrastructure.
Jacksonville is where the Southeast's freight arteries converge. As CSX's headquarters city and the junction of I-95 and I-10, Jax controls rail and truck freight flows between the entire Eastern Seaboard and the Gulf Coast. JAXPORT is the #1 vehicle-import port in the US, processing over 700,000 vehicles annually that Southeast Toyota and other distributors truck to dealerships across the Southeast. The city's geographic position makes it the ideal repositioning hub for carriers running Florida's north-south lanes.
The Des Moines-to-Jacksonville corridor spans 1,331 miles via I-80, I-35, I-95, I-10. This lane connects insurance & financial services and food processing freight from the Des Moines market to logistics & distribution and automotive import processing demand in Jacksonville. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Des Moines
Des Moines's economy is driven by insurance & financial services, food processing, agriculture, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
processed meats
corn products & ethanol
insurance documents
animal feed
soybeans
egg products
What Jacksonville Receives
Jacksonville's logistics & distribution, automotive import processing, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Des Moines.
automobiles (import)
consumer goods
construction materials
containerized cargo
military supplies
food products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Des Moines and Jacksonville, 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.
$2,862-$3,527 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.
$3,527-$4,459 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.
$3,793-$4,858 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.
$932-$1,531 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Des Moines to Jacksonville lane (1,331 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,862-$3,527 | 24 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $932-$1,531 | 26-28 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $4,326-$5,990 | 16 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,797-$2,462 | 27-29 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Des Moines and Jacksonville that drive volume on this lane.
John Deere (Des Moines Works)
Hy-Vee (HQ)
Principal Financial (HQ)
CSX Transportation (HQ)
Southeast Toyota Distributors
Johnson & Johnson Vision
Shipping Tips for Des Moines to Jacksonville
Des Moines Seasonal Advisory
Harvest season (September-November) transforms the freight market as grain trucks flood the highways and competition for drivers intensifies. Holiday food processing peaks October through December. Data center construction freight has become a year-round constant.
Jacksonville Seasonal Advisory
Vehicle import volume peaks in spring (new model year distribution) and fall. Hurricane season can temporarily disrupt port operations. Snowbird migration (October-November) drives a surge in household goods shipments headed to Central and South Florida.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,331 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 24 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 Des Moines and Jacksonville — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Des Moines, IA
- Metro Population
- 699K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.00-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, I-35, I-235
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Des Moines Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- Ankeny/I-35 North, Altoona/I-80 East, Grimes/I-80/I-35
“Iowa's 80/35 interchange is the most critical truck routing decision point between Chicago and the Great Plains. Carriers heading west can choose I-80 toward Omaha or I-35 toward Kansas City, and rate differentials between these two lanes can swing 15-20% depending on seasonal demand.”
Destination
Jacksonville, FL
- Metro Population
- 1.6M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-10, I-295
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area); NS Jacksonville Terminal
- Port Access
- JAXPORT (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Westside/I-10 Corridor, Northside/JAXPORT area, Imeson Industrial Park
“Jacksonville is the re-positioning capital of Florida freight. Carriers dropping loads in Miami or Tampa routinely deadhead to Jax to grab northbound I-95 loads rather than searching for scarce outbound freight in South Florida.”
Return Loads from Jacksonville
Jacksonville generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Des Moines is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Jacksonville
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
Des Moines to Jacksonville Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Des Moines to Jacksonville?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Des Moines, IA to Jacksonville, FL currently range $2,862-$3,527 (roughly $2.17-$2.66 per mile over 1,331 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $932-$1,531 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 Des Moines to Jacksonville?
Standard FTL transit from Des Moines to Jacksonville is approximately 24 hrs by truck over 1,331 miles, with 3 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 UP Des Moines Intermodal to CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Des Moines to Jacksonville freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Des Moines commonly ships processed meats, corn products & ethanol, insurance documents, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Jacksonville commonly receives automobiles (import), consumer goods, construction materials. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Jacksonville to Des Moines?
Strong backhaul (scored 71/100 based on Jacksonville's outbound commodity mix). Jacksonville generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Des Moines is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Jacksonville's top outbound commodities — imported vehicles, paper & pulp products, containerized goods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Des Moines to Jacksonville?
The Des Moines-to-Jacksonville corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Auto Manufacturing Corridor. Des Moines's top outbound commodities include processed meats, corn products & ethanol, insurance documents, animal feed, soybeans, egg products. Jacksonville's primary inbound freight includes automobiles (import), consumer goods, construction materials, containerized cargo, military supplies, food products. Industries driving this lane include insurance & financial services and food processing from Des Moines and logistics & distribution and automotive import processing in Jacksonville.
When are rates highest on the Des Moines to Jacksonville lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to insurance & financial services and food processing 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 Des Moines to Jacksonville
We maintain working relationships with 103+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Des Moines–Jacksonville 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