Freight Shipping from Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale
Ship freight from Jacksonville, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $854-$1,052, LTL from $418-$737. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
397 mi
Drive Time
7 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$854-$1,052
LTL Rate Est.
$418-$737
Port Drayage Corridor
Jacksonville → Fort Lauderdale Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
160–175
running this lane
Weekly Loads
194–215
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
64/100
Moderate
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$10–$17 one-way passing through FL. 1 typical fuel stop along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Mon, Tue, Wed. Avoid: Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale Freight Corridor
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.
Fort Lauderdale is the yachting capital of the world, and that maritime heritage shapes its freight economy. Port Everglades is one of the busiest cruise ports globally (4 million+ passengers annually), generating enormous provisioning freight. The I-595 corridor connects the port to the Florida Turnpike, creating a vital east-west freight artery. The city's aviation MRO cluster at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International repairs and overhauls aircraft for carriers worldwide, producing specialized heavy-freight shipments of engines and landing gear.
The Jacksonville-to-Fort Lauderdale corridor spans 397 miles via I-95. This lane connects logistics & distribution and automotive import processing freight from the Jacksonville market to marine industry and aviation mro demand in Fort Lauderdale. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Jacksonville
Jacksonville's economy is driven by logistics & distribution, automotive import processing, financial services, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
imported vehicles
paper & pulp products
containerized goods
lumber
phosphate
citrus products
What Fort Lauderdale Receives
Fort Lauderdale's marine industry, aviation mro, tourism sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Jacksonville.
yacht components
aircraft engines (for overhaul)
consumer goods
construction materials
food & beverage
luxury goods
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale, 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.
$854-$1,052 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.
$1,052-$1,330 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.
$1,131-$1,449 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.
$418-$737 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale lane (397 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $854-$1,052 | 7 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $418-$737 | 9-11 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,290-$1,787 | 5 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale that drive volume on this lane.
CSX Transportation (HQ)
Southeast Toyota Distributors
Johnson & Johnson Vision
Spirit Airlines (HQ)
AutoNation (HQ)
Citrix Systems
Shipping Tips for Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale
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.
Fort Lauderdale Seasonal Advisory
Cruise season peaks November through April, driving provisioning freight. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (October) creates a temporary but massive surge in oversize yacht transport and marine equipment shipping.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 397 miles, a single driver can complete this route within a standard driving window. Expedited same-day service is available for time-critical shipments at a premium.
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 Jacksonville and Fort Lauderdale — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
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.”
Destination
Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Metro Population
- 2.0M metro (Broward County)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.40-$2.75/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-595, Florida Turnpike
- Rail / Intermodal
- FEC Fort Lauderdale Terminal
- Port Access
- Port Everglades (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Dania Beach/I-595, Pompano Beach/I-95, Sunrise/Sawgrass
“Cruise ship provisioning at Port Everglades follows a rigid weekly schedule tied to departure days. A single large cruise vessel requires 10-15 truckloads of food, beverages, and supplies, all delivered within a 6-hour window before sailing. Late deliveries mean the ship sails without the goods.”
Return Loads from Fort Lauderdale
Backhaul from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Fort Lauderdale
Seasonal Rate Patterns
May-Aug (produce season)
+12-18% on reefer capacity
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
Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Jacksonville, FL to Fort Lauderdale, FL currently range $854-$1,052 (roughly $2.17-$2.66 per mile over 397 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $418-$737 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently tight 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 Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale?
Standard FTL transit from Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale is approximately 7 hrs by truck over 397 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%.
What equipment do I need for Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Jacksonville commonly ships imported vehicles, paper & pulp products, containerized goods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Fort Lauderdale commonly receives yacht components, aircraft engines (for overhaul), consumer goods. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville?
Moderate backhaul (scored 64/100 based on Fort Lauderdale's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Fort Lauderdale to Jacksonville requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Fort Lauderdale's top outbound commodities — yachts & marine vessels, aircraft parts (MRO), cruise ship supplies — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale?
The Jacksonville-to-Fort Lauderdale corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Jacksonville's top outbound commodities include imported vehicles, paper & pulp products, containerized goods, lumber, phosphate, citrus products. Fort Lauderdale's primary inbound freight includes yacht components, aircraft engines (for overhaul), consumer goods, construction materials, food & beverage, luxury goods. Industries driving this lane include logistics & distribution and automotive import processing from Jacksonville and marine industry and aviation MRO in Fort Lauderdale.
When are rates highest on the Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to logistics & distribution and automotive import processing cycles. Key periods: May-Aug (produce season) (+12-18% on reefer capacity); 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 (Mon, Tue, Wed) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Can freight from Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 397 miles (7 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Jacksonville-to-Fort Lauderdale lane in one shift. Same-day delivery requires booking before 9 AM local time at origin and confirming dock availability at destination. Expedited service runs 6 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for Jacksonville to Fort Lauderdale
We maintain working relationships with 160+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Jacksonville–Fort Lauderdale 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