Freight Shipping from Joliet to Little Rock
Ship freight from Joliet, IL to Little Rock, AR with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,456-$1,794, LTL from $572-$975. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
677 mi
Drive Time
12 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,456-$1,794
LTL Rate Est.
$572-$975
Joliet to Little Rock Freight Corridor
Joliet and its surrounding Will County communities sit atop the most concentrated intermodal and distribution infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere. The CenterPoint Intermodal Center, spanning over 6,000 acres, combines UP's Global IV facility with over 30 million square feet of distribution space occupied by Walmart, Amazon, IKEA, and dozens of other major shippers. This is where West Coast container imports transition from rail to truck for final-mile delivery across the Midwest and Northeast.
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 Joliet-to-Little Rock corridor spans 677 miles via I-80, I-55, I-40, I-30. This lane connects intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution freight from the Joliet 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 Joliet
Joliet's economy is driven by intermodal logistics, warehousing & distribution, e-commerce fulfillment, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
redistributed consumer goods
intermodal containers
packaged foods
building materials
automotive parts
e-commerce parcels
What Little Rock Receives
Little Rock's food processing, steel manufacturing, defense sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Joliet.
raw steel
consumer goods
agricultural chemicals
petroleum products
packaging materials
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Joliet 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.
$1,456-$1,794 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.
$1,929-$2,471 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,133-$2,877 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.
$572-$975 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Joliet to Little Rock lane (677 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,456-$1,794 | 12 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $572-$975 | 14-16 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,200-$3,047 | 8 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $914-$1,252 | 15-17 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Joliet and Little Rock that drive volume on this lane.
Walmart (Elwood Mega-DC)
Amazon (CenterPoint)
IKEA Distribution
Dillard's (HQ)
Welspun Tubular
L'Oreal Manufacturing
Shipping Tips for Joliet to Little Rock
Joliet Seasonal Advisory
Q4 holiday freight creates near-gridlock conditions on I-80 and I-55 as intermodal volume peaks. January sees a dramatic drop-off. Spring produce season restocks create a secondary peak in March-April.
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.
Overnight Transit
This 677-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.
Joliet to Little Rock Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Joliet to Little Rock?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Joliet, IL to Little Rock, AR currently range from $1,456-$1,794 for a standard dry van load over the 677-mile route. LTL shipments typically cost $572-$975 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Request a custom quote for exact pricing based on your specific shipment details.
How long does freight take from Joliet to Little Rock?
Standard FTL transit from Joliet to Little Rock is approximately 12 hrs by truck over 677 miles. 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 takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Joliet to Little Rock freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Joliet commonly ships redistributed consumer goods, intermodal containers, packaged foods, 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 Joliet?
Yes. Little Rock is a strong outbound market shipping processed poultry, steel products, rice & grains. Carriers returning from Little Rock to Joliet can pick up backhaul loads, which often means competitive rates on the Joliet-to-Little Rock lane since carriers factor in round-trip economics.
What commodities move from Joliet to Little Rock?
The Joliet-to-Little Rock corridor handles a diverse freight mix. Joliet's top outbound commodities include redistributed consumer goods, intermodal containers, packaged foods, building materials, automotive parts, e-commerce parcels. Little Rock's primary inbound freight includes raw steel, consumer goods, agricultural chemicals, petroleum products, packaging materials, retail merchandise. Industries driving this lane include intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution from Joliet and food processing and steel manufacturing in Little Rock.
Get Exact Rates for Joliet to Little Rock
Tell us about your freight and we will match you with a vetted carrier who runs the Joliet to Little Rock lane regularly. Free quote, no obligation.
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