Freight Shipping from Little Rock to Jacksonville
Ship freight from Little Rock, AR to Jacksonville, FL with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,929-$2,377, LTL from $693-$1,162. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
897 mi
Drive Time
16 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,929-$2,377
LTL Rate Est.
$693-$1,162
Fresh Food Lane
Little Rock → Jacksonville Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
141–161
running this lane
Weekly Loads
88–108
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
87/100
Excellent
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$11–$19 one-way passing through AR, FL, SC, NC. 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.
Little Rock to Jacksonville Freight Corridor
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.
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 Little Rock-to-Jacksonville corridor spans 897 miles via I-40, I-30, I-95, I-10. This lane connects food processing and steel manufacturing freight from the Little Rock 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 Little Rock
Little Rock's economy is driven by food processing, steel manufacturing, defense, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
processed poultry
steel products
rice & grains
paper & tissue products
military equipment
packaged foods
What Jacksonville Receives
Jacksonville's logistics & distribution, automotive import processing, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Little Rock.
automobiles (import)
consumer goods
construction materials
containerized cargo
military supplies
food products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Little Rock 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.
$1,929-$2,377 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.
$2,377-$3,005 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.
$2,556-$3,274 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.
$693-$1,162 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Little Rock to Jacksonville lane (897 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,929-$2,377 | 16 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $693-$1,162 | 18-20 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,915-$4,037 | 11 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,211-$1,659 | 19-21 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Little Rock and Jacksonville that drive volume on this lane.
Dillard's (HQ)
Welspun Tubular
L'Oreal Manufacturing
CSX Transportation (HQ)
Southeast Toyota Distributors
Johnson & Johnson Vision
Shipping Tips for Little Rock to Jacksonville
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.
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.
Overnight Transit
This 897-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 Little Rock and Jacksonville — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
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.”
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 is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Little Rock typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the 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
Little Rock to Jacksonville Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Little Rock to Jacksonville?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Little Rock, AR to Jacksonville, FL currently range $1,929-$2,377 (roughly $2.17-$2.65 per mile over 897 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $693-$1,162 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 Little Rock to Jacksonville?
Standard FTL transit from Little Rock to Jacksonville is approximately 16 hrs by truck over 897 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 UP North Little Rock Yard to CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Little Rock to Jacksonville freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Little Rock commonly ships processed poultry, steel products, rice & grains, 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 Little Rock?
Excellent backhaul (scored 87/100 based on Jacksonville's outbound commodity mix). Jacksonville is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Little Rock typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the 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 Little Rock to Jacksonville?
The Little Rock-to-Jacksonville corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Little Rock's top outbound commodities include processed poultry, steel products, rice & grains, paper & tissue products, military equipment, packaged foods. Jacksonville's primary inbound freight includes automobiles (import), consumer goods, construction materials, containerized cargo, military supplies, food products. Industries driving this lane include food processing and steel manufacturing from Little Rock and logistics & distribution and automotive import processing in Jacksonville.
When are rates highest on the Little Rock to Jacksonville lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to food processing and steel 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 Little Rock to Jacksonville
We maintain working relationships with 141+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Little Rock–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.
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