Freight Shipping from Little Rock to Joliet
Ship freight from Little Rock, AR to Joliet, IL 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
Little Rock to Joliet 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.
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.
The Little Rock-to-Joliet corridor spans 677 miles via I-40, I-30, I-80, I-55. This lane connects food processing and steel manufacturing freight from the Little Rock market to intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution demand in Joliet. 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 Joliet Receives
Joliet's intermodal logistics, warehousing & distribution, e-commerce fulfillment sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Little Rock.
containerized imports (from West Coast)
raw materials
food products
retail merchandise
industrial supplies
automotive components
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Little Rock and Joliet, 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
Refrigerated (Reefer)
Required for temperature-sensitive freight including fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Maintains precise temperature control throughout transit.
$1,794-$2,268 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
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 Little Rock to Joliet 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 Little Rock and Joliet that drive volume on this lane.
Dillard's (HQ)
Welspun Tubular
L'Oreal Manufacturing
Walmart (Elwood Mega-DC)
Amazon (CenterPoint)
IKEA Distribution
Shipping Tips for Little Rock to Joliet
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.
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.
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.
Little Rock to Joliet Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Little Rock to Joliet?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Little Rock, AR to Joliet, IL 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 Little Rock to Joliet?
Standard FTL transit from Little Rock to Joliet 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 Little Rock to Joliet 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. Joliet commonly receives containerized imports (from West Coast), raw materials, food products. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Joliet to Little Rock?
Yes. Joliet is a strong outbound market shipping redistributed consumer goods, intermodal containers, packaged foods. Carriers returning from Joliet to Little Rock can pick up backhaul loads, which often means competitive rates on the Little Rock-to-Joliet lane since carriers factor in round-trip economics.
What commodities move from Little Rock to Joliet?
The Little Rock-to-Joliet corridor handles a diverse freight mix. Little Rock's top outbound commodities include processed poultry, steel products, rice & grains, paper & tissue products, military equipment, packaged foods. Joliet's primary inbound freight includes containerized imports (from West Coast), raw materials, food products, retail merchandise, industrial supplies, automotive components. Industries driving this lane include food processing and steel manufacturing from Little Rock and intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution in Joliet.
Get Exact Rates for Little Rock to Joliet
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