Freight Shipping from Little Rock to Los Angeles
Ship freight from Little Rock, AR to Los Angeles, CA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $4,132-$5,093, LTL from $1,257-$2,034. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,922 mi
Drive Time
35 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$4,132-$5,093
LTL Rate Est.
$1,257-$2,034
Consumer Goods Corridor
Little Rock → Los Angeles Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
82–107
running this lane
Weekly Loads
90–109
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
64/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$22–$37 one-way passing through AR, CA, OK, NM. 5 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 Los Angeles 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.
The Los Angeles basin is the undisputed freight capital of the Western Hemisphere. The San Pedro Bay port complex (LA + Long Beach) handles 40% of all US containerized imports, generating a tidal wave of drayage and long-haul freight that radiates outward on I-10, I-15, and I-5. The Inland Empire east of LA has become the largest warehouse market in the world, with over 600 million square feet of distribution space absorbing and redistributing Asian imports to every corner of the country.
The Little Rock-to-Los Angeles corridor spans 1,922 miles via I-40, I-30, I-5, I-10. This lane connects food processing and steel manufacturing freight from the Little Rock market to entertainment & media and international trade demand in Los Angeles. 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 Los Angeles Receives
Los Angeles's entertainment & media, international trade, aerospace sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Little Rock.
consumer electronics
furniture & housewares
automotive parts
textiles & fabrics
industrial machinery
toys & games
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Little Rock and Los Angeles, 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.
$4,132-$5,093 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.
$5,093-$6,439 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.
$5,478-$7,015 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.
$1,257-$2,034 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Little Rock to Los Angeles lane (1,922 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $4,132-$5,093 | 35 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,257-$2,034 | 37-39 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $6,247-$8,649 | 23 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,595-$3,556 | 38-40 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Little Rock and Los Angeles that drive volume on this lane.
Dillard's (HQ)
Welspun Tubular
L'Oreal Manufacturing
Amazon (15+ facilities)
Target (import DC)
Nike Distribution
Shipping Tips for Little Rock to Los Angeles
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.
Los Angeles Seasonal Advisory
Import surge begins in August for holiday retail season, peaking in October-November. Chinese New Year (January-February) creates a brief lull followed by a restocking wave in March.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,922 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 35 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 Little Rock and Los Angeles — 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
Los Angeles, CA
- Metro Population
- 13.2M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.45-$2.85/mi
- Key Highways
- I-5, I-10, I-710
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Hobart Yard (Commerce); UP ICTF (Wilmington); UP East LA Intermodal
- Port Access
- Port of Los Angeles (20 mi) / Port of Long Beach (22 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Inland Empire (Ontario/Riverside), Commerce/Vernon, Carson/Compton
“The I-710 corridor from the ports to the intermodal yards in Commerce is the most heavily trucked stretch of highway in America. Container drayage rates fluctuate wildly based on port congestion — chassis availability can add $100-200 per container in detention charges during peak seasons.”
Return Loads from Los Angeles
Backhaul from Los Angeles to Little Rock requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Little Rock to Los Angeles?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Little Rock, AR to Los Angeles, CA currently range $4,132-$5,093 (roughly $2.16-$2.67 per mile over 1,922 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,257-$2,034 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 Los Angeles?
Standard FTL transit from Little Rock to Los Angeles is approximately 35 hrs by truck over 1,922 miles, with 5 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 BNSF Hobart Yard (Commerce) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Little Rock to Los Angeles 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. Los Angeles commonly receives consumer electronics, furniture & housewares, automotive parts. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Los Angeles to Little Rock?
Moderate backhaul (scored 64/100 based on Los Angeles's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Los Angeles to Little Rock requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Los Angeles's top outbound commodities — containerized imports (re-distribution), entertainment equipment, apparel & fashion — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Little Rock to Los Angeles?
The Little Rock-to-Los Angeles corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. Little Rock's top outbound commodities include processed poultry, steel products, rice & grains, paper & tissue products, military equipment, packaged foods. Los Angeles's primary inbound freight includes consumer electronics, furniture & housewares, automotive parts, textiles & fabrics, industrial machinery, toys & games. Industries driving this lane include food processing and steel manufacturing from Little Rock and entertainment & media and international trade in Los Angeles.
When are rates highest on the Little Rock to Los Angeles 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.
Should I use team drivers for the Little Rock to Los Angeles lane?
At 1,922 miles, this route exceeds a solo driver's hours-of-service limits and requires at least one 10-hour break, adding roughly 14-18 hours to transit. Team drivers typically deliver in 21-25 hours — nearly half the solo transit — at a 20-35% rate premium. For time-critical freight over 1,200 miles, teams generally pay for themselves.
Get Exact Rates for Little Rock to Los Angeles
We maintain working relationships with 82+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Little Rock–Los Angeles 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