Freight Shipping from Little Rock to Salt Lake City
Ship freight from Little Rock, AR to Salt Lake City, UT with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,201-$3,946, LTL from $1,019-$1,666. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,489 mi
Drive Time
27 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,201-$3,946
LTL Rate Est.
$1,019-$1,666
Consumer Goods Corridor
Little Rock → Salt Lake City Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
102–127
running this lane
Weekly Loads
85–102
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
68/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$15–$25 one-way passing through AR, UT, MO, OK, NM. 3 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 Salt Lake City 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.
Salt Lake City is the Intermountain West's primary logistics gateway, sitting at the junction of I-15 and I-80 — the only major east-west corridor between Denver and the West Coast. The Bingham Canyon copper mine, the world's largest open-pit mine, generates heavy-haul mining equipment and concentrate freight. Silicon Slopes tech companies along the I-15 corridor from Provo to Ogden create a growing base of e-commerce and electronics shipments requiring fast, reliable service.
The Little Rock-to-Salt Lake City corridor spans 1,489 miles via I-40, I-30, I-15, I-80. This lane connects food processing and steel manufacturing freight from the Little Rock market to technology (silicon slopes) and mining & minerals demand in Salt Lake City. 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 Salt Lake City Receives
Salt Lake City's technology (silicon slopes), mining & minerals, aerospace & defense sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Little Rock.
consumer goods
building materials
raw minerals
vehicles
fuel products
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Little Rock and Salt Lake City, 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.
$3,201-$3,946 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.
$3,946-$4,988 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.
$4,244-$5,435 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.
$1,019-$1,666 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Little Rock to Salt Lake City lane (1,489 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,201-$3,946 | 27 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,019-$1,666 | 29-31 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $4,839-$6,701 | 18 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,010-$2,755 | 30-32 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Little Rock and Salt Lake City that drive volume on this lane.
Dillard's (HQ)
Welspun Tubular
L'Oreal Manufacturing
Rio Tinto Kennecott (Bingham Canyon Mine)
L3Harris Technologies
Overstock.com
Shipping Tips for Little Rock to Salt Lake City
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.
Salt Lake City Seasonal Advisory
Ski season (November-April) drives hospitality and recreation freight to resort towns. Mining operations run year-round but production peaks in dry summer months. Construction activity slows during harsh winter months but the region's growth means it never truly stops.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,489 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 27 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 Salt Lake City — 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
Salt Lake City, UT
- Metro Population
- 1.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.25-$2.65/mi
- Key Highways
- I-15, I-80, I-215
- Rail / Intermodal
- Union Pacific Salt Lake City Intermodal; BNSF Salt Lake Yard
- Warehouse Districts
- West Valley City/I-215 Belt, North Salt Lake/I-15 North, Salt Lake City International Airport Area
“SLC's geographic isolation is both challenge and opportunity — the city is 500+ miles from the nearest major market (Denver or Las Vegas). Carriers who commit to regular SLC lanes build strong relationships with shippers desperate for reliable capacity, often earning above-market rates due to the repositioning miles involved.”
Return Loads from Salt Lake City
Salt Lake City generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Little Rock is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Salt Lake City
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 Salt Lake City Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Little Rock to Salt Lake City?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Little Rock, AR to Salt Lake City, UT currently range $3,201-$3,946 (roughly $2.16-$2.67 per mile over 1,489 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,019-$1,666 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 Salt Lake City?
Standard FTL transit from Little Rock to Salt Lake City is approximately 27 hrs by truck over 1,489 miles, with 3 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 Union Pacific Salt Lake City Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Little Rock to Salt Lake City 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. Salt Lake City commonly receives consumer goods, building materials, raw minerals. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Salt Lake City to Little Rock?
Strong backhaul (scored 68/100 based on Salt Lake City's outbound commodity mix). Salt Lake City generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Little Rock is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Salt Lake City's top outbound commodities — copper & minerals, electronics, outdoor recreation equipment — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Little Rock to Salt Lake City?
The Little Rock-to-Salt Lake City 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. Salt Lake City's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, building materials, raw minerals, vehicles, fuel products, retail merchandise. Industries driving this lane include food processing and steel manufacturing from Little Rock and technology (Silicon Slopes) and mining & minerals in Salt Lake City.
When are rates highest on the Little Rock to Salt Lake City 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 Salt Lake City
We maintain working relationships with 102+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Little Rock–Salt Lake City 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