Freight Shipping from New Orleans to Jacksonville
Ship freight from New Orleans, LA to Jacksonville, FL with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,406-$1,733, LTL from $560-$956. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
654 mi
Drive Time
12 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,406-$1,733
LTL Rate Est.
$560-$956
Port Drayage Corridor
New Orleans → Jacksonville Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
165–186
running this lane
Weekly Loads
227–242
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.68
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
68/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$11–$19 one-way passing through LA, FL. 1 typical fuel stop 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.
New Orleans to Jacksonville Freight Corridor
New Orleans commands the mouth of the Mississippi River, the most important commercial waterway in the Western Hemisphere. The Port of South Louisiana complex (stretching from New Orleans to Baton Rouge) handles more tonnage than any other port district in the US, with grain exports from the Midwest heartland meeting oceangoing vessels at 60+ terminals along the river. The city's petrochemical corridor generates hazmat tanker freight on an industrial scale, while the tourism economy demands a constant flow of food, beverage, and hospitality supplies.
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 New Orleans-to-Jacksonville corridor spans 654 miles via I-10. This lane connects petrochemicals and port operations freight from the New Orleans 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 New Orleans
New Orleans's economy is driven by petrochemicals, port operations, tourism & hospitality, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
petroleum products
chemical products
grain exports
coffee (re-export)
seafood
rubber & plastics
What Jacksonville Receives
Jacksonville's logistics & distribution, automotive import processing, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like New Orleans.
automobiles (import)
consumer goods
construction materials
containerized cargo
military supplies
food products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between New Orleans 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.
$1,406-$1,733 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.
$1,733-$2,191 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.
$1,864-$2,387 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,060-$2,780 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the New Orleans to Jacksonville lane (654 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,406-$1,733 | 12 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $560-$956 | 14-16 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,126-$2,943 | 8 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $883-$1,210 | 15-17 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both New Orleans and Jacksonville that drive volume on this lane.
Port of New Orleans
Entergy
Folgers/J.M. Smucker (coffee roasting)
CSX Transportation (HQ)
Southeast Toyota Distributors
Johnson & Johnson Vision
Shipping Tips for New Orleans to Jacksonville
New Orleans Seasonal Advisory
Mardi Gras (February-March) drives a spike in food service and event freight. Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt port and refinery operations for weeks. Grain export season peaks October through January as the harvest moves downriver.
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 654-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 New Orleans and Jacksonville — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
New Orleans, LA
- Metro Population
- 1.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.20-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-10, I-55, I-310
- Rail / Intermodal
- NS New Orleans Intermodal; CN/IC New Orleans Gateway
- Port Access
- Port of New Orleans (0 mi) / Port of South Louisiana (30 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Elmwood/Harahan, New Orleans East/I-10, Westwego/Harvey Canal
“The Mississippi River grain elevator system allows Midwest farmers to move corn and soybeans by barge to New Orleans at roughly one-third the cost of trucking. But the truck-to-barge transfer points create concentrated freight demand at river terminals that savvy carriers exploit for premium drayage rates.”
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 generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to New Orleans is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of 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
New Orleans to Jacksonville Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from New Orleans to Jacksonville?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from New Orleans, LA to Jacksonville, FL currently range $1,406-$1,733 (roughly $2.17-$2.68 per mile over 654 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $560-$956 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently tight 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 New Orleans to Jacksonville?
Standard FTL transit from New Orleans to Jacksonville is approximately 12 hrs by truck over 654 miles, with 1 typical fuel stop 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 NS New Orleans Intermodal to CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for New Orleans to Jacksonville freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. New Orleans commonly ships petroleum products, chemical products, grain exports, 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 New Orleans?
Strong backhaul (scored 68/100 based on Jacksonville's outbound commodity mix). Jacksonville generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to New Orleans is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of 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 New Orleans to Jacksonville?
The New Orleans-to-Jacksonville corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. New Orleans's top outbound commodities include petroleum products, chemical products, grain exports, coffee (re-export), seafood, rubber & plastics. Jacksonville's primary inbound freight includes automobiles (import), consumer goods, construction materials, containerized cargo, military supplies, food products. Industries driving this lane include petrochemicals and port operations from New Orleans and logistics & distribution and automotive import processing in Jacksonville.
When are rates highest on the New Orleans to Jacksonville lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to petrochemicals and port operations 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 New Orleans to Jacksonville
We maintain working relationships with 165+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the New Orleans–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.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM CT | No obligation, no contracts