Freight Shipping from New Orleans to San Antonio
Ship freight from New Orleans, LA to San Antonio, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,417-$1,746, LTL from $562-$960. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
659 mi
Drive Time
12 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,417-$1,746
LTL Rate Est.
$562-$960
Consumer Goods Corridor
New Orleans → San Antonio Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
128–148
running this lane
Weekly Loads
193–211
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
74/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$6–$10 one-way passing through LA, TX. 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 San Antonio 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.
San Antonio's freight economy is uniquely driven by the military — Joint Base San Antonio encompasses three installations and is the largest Department of Defense joint base in the country. Toyota's Tundra and Sequoia assembly plant in south San Antonio creates dedicated automotive lanes to suppliers across Texas and Mexico. H-E-B, the beloved Texas grocery chain headquartered here, operates one of the most efficient private distribution networks in the retail industry.
The New Orleans-to-San Antonio corridor spans 659 miles via I-10. This lane connects petrochemicals and port operations freight from the New Orleans market to military & defense and healthcare demand in San Antonio. 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 San Antonio Receives
San Antonio's military & defense, healthcare, cybersecurity sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like New Orleans.
consumer goods
building materials
military supplies
food products
fuel
vehicles
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between New Orleans and San Antonio, 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.
$1,417-$1,746 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.
$1,746-$2,208 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.
$1,878-$2,405 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,076-$2,801 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the New Orleans to San Antonio lane (659 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,417-$1,746 | 12 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $562-$960 | 14-16 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,142-$2,966 | 8 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $890-$1,219 | 15-17 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both New Orleans and San Antonio that drive volume on this lane.
Port of New Orleans
Entergy
Folgers/J.M. Smucker (coffee roasting)
Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland/Randolph/Fort Sam)
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas
H-E-B (HQ)
Shipping Tips for New Orleans to San Antonio
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.
San Antonio Seasonal Advisory
Military freight follows federal fiscal year cycles with a September surge. Toyota production runs year-round with July and December shutdowns. H-E-B distribution intensifies ahead of holidays and during severe weather events when Texans stock up.
Overnight Transit
This 659-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 San Antonio — 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
San Antonio, TX
- Metro Population
- 2.6M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35, I-10, I-37
- Rail / Intermodal
- Union Pacific San Antonio Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- South San Antonio/I-35 South, Converse/I-10 East, New Braunfels/I-35 North
“San Antonio's position on I-35 between Austin and the Mexican border at Laredo makes it a natural waypoint for northbound cross-border freight. Carriers who deliver locally can often pick up Mexico-origin loads heading to Dallas, Austin, or beyond without significant deadhead.”
Return Loads from San Antonio
San Antonio 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 San Antonio
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 San Antonio Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from New Orleans to San Antonio?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from New Orleans, LA to San Antonio, TX currently range $1,417-$1,746 (roughly $2.17-$2.65 per mile over 659 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $562-$960 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 New Orleans to San Antonio?
Standard FTL transit from New Orleans to San Antonio is approximately 12 hrs by truck over 659 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 Union Pacific San Antonio Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for New Orleans to San Antonio 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. San Antonio commonly receives consumer goods, building materials, military supplies. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from San Antonio to New Orleans?
Strong backhaul (scored 74/100 based on San Antonio's outbound commodity mix). San Antonio generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to New Orleans is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. San Antonio's top outbound commodities — military equipment, processed foods, manufactured goods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from New Orleans to San Antonio?
The New Orleans-to-San Antonio corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. New Orleans's top outbound commodities include petroleum products, chemical products, grain exports, coffee (re-export), seafood, rubber & plastics. San Antonio's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, building materials, military supplies, food products, fuel, vehicles. Industries driving this lane include petrochemicals and port operations from New Orleans and military & defense and healthcare in San Antonio.
When are rates highest on the New Orleans to San Antonio 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 San Antonio
We maintain working relationships with 128+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the New Orleans–San Antonio 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