Freight Shipping from New Orleans to Tulsa
Ship freight from New Orleans, LA to Tulsa, OK with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,533-$1,889, LTL from $592-$1,006. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
713 mi
Drive Time
13 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,533-$1,889
LTL Rate Est.
$592-$1,006
Industrial Freight Lane
New Orleans → Tulsa Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
135–154
running this lane
Weekly Loads
191–210
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
62/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$7–$12 one-way passing through LA, OK, TN, MO, AR. 1 typical fuel stop along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Tue, Wed, Thu. Avoid: Sun, Mon AM, Fri PM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
New Orleans to Tulsa 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.
Tulsa is the aerospace maintenance capital of the central U.S., with American Airlines operating its largest MRO facility here — capable of servicing widebody aircraft. The Port of Catoosa, America's most inland river port, connects Tulsa to the Gulf of Mexico via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, enabling barge-to-truck transloading for heavy industrial freight. The city's legacy oil refining infrastructure creates steady tanker and hazmat volumes.
The New Orleans-to-Tulsa corridor spans 713 miles via I-10, I-55, I-44, US-75. This lane connects petrochemicals and port operations freight from the New Orleans market to aerospace manufacturing and energy demand in Tulsa. 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 Tulsa Receives
Tulsa's aerospace manufacturing, energy, steel fabrication sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like New Orleans.
crude oil
raw steel
aircraft sub-assemblies
chemicals
electronic components
packaging materials
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between New Orleans and Tulsa, 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.
$1,533-$1,889 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.
$1,889-$2,389 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.
$2,032-$2,602 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,246-$3,030 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the New Orleans to Tulsa lane (713 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,533-$1,889 | 13 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $592-$1,006 | 15-17 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,317-$3,209 | 9 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $963-$1,319 | 16-18 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both New Orleans and Tulsa that drive volume on this lane.
Port of New Orleans
Entergy
Folgers/J.M. Smucker (coffee roasting)
American Airlines Maintenance Base
NORDAM Group
Holly Frontier Refining
Shipping Tips for New Orleans to Tulsa
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.
Tulsa Seasonal Advisory
Aerospace MRO work peaks during winter when airlines pull aircraft from service for heavy maintenance checks. Refinery output is steady but turnaround seasons (spring and fall) temporarily reduce outbound tanker volumes while increasing inbound equipment freight.
Overnight Transit
This 713-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 Tulsa — 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
Tulsa, OK
- Metro Population
- 1.0M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-44, US-75, US-169
- Rail / Intermodal
- Tulsa Port of Catoosa (McClellan-Kerr Waterway)
- Port Access
- Port of Catoosa (McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, 7 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Broken Arrow/US-169 South, Catoosa/Port Industrial Park, Tulsa International Airport Area
“The Port of Catoosa handles oversized cargo that can't move efficiently by highway alone — wind turbine components, industrial boilers, and heavy machinery arrive by barge and transfer to specialized heavy-haul carriers for final-mile delivery across the region.”
Return Loads from Tulsa
Backhaul from Tulsa to New Orleans requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Tulsa
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
New Orleans to Tulsa Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from New Orleans to Tulsa?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from New Orleans, LA to Tulsa, OK currently range $1,533-$1,889 (roughly $2.16-$2.66 per mile over 713 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $592-$1,006 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 Tulsa?
Standard FTL transit from New Orleans to Tulsa is approximately 13 hrs by truck over 713 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 Tulsa Port of Catoosa (McClellan-Kerr Waterway) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for New Orleans to Tulsa 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. Tulsa commonly receives crude oil, raw steel, aircraft sub-assemblies. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Tulsa to New Orleans?
Moderate backhaul (scored 62/100 based on Tulsa's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Tulsa to New Orleans requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Tulsa's top outbound commodities — aircraft components, refined fuels, steel pipe & fittings — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from New Orleans to Tulsa?
The New Orleans-to-Tulsa corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. New Orleans's top outbound commodities include petroleum products, chemical products, grain exports, coffee (re-export), seafood, rubber & plastics. Tulsa's primary inbound freight includes crude oil, raw steel, aircraft sub-assemblies, chemicals, electronic components, packaging materials. Industries driving this lane include petrochemicals and port operations from New Orleans and aerospace manufacturing and energy in Tulsa.
When are rates highest on the New Orleans to Tulsa lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to petrochemicals and port operations cycles. Key periods: Mar-Oct (construction season) (+8-14% on flatbed). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Mon AM, Fri PM pickups when possible.
Get Exact Rates for New Orleans to Tulsa
We maintain working relationships with 135+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the New Orleans–Tulsa 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