Freight Shipping from Savannah to New Orleans
Ship freight from Savannah, GA to New Orleans, LA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,542-$1,900, LTL from $594-$1,009. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
717 mi
Drive Time
13 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,542-$1,900
LTL Rate Est.
$594-$1,009
Fresh Food Lane
Savannah → New Orleans Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
155–175
running this lane
Weekly Loads
107–124
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
69/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$5–$9 one-way passing through GA, LA. 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.
Savannah to New Orleans Freight Corridor
The Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal is the largest single-operator container terminal in North America, and it has reshaped Southeast freight flows over the past decade. Georgia Ports Authority's $3 billion investment in the Mason Mega Rail terminal allows double-stacked trains to reach Midwestern markets in under 48 hours, pulling volume away from East Coast competitors. For a metro of just 400K people, Savannah moves a staggering amount of freight — container volumes rivaling ports in metros 10 times its size.
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.
The Savannah-to-New Orleans corridor spans 717 miles via I-16, I-95, I-10, I-55. This lane connects port operations and logistics & warehousing freight from the Savannah market to petrochemicals and port operations demand in New Orleans. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Savannah
Savannah's economy is driven by port operations, logistics & warehousing, manufacturing, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
containerized imports (redistributed)
paper & pulp products
kaolin clay
poultry products
resins & chemicals
forest products
What New Orleans Receives
New Orleans's petrochemicals, port operations, tourism & hospitality sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Savannah.
crude oil
steel & metals
containerized imports
construction materials
food service supplies
industrial chemicals
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Savannah and New Orleans, 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.
$1,542-$1,900 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.
$1,900-$2,402 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.
$2,043-$2,617 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,259-$3,047 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Savannah to New Orleans lane (717 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,542-$1,900 | 13 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $594-$1,009 | 15-17 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,330-$3,227 | 9 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $968-$1,326 | 16-18 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Savannah and New Orleans that drive volume on this lane.
Georgia Ports Authority
Gulfstream Aerospace
International Paper
Port of New Orleans
Entergy
Folgers/J.M. Smucker (coffee roasting)
Shipping Tips for Savannah to New Orleans
Savannah Seasonal Advisory
Import peak season (August-November) for holiday retail. Kaolin clay shipments from middle Georgia mines run year-round. Paper mill production is steady but dips slightly during summer maintenance shutdowns.
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.
Overnight Transit
This 717-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 Savannah and New Orleans — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Savannah, GA
- Metro Population
- 404K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-16, I-95, US-80
- Rail / Intermodal
- NS Savannah Intermodal (Mason Mega Rail); CSX Savannah Terminal
- Port Access
- Port of Savannah/Garden City Terminal (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- West Chatham/I-16, Pooler/I-95, Garden City Terminal area
“Savannah's port is the "relief valve" for East Coast shippers frustrated with congestion at New York/New Jersey and Charleston. During port disruptions elsewhere, Savannah volumes spike 20-30%, creating sudden carrier demand that pushes spot rates well above contract levels.”
Destination
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.”
Return Loads from New Orleans
New Orleans generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Savannah is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from New Orleans
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Savannah to New Orleans Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Savannah to New Orleans?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Savannah, GA to New Orleans, LA currently range $1,542-$1,900 (roughly $2.17-$2.66 per mile over 717 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $594-$1,009 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 Savannah to New Orleans?
Standard FTL transit from Savannah to New Orleans is approximately 13 hrs by truck over 717 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 Savannah Intermodal (Mason Mega Rail) to NS New Orleans Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Savannah to New Orleans freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Savannah commonly ships containerized imports (redistributed), paper & pulp products, kaolin clay, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. New Orleans commonly receives crude oil, steel & metals, containerized imports. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from New Orleans to Savannah?
Strong backhaul (scored 69/100 based on New Orleans's outbound commodity mix). New Orleans generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Savannah is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. New Orleans's top outbound commodities — petroleum products, chemical products, grain exports — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Savannah to New Orleans?
The Savannah-to-New Orleans corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Savannah's top outbound commodities include containerized imports (redistributed), paper & pulp products, kaolin clay, poultry products, resins & chemicals, forest products. New Orleans's primary inbound freight includes crude oil, steel & metals, containerized imports, construction materials, food service supplies, industrial chemicals. Industries driving this lane include port operations and logistics & warehousing from Savannah and petrochemicals and port operations in New Orleans.
When are rates highest on the Savannah to New Orleans lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to port operations and logistics & warehousing 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 Savannah to New Orleans
We maintain working relationships with 155+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Savannah–New Orleans 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