Freight Shipping from St. Louis to Des Moines
Ship freight from St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $763-$941, LTL from $395-$702. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
355 mi
Drive Time
6 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$763-$941
LTL Rate Est.
$395-$702
Consumer Goods Corridor
St. Louis → Des Moines Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
161–184
running this lane
Weekly Loads
86–99
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
56/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$4–$6 one-way passing through MO, IA. 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.
St. Louis to Des Moines Freight Corridor
St. Louis sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers, making it a natural multimodal freight hub where barge, rail, and truck converge. Anheuser-Busch's flagship brewery ships millions of cases weekly on dedicated lane networks. Boeing's defense division in north St. Louis County produces F/A-18 and F-15 fighter jets, generating oversize military cargo requiring specialized flatbed carriers.
Des Moines sits at the junction of I-80 and I-35, making it the natural crossroads of the upper Midwest agricultural belt. The city punches above its weight in freight thanks to a concentration of food processing plants (Tyson, Barilla, Kemin) and Hy-Vee's distribution network that services grocery stores across eight states. Meta's massive data center campus in Altoona has added a new dimension of high-value technology freight for server equipment and infrastructure.
The St. Louis-to-Des Moines corridor spans 355 miles via I-70, I-64, I-80, I-35. This lane connects beer & beverage and agriculture & food freight from the St. Louis market to insurance & financial services and food processing demand in Des Moines. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from St. Louis
St. Louis's economy is driven by beer & beverage, agriculture & food, defense & aerospace, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
beer & beverages
processed foods
defense equipment
vehicles (GM)
chemicals
grain products
What Des Moines Receives
Des Moines's insurance & financial services, food processing, agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like St. Louis.
consumer goods
construction materials
livestock feed
agricultural chemicals
retail merchandise
technology equipment (data centers)
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between St. Louis and Des Moines, 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.
$763-$941 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.
$941-$1,189 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.
$1,012-$1,296 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$1,118-$1,509 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the St. Louis to Des Moines lane (355 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $763-$941 | 6 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $395-$702 | 8-10 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,154-$1,598 | 4 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both St. Louis and Des Moines that drive volume on this lane.
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Boeing Defense
General Motors (Wentzville)
John Deere (Des Moines Works)
Hy-Vee (HQ)
Principal Financial (HQ)
Shipping Tips for St. Louis to Des Moines
St. Louis Seasonal Advisory
Beer shipments surge before major holidays (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Super Bowl). Mississippi River flooding in spring can shut down river terminals and divert barge freight to trucks, causing temporary rate spikes.
Des Moines Seasonal Advisory
Harvest season (September-November) transforms the freight market as grain trucks flood the highways and competition for drivers intensifies. Holiday food processing peaks October through December. Data center construction freight has become a year-round constant.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 355 miles, a single driver can complete this route within a standard driving window. Expedited same-day service is available for time-critical shipments at a premium.
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 St. Louis and Des Moines — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
St. Louis, MO
- Metro Population
- 2.8M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-70, I-64, I-44
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF St. Louis Intermodal; UP Dupo Yard; NS Luther Yard
- Port Access
- Port of St. Louis (Mississippi River, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Hazelwood/Earth City, Pontoon Beach/I-270 East, Fenton/I-44 Corridor
“St. Louis is one of the few markets where barge-to-truck transloading creates meaningful freight opportunities. Grain and bulk commodities arriving by barge on the Mississippi are transferred to trucks at river terminals for final-mile delivery to processing plants across the Midwest.”
Destination
Des Moines, IA
- Metro Population
- 699K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.00-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, I-35, I-235
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Des Moines Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- Ankeny/I-35 North, Altoona/I-80 East, Grimes/I-80/I-35
“Iowa's 80/35 interchange is the most critical truck routing decision point between Chicago and the Great Plains. Carriers heading west can choose I-80 toward Omaha or I-35 toward Kansas City, and rate differentials between these two lanes can swing 15-20% depending on seasonal demand.”
Return Loads from Des Moines
Backhaul from Des Moines to St. Louis requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Des Moines
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
St. Louis to Des Moines Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from St. Louis to Des Moines?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA currently range $763-$941 (roughly $2.17-$2.65 per mile over 355 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $395-$702 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 St. Louis to Des Moines?
Standard FTL transit from St. Louis to Des Moines is approximately 6 hrs by truck over 355 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%.
What equipment do I need for St. Louis to Des Moines freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. St. Louis commonly ships beer & beverages, processed foods, defense equipment, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Des Moines commonly receives consumer goods, construction materials, livestock feed. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Des Moines to St. Louis?
Moderate backhaul (scored 56/100 based on Des Moines's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Des Moines to St. Louis requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Des Moines's top outbound commodities — processed meats, corn products & ethanol, insurance documents — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from St. Louis to Des Moines?
The St. Louis-to-Des Moines corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. St. Louis's top outbound commodities include beer & beverages, processed foods, defense equipment, vehicles (GM), chemicals, grain products. Des Moines's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, construction materials, livestock feed, agricultural chemicals, retail merchandise, technology equipment (data centers). Industries driving this lane include beer & beverage and agriculture & food from St. Louis and insurance & financial services and food processing in Des Moines.
When are rates highest on the St. Louis to Des Moines lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to beer & beverage and agriculture & food 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.
Can freight from St. Louis to Des Moines be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 355 miles (6 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the St. Louis-to-Des Moines lane in one shift. Same-day delivery requires booking before 9 AM local time at origin and confirming dock availability at destination. Expedited service runs 5 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for St. Louis to Des Moines
We maintain working relationships with 161+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the St. Louis–Des Moines 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