Freight Shipping from St. Louis to Salt Lake City
Ship freight from St. Louis, MO to Salt Lake City, UT with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,242-$3,996, LTL from $1,029-$1,682. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,508 mi
Drive Time
27 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,242-$3,996
LTL Rate Est.
$1,029-$1,682
Auto Manufacturing Corridor
St. Louis → Salt Lake City Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
135–157
running this lane
Weekly Loads
228–246
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.15–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
64/100
Moderate
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$16–$26 one-way passing through MO, UT. 3 typical fuel stops 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 Salt Lake City 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.
Salt Lake City is the Intermountain West's primary logistics gateway, sitting at the junction of I-15 and I-80 — the only major east-west corridor between Denver and the West Coast. The Bingham Canyon copper mine, the world's largest open-pit mine, generates heavy-haul mining equipment and concentrate freight. Silicon Slopes tech companies along the I-15 corridor from Provo to Ogden create a growing base of e-commerce and electronics shipments requiring fast, reliable service.
The St. Louis-to-Salt Lake City corridor spans 1,508 miles via I-70, I-64, I-15, I-80. This lane connects beer & beverage and agriculture & food freight from the St. Louis market to technology (silicon slopes) and mining & minerals demand in Salt Lake City. 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 Salt Lake City Receives
Salt Lake City's technology (silicon slopes), mining & minerals, aerospace & defense sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like St. Louis.
consumer goods
building materials
raw minerals
vehicles
fuel products
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between St. Louis and Salt Lake City, 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.
$3,242-$3,996 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.
$3,996-$5,052 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.
$4,298-$5,504 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$4,750-$6,409 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the St. Louis to Salt Lake City lane (1,508 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,242-$3,996 | 27 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,029-$1,682 | 29-31 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $4,901-$6,786 | 18 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,036-$2,790 | 30-32 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both St. Louis and Salt Lake City that drive volume on this lane.
Anheuser-Busch InBev
Boeing Defense
General Motors (Wentzville)
Rio Tinto Kennecott (Bingham Canyon Mine)
L3Harris Technologies
Overstock.com
Shipping Tips for St. Louis to Salt Lake City
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.
Salt Lake City Seasonal Advisory
Ski season (November-April) drives hospitality and recreation freight to resort towns. Mining operations run year-round but production peaks in dry summer months. Construction activity slows during harsh winter months but the region's growth means it never truly stops.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,508 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 27 hours without mandatory 10-hour rest breaks, cutting transit time nearly in half compared to a solo driver.
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 Salt Lake City — 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
Salt Lake City, UT
- Metro Population
- 1.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.25-$2.65/mi
- Key Highways
- I-15, I-80, I-215
- Rail / Intermodal
- Union Pacific Salt Lake City Intermodal; BNSF Salt Lake Yard
- Warehouse Districts
- West Valley City/I-215 Belt, North Salt Lake/I-15 North, Salt Lake City International Airport Area
“SLC's geographic isolation is both challenge and opportunity — the city is 500+ miles from the nearest major market (Denver or Las Vegas). Carriers who commit to regular SLC lanes build strong relationships with shippers desperate for reliable capacity, often earning above-market rates due to the repositioning miles involved.”
Return Loads from Salt Lake City
Backhaul from Salt Lake City to St. Louis requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Salt Lake City
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 Salt Lake City Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from St. Louis to Salt Lake City?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from St. Louis, MO to Salt Lake City, UT currently range $3,242-$3,996 (roughly $2.15-$2.65 per mile over 1,508 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,029-$1,682 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 St. Louis to Salt Lake City?
Standard FTL transit from St. Louis to Salt Lake City is approximately 27 hrs by truck over 1,508 miles, with 3 typical fuel stops 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 BNSF St. Louis Intermodal to Union Pacific Salt Lake City Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for St. Louis to Salt Lake City 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. Salt Lake City commonly receives consumer goods, building materials, raw minerals. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Salt Lake City to St. Louis?
Moderate backhaul (scored 64/100 based on Salt Lake City's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Salt Lake City to St. Louis requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Salt Lake City's top outbound commodities — copper & minerals, electronics, outdoor recreation equipment — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from St. Louis to Salt Lake City?
The St. Louis-to-Salt Lake City corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Auto Manufacturing Corridor. St. Louis's top outbound commodities include beer & beverages, processed foods, defense equipment, vehicles (GM), chemicals, grain products. Salt Lake City's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, building materials, raw minerals, vehicles, fuel products, retail merchandise. Industries driving this lane include beer & beverage and agriculture & food from St. Louis and technology (Silicon Slopes) and mining & minerals in Salt Lake City.
When are rates highest on the St. Louis to Salt Lake City 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.
Should I use team drivers for the St. Louis to Salt Lake City lane?
At 1,508 miles, this route exceeds a solo driver's hours-of-service limits and requires at least one 10-hour break, adding roughly 14-18 hours to transit. Team drivers typically deliver in 16-20 hours — nearly half the solo transit — at a 20-35% rate premium. For time-critical freight over 1,200 miles, teams generally pay for themselves.
Get Exact Rates for St. Louis to Salt Lake City
We maintain working relationships with 135+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the St. Louis–Salt Lake City 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