Bentonville to St. Louis Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Bentonville, AR to St. Louis, MO (337 miles). St. Louis's tri-modal hub status provides a dependable mid-distance lane via I-49/I-55.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Bentonville to St. Louis?
Bentonville to St. Louis is a 337-mile lane paying about $825 - $960 per load, near $2.45 - $2.85 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, retail-distribution freight and aerospace-connected freight.
- Distance
- 337 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $826 - $960
- Rate per mile
- $2.45 - $2.85
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and winter weather. See our dispatch fee structure.
Bentonville to St. Louis
Bentonville to St. Louis is a 337-mile, roughly 5.5-hour run northeast, connecting Walmart's global headquarters to a major Midwest logistics and aerospace center. St. Louis's river, rail and highway connections, along with its established aerospace-manufacturing base, keep steady freight demand flowing alongside Walmart's own extensive distribution reach.
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Distance
337 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$826 - $960
Rate per Mile
$2.45 - $2.85
337-mile lane, about 5.5 hours northeast
St. Louis anchors an established aerospace-manufacturing base
Walmart operates 192 US distribution facilities as of January 2026
Bentonville to St. Louis: route facts a driver should know
St. Louis is a genuine river-rail-highway freight hub
St. Louis sits at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, with a nearly $9 billion pipeline of priority freight infrastructure projects planned for 2026, reflecting the region's ongoing push to strengthen its multimodal freight role.
Source: St. Louis Regional Freightway, 2026 priority projects report. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A short lane: you likely won't need the 30-minute break
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 337-mile lane runs about 5.5 hours, so plan your break into the schedule if running it in one push.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Bentonville to St. Louis?
About $317.69 this week. The lane is 337 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 52 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.13 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 337 mi
- Diesel needed
- 52 gal
- Price used
- $6.13/gal
- Fuel cost
- $317.69
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, retail-distribution freight and aerospace-connected freight fill the trailers heading northeast.
- Food Products
- Industrial Equipment
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Bentonville to St. Louis lane difficult?
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Winter weather in Missouri can affect road conditions from November through March
Winter weather in Missouri can affect road conditions from November through March.
Retail-connected freight can see tight scheduling windows tied to delivery appointments
Retail-connected freight can see tight scheduling windows tied to delivery appointments.
What freight moves on the Bentonville to St. Louis lane?
What travels between Bentonville and St. Louis, and why the aerospace base matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Food Products
- •Industrial Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Retail-distribution-connected freight (Walmart)
- •Aerospace-manufacturing-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Back-to-school retail freight (July-August)
- •Aerospace-connected freight (steady)
When is the Bentonville to St. Louis lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady aerospace-connected freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays as retail inventory normalizes.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and retail-distribution freight both climb sharply from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Back-to-school retail season (July-August)
- •Steady aerospace and logistics freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
None. Missouri winter weather is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Supplier and river-rail-connected freight both run steady through the year, with a Q4 retail bump layered on top.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Bentonville to St. Louis lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical aerospace-manufacturing and Walmart-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking Missouri road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Bentonville to St. Louis
- •
St. Louis's growing freight-infrastructure pipeline points to steady, expanding demand on this lane over the next several years.
- •
This lane runs about 5.5 hours, so plan your required HOS break into the schedule.
- •
Bentonville's supplier base gives this lane's origin side real, varied freight.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Bentonville to St. Louis lane?
St. Louis's river, rail and highway connections make a southwestbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •St. Louis, MO
- •Regional distribution hubs near St. Louis
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With an established aerospace-manufacturing base and multimodal access, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •St. Louis's varied rail, river, and highway freight base gives reasonable southbound backhaul freight back toward Bentonville.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
St. Louis's multimodal river-and-rail hub status gives this lane real backhaul variety, with even more investment coming.
- •
Ask brokers about newer reload options tied to the region's growing freight-infrastructure investment.
- •
Ask about supplier-connected freight heading back toward Northwest Arkansas too.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Bentonville to St. Louis lane?
Four notes before this Midwest corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check Missouri winter conditions during late-fall through early-spring runs.
Confirm Walmart delivery-appointment windows before committing to a tight schedule.
Confirm handling requirements before hauling aerospace-connected freight.
Before you book Bentonville to St. Louis, plan your required HOS break, since this lane runs close to the 6-hour mark.
Bentonville to St. Louis Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, St. Louis's aerospace base, and winter weather.
The lane data shows about $825 - $960 per load, or $2.45 - $2.85 a mile, across 337 miles.
About 5.5 hours for the 337 miles.
It combines river, rail and highway connections with an established aerospace-manufacturing base.
Reasonably, given the metro's multimodal access and manufacturing base.
Other Arkansas freight lanes we dispatch
- Bentonville to Nashville
- Bentonville to Kansas City
- Bentonville to Springfield
- Bentonville to Little Rock
- Bentonville to New Orleans
- Bentonville to Springdale
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Southeast: +$2,550/week after moving to $2.85/mi on automotive parts / retail / beverage freight.
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