Bentonville to Tulsa Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Bentonville, AR to Tulsa, OK (121 miles). Connects Northwest Arkansas to Oklahoma's Tulsa metro via I-49/US-412.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Bentonville to Tulsa?
Bentonville to Tulsa is a 121-mile lane paying about $315 - $362 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, barge/rail-connected freight and retail-distribution freight.
- Distance
- 121 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $309 - $357
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- Transit time
- Same day / 2 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for a short, high-rate-per-mile lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Bentonville to Tulsa
Bentonville to Tulsa is a 121-mile, roughly 2-hour run west, connecting Walmart's global headquarters to the head of navigation for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. The Tulsa Port of Catoosa handles more than 2 million tons of cargo annually across a 2,000-acre industrial park home to about 70 companies.
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Destination
Tulsa, OK
Distance
121 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 2 hrs
Average Rate
$309 - $357
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
121-mile lane, about 2 hours west
The Tulsa Port of Catoosa handles more than 2 million tons of cargo annually
Tulsa Port of Catoosa's 2,000-acre industrial park is home to about 70 companies and 3,000 workers
Bentonville to Tulsa: route facts a driver should know
Tulsa Port of Catoosa is one of the largest inland river ports in the US
The Tulsa Port of Catoosa sits at the head of navigation for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, one of the largest and most inland river ports in the country, with a projected 20 percent increase in overall tonnage by 2030.
Source: Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Tulsa Port of Catoosa overview. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
River cargo volume dropped in 2025 on lower wheat exports
Cargo volumes on the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System fell 20 percent in 2025 compared with 2024, largely due to reduced wheat exports, even as the port's longer-term tonnage outlook remains positive.
Source: Waterways Journal, Tulsa Ports infrastructure investment coverage. 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 121-mile lane runs about 2 hours, so most drivers can finish it without a required break.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Bentonville to Tulsa?
About $114.07 this week. The lane is 121 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 19 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
- 121 mi
- Diesel needed
- 19 gal
- Price used
- $6.13/gal
- Fuel cost
- $114.07
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, barge/rail-connected freight and retail-distribution freight fill the trailers heading west.
- Aerospace Components
- Consumer Goods
- Energy Equipment
What makes the Bentonville to Tulsa lane difficult?
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Barge-connected freight can be seasonal and tied to river navigation conditions
Barge-connected freight can be seasonal and tied to river navigation conditions.
Winter weather can occasionally affect road conditions
Winter weather can occasionally affect road conditions.
What freight moves on the Bentonville to Tulsa lane?
What travels between Bentonville and Tulsa, and why the Port of Catoosa matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Aerospace Components
- •Consumer Goods
- •Energy Equipment
Secondary Commodities
- •Barge/rail-intermodal-connected freight (Port of Catoosa)
- •Retail-distribution-connected freight (Walmart)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Barge/rail-connected freight (steady)
- •Retail-distribution freight (steady)
When is the Bentonville to Tulsa lane busiest?
Fall harvest season and steady port-connected freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady barge and rail-connected freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and retail-distribution freight both climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
A real factor, as the fall harvest drives agricultural export freight through the Port of Catoosa.
- •Steady barge and rail-intermodal freight year-round
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Fall harvest season (agricultural exports)
Hurricane Risk?
None. Occasional winter weather is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
River-connected freight through Tulsa Port of Catoosa runs softer than usual into 2026 following a 2025 wheat-export decline, though the port's longer-term tonnage outlook remains positive.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Bentonville to Tulsa lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need river-navigation awareness.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day to 1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical port-connected 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 road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Bentonville to Tulsa
- •
Ask brokers whether your freight connects to Tulsa Port of Catoosa's river operations, since river cargo has run softer through 2025.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day return given the roughly 2-hour drive.
- •
Confirm current port-connected rates rather than assuming last year's wheat-export-driven volume still holds.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Bentonville to Tulsa lane?
The Port of Catoosa's multimodal scale makes an eastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Tulsa, OK
- •Regional distribution hubs near Tulsa
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With more than 2 million tons of cargo moving through Catoosa annually, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Tulsa's energy sector and Port of Catoosa freight, plus Bentonville's retail supply chain volume, give reasonable eastbound backhaul freight. That keeps deadhead risk moderate on this lane.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Tulsa Port of Catoosa's rail spur, completed in 2024, connects directly to Union Pacific, adding real multimodal backhaul options.
- •
With about 2 hours of driving each way, a same-day round trip is realistic.
- •
Check current river-cargo volume before assuming strong backhaul availability, given the 2025 wheat-export decline.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Bentonville to Tulsa lane?
Four notes before this port-corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Confirm river navigation status if your freight connects to Port of Catoosa barge traffic.
Check winter conditions during occasional storms.
Confirm Walmart delivery-appointment windows before committing to a tight schedule.
Before you book Bentonville to Tulsa, check current Tulsa Port of Catoosa cargo volume given the 2025 decline in river-cargo wheat exports.
Bentonville to Tulsa Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Catoosa, and river navigation.
The lane data shows about $315 - $362 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 121 miles.
The head of navigation for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, handling more than 2 million tons of cargo annually across a 2,000-acre industrial park.
About 2 hours for the 121 miles.
Reasonably, given the Port of Catoosa's multimodal cargo volume.
Other Arkansas freight lanes we dispatch
- Bentonville to Chicago
- Bentonville to Blytheville
- Bentonville to Dallas
- Bentonville to Memphis
- Bentonville to Atlanta
- Bentonville to Oklahoma City
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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