Des Moines to Davenport Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Des Moines, IA to Davenport, IA (165 miles). Connects Des Moines to the Quad Cities manufacturing corridor via I-80.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Des Moines to Davenport?
Des Moines to Davenport is a 165-mile lane paying about $429 - $495 per load, near $2.60 - $3.00 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, manufacturing-connected freight and food-processing freight.
- Distance
- 165 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $429 - $495
- Rate per mile
- $2.60 - $3.00
- Transit time
- Same day / 2.5-3 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this short manufacturing corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Des Moines to Davenport
Des Moines to Davenport is a 165-mile, roughly 2.5-hour run east on I-80, connecting Iowa's capital to the largest of the Quad Cities, a 400,000-person metro spanning Iowa and Illinois. The Quad Cities' major employers include John Deere, Rock Island Arsenal, Arconic, HNI Corporation, Oscar Mayer and Tyson Fresh Meats, with next-day LTL service reaching Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland and St. Louis.
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Destination
Davenport, IA
Distance
165 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 2.5-3 hrs
Average Rate
$429 - $495
Rate per Mile
$2.60 - $3.00
165-mile lane, about 2.5 hours on I-80
The Quad Cities metro spans 400,000 people across Iowa and Illinois
Major employers include John Deere, Rock Island Arsenal, Arconic, HNI, Oscar Mayer and Tyson Fresh Meats
Des Moines to Davenport: route facts a driver should know
The Quad Cities move nearly $8 billion in exports
The Quad Cities region, Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa plus Rock Island and Moline, Illinois, is a major multimodal transportation hub, moving nearly $8 billion in total merchandise exports.
Source: Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, transportation overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
A Davenport river terminal handles wind turbine blades
Alter River Terminal, part of The Alter Company (founded in Davenport in 1916), is the largest commercial river terminal in the immediate Quad Cities area and specializes in heavy-lift and specialty cargo, including wind turbine blades.
Source: Waterways Journal, Quad Cities port potential. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Des Moines to Davenport?
About $161.24 this week. The lane is 165 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 25 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.35 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 this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 165 mi
- Diesel needed
- 25 gal
- Price used
- $6.35/gal
- Fuel cost
- $161.24
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, manufacturing-connected freight and food-processing freight fill the trailers heading east.
- Manufacturing Equipment
- Consumer Goods
- Food Products
What makes the Des Moines to Davenport 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.
Winter weather along I-80 can affect road conditions
Winter weather along I-80 can affect road conditions.
Competition from the dense Quad Cities carrier base can pressure rates
Competition from the dense Quad Cities carrier base can pressure rates.
What freight moves on the Des Moines to Davenport lane?
What travels between Des Moines and Davenport, and why the Quad Cities' diverse economy matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Manufacturing Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
- •Food Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Manufacturing-connected freight (John Deere, Arconic, HNI)
- •Food-processing-connected freight (Tyson, Oscar Mayer)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Manufacturing freight (steady)
- •Food-processing freight (steady)
When is the Des Moines to Davenport lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady manufacturing freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady manufacturing and food-processing freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady manufacturing freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather along I-80 is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round. River levels can occasionally affect barge-linked freight, which sometimes shifts extra volume to truck.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Des Moines to Davenport lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a market check.
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 manufacturing and food-processing-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking I-80 conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Des Moines to Davenport
- •
At 165 miles, this is a short, quick run.
- •
Heavy-lift and specialty freight, including wind turbine components, is worth asking about given Davenport's river terminal.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day backhaul.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Des Moines to Davenport lane?
The Quad Cities' diverse manufacturing base makes a westbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Davenport, IA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Davenport
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With John Deere, Rock Island Arsenal, Arconic, HNI, Oscar Mayer and Tyson all anchoring the region, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Quad Cities' Deere combine/harvester production offers a different backhaul base from the Waterloo tractor lane.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
The Quad Cities' multimodal freight base, river, rail, and highway, gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Des Moines's own manufacturing and grain freight keeps westbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough that more than one load a day is realistic.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Des Moines to Davenport lane?
Three notes before this Quad Cities run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check I-80 winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Check current Quad Cities-area freight-market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
If you haul flatbed or specialized freight, ask about wind turbine or heavy-lift cargo tied to the Alter River Terminal.
Des Moines to Davenport Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Quad Cities' major employers, and reload options.
The lane data shows about $429 - $495 per load, or $2.60 - $3.00 a mile, across 165 miles.
Major employers include John Deere, Rock Island Arsenal, Arconic, HNI, Oscar Mayer and Tyson Fresh Meats, with next-day LTL reaching Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Cleveland and St. Louis.
About 2.5 hours for the 165 miles on I-80.
Reasonably, given the Quad Cities' diverse manufacturing and food-processing base.
Other Iowa freight lanes we dispatch
- Des Moines to Cedar Rapids
- Des Moines to Waterloo
- Des Moines to Dallas
- Des Moines to Detroit
- Des Moines to Rockford
- Des Moines to Chicago
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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