Des Moines to St. Louis Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Des Moines, IA to St. Louis, MO (340 miles). St. Louis's tri-modal hub status provides a dependable mid-distance lane via I-35/I-70.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Des Moines to St. Louis?
Des Moines to St. Louis is a 340-mile lane paying about $833 - $969 per load, near $2.45 - $2.85 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, aerospace-connected freight and agribusiness-connected freight.
- Distance
- 340 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $833 - $969
- 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.
Des Moines to St. Louis
Des Moines to St. Louis is a 340-mile, roughly 5.5-hour run southeast, connecting Iowa's capital 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 on this corridor.
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Destination
St. Louis, MO
Distance
340 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$833 - $969
Rate per Mile
$2.45 - $2.85
340-mile lane, about 5.5 hours southeast
St. Louis anchors an established aerospace-manufacturing base
Des Moines sits at the crossroads of I-80 and I-35
Des Moines to St. Louis: route facts a driver should know
St. Louis is served by six Class I railroads
St. Louis is served by all six Class I railroads through the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, making it one of the largest rail hubs in the country.
Source: Inbound Logistics, St. Louis multimodal freight network. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
The Army Corps of Engineers calls St. Louis the most efficient inland port in the country
The US Army Corps of Engineers has ranked the St. Louis region's barge and port system as the most efficient inland port district by tons moved per river mile, moving roughly 500,000 tons per mile.
Source: Marine Log, St. Louis metro ports tonnage efficiency. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Des Moines to St. Louis?
About $332.26 this week. The lane is 340 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 52 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
- 340 mi
- Diesel needed
- 52 gal
- Price used
- $6.35/gal
- Fuel cost
- $332.26
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, aerospace-connected freight and agribusiness-connected freight fill the trailers heading southeast.
- Food Products
- Industrial Equipment
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Des Moines 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 across Iowa and Missouri can affect road conditions
Winter weather across Iowa and Missouri can affect road conditions.
Aerospace-connected freight can require specific handling or scheduling
Aerospace-connected freight can require specific handling or scheduling.
What freight moves on the Des Moines to St. Louis lane?
What travels between Des Moines and St. Louis, and why the aerospace base matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Food Products
- •Industrial Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Aerospace-manufacturing-connected freight
- •Agribusiness-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Aerospace-connected freight (steady)
- •Agricultural freight (planting and harvest seasons)
When is the Des Moines 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, cushioned by steady aerospace-connected freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
A real factor tied to Iowa's planting and harvest seasons.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady aerospace and logistics freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round. River levels can occasionally affect barge-linked freight timing, which sometimes shifts extra volume to truck.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Des Moines 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 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 Des Moines to St. Louis
- •
At 340 miles, this is a solid one-day run.
- •
Barge-linked freight moving through St. Louis's river terminals is worth asking about.
- •
St. Louis's six-railroad access means real rail competition, so shop your rate.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Des Moines to St. Louis lane?
St. Louis's river, rail and highway connections make a northwestbound 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 freight base (beverage, defense, agribusiness) offers several unrelated backhaul options.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
St. Louis's rail and river-port density gives you strong backhaul odds heading back to Des Moines.
- •
Check freight tied to the region's barge terminals for a specialized backhaul.
- •
Des Moines's grain and manufacturing base keeps northbound freight flowing too.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Des Moines to St. Louis lane?
Three notes before this Midwest corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check Iowa and Missouri winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Confirm handling requirements before hauling aerospace-connected freight.
Ask about barge-linked freight if river levels are running low. It sometimes pushes extra volume onto trucks for the last leg.
Des Moines to St. Louis Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, St. Louis's aerospace base, and winter weather.
The lane data shows about $833 - $969 per load, or $2.45 - $2.85 a mile, across 340 miles.
About 5.5 hours for the 340 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 Iowa freight lanes we dispatch
- Des Moines to Omaha
- Des Moines to Kansas City
- Des Moines to Milwaukee
- Des Moines to Indianapolis
- Des Moines to Denver
- Des Moines to Sioux City
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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