New Orleans to Little Rock Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting New Orleans, LA to Little Rock, AR (440 miles). Connects Louisiana's freight base to Arkansas's Walmart/Tyson distribution corridor via I-49/I-30.
What do truck dispatch rates run from New Orleans to Little Rock?
New Orleans to Little Rock is a 440-mile lane paying about $1,056 - $1,232 per load, near $2.40 - $2.80 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, barge/rail-connected freight and e-commerce fulfillment freight.
- Distance
- 440 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,056 - $1,232
- Rate per mile
- $2.40 - $2.80
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 25-30%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and can shift during hurricane season. See our dispatch fee structure.
New Orleans to Little Rock
New Orleans to Little Rock is a 440-mile, roughly 7-hour run north, connecting Louisiana's port gateway to Arkansas's primary logistics hub at the junction of I-40 and I-30. The Port of Little Rock on the Arkansas River handles over 12 million tons of cargo annually with barge access to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, and Amazon broke ground on a 930,000-square-foot logistics facility there in July 2025.
Origin
New Orleans, LA
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Distance
440 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$1,056 - $1,232
Rate per Mile
$2.40 - $2.80
440-mile lane, about 7 hours north
The Port of Little Rock handles over 12 million tons of cargo annually via barge access to the Mississippi River and Gulf
Amazon broke ground on a 930,000-square-foot Little Rock logistics facility in July 2025
New Orleans to Little Rock: route facts a driver should know
Little Rock sits at the I-30/I-40 junction
Little Rock sits where I-30 and I-40 meet, giving trucks direct access east toward Memphis and west toward Oklahoma City, and connecting to the Arkansas River's McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System for barge freight.
Source: Arkansas Department of Transportation. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Port NOLA's container volume keeps climbing
The Port of New Orleans moved 263,961 TEUs in the first half of 2025, up 2% from the year before, with schedule reliability at 83%.
Source: Port of New Orleans, cargo volume press release. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for New Orleans to Little Rock?
About $399.59 this week. The lane is 440 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 68 gallons, and diesel is averaging $5.90 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
- 440 mi
- Diesel needed
- 68 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $399.59
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, barge/rail-connected freight and e-commerce fulfillment freight fill the trailers heading north.
- Retail Distribution
- Food Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the New Orleans to Little Rock lane difficult?
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt the New Orleans end of this route
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt the New Orleans end of this route.
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning.
Competition from Little Rock's growing 3PL and carrier base can pressure rates
Competition from Little Rock's growing 3PL and carrier base can pressure rates.
What freight moves on the New Orleans to Little Rock lane?
What travels between New Orleans and Little Rock, and why the Port of Little Rock's multimodal access matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Food Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Barge/rail-intermodal-connected freight (Port of Little Rock)
- •Consumer goods
- •E-commerce fulfillment-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Barge/rail-connected freight (steady)
- •Hurricane-prep and resupply freight (June-November)
When is the New Orleans to Little Rock lane busiest?
Retail timing and hurricane season both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady multimodal 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
- •Hurricane-season disruption risk (June-November)
- •Steady barge/rail-connected freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
Real on the New Orleans end; Atlantic and Gulf hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt operations.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs fairly steady year-round, with hurricane season (June through November) the main risk factor near the Gulf Coast.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the New Orleans to Little Rock lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a storm contingency.
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 e-commerce fulfillment and multimodal-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fixed delivery date during an active hurricane without a contingency plan.
Rate Negotiation Tips for New Orleans to Little Rock
- •
This is a 440-mile run, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Barge-linked freight moving through Little Rock's river terminals is worth asking about.
- •
Port NOLA-linked drayage is worth checking on the New Orleans end.
How do I find a backhaul load on the New Orleans to Little Rock lane?
The Port of Little Rock's multimodal access makes a southbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Little Rock, AR
- •Regional distribution hubs near Little Rock
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
With over 12 million tons moving through the Port of Little Rock annually and Amazon's new facility, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •A growing distribution corridor supports moderate backhaul.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Little Rock's river and interstate access gives you real backhaul options.
- •
New Orleans's port and petrochemical base keeps southbound freight flowing too.
- •
Check freight tied to the Arkansas River barge system for a specialized backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the New Orleans to Little Rock lane?
Three notes before this multimodal-corridor run.
Check hurricane advisories before running this lane June through November.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this 7-hour run.
Check current Little Rock-area freight-market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Check the tropical weather outlook before you dispatch this lane between June and November.
New Orleans to Little Rock Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Little Rock's multimodal access, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $1,056 - $1,232 per load, or $2.40 - $2.80 a mile, across 440 miles.
The Port of Little Rock handles over 12 million tons of cargo annually via barge access to the Mississippi River, and Amazon broke ground on a 930,000-square-foot facility there in 2025.
About 7 hours for the 440 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's multimodal cargo volume and growing e-commerce presence.
Other Louisiana freight lanes we dispatch
- New Orleans to Shreveport
- New Orleans to Birmingham
- New Orleans to Mobile
- New Orleans to Kansas City
- New Orleans to Nashville
- New Orleans to San Antonio
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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