New Orleans to Mobile Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting New Orleans, LA to Mobile, AL (145 miles). Connects Louisiana's port complex to Alabama's own Port of Mobile via I-10.
What do truck dispatch rates run from New Orleans to Mobile?
New Orleans to Mobile is a 145-mile lane paying about $392 - $450 per load, near $2.70 - $3.10 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port-connected freight and industrial equipment.
- Distance
- 145 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $392 - $450
- Rate per mile
- $2.70 - $3.10
- Transit time
- Same day / 2-3 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for a short, high-rate-per-mile Gulf Coast lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
New Orleans to Mobile
New Orleans to Mobile is a 145-mile, roughly 2.5-hour run east on I-10, connecting Louisiana's port gateway to Alabama's deepwater port. The Port of Mobile recently achieved a 50-foot channel depth and is beginning a $131 million APM Terminals expansion in 2026 that will raise annual berth capacity to 1.4 million TEU, even as 2025 TEU throughput dipped about 18% amid the investment push.
Origin
New Orleans, LA
Destination
Mobile, AL
Distance
145 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 2-3 hrs
Average Rate
$392 - $450
Rate per Mile
$2.70 - $3.10
145-mile lane, about 2.5 hours on I-10
The Port of Mobile recently achieved its authorized 50-foot channel depth
A $131 million APM Terminals Mobile expansion beginning in 2026 will raise capacity to 1.4 million TEU
New Orleans to Mobile: route facts a driver should know
The Port of Mobile is doubling its container capacity
The Alabama Port Authority began construction in October 2024 on Phase 4 of its container terminal expansion, a $131 million project that will roughly double capacity from about half a million to over 1 million TEUs a year.
Source: Alabama Port Authority, terminal expansion announcement. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Airbus just opened a second assembly line in Mobile
Airbus inaugurated a second A320 final assembly line at its Mobile manufacturing facility in October 2025, adding about 1,000 jobs and doubling the site's footprint to 2.5 million square feet with over 2,000 employees. It generates recurring heavy and oversize freight moving aircraft components by sea and road.
Source: Airbus, second A320 final assembly line announcement. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for New Orleans to Mobile?
About $131.68 this week. The lane is 145 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 22 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
- 145 mi
- Diesel needed
- 22 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $131.68
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, port-connected freight and industrial equipment fill the trailers heading east.
- Petrochemical Equipment
- Containerized Cargo
- Steel Products
What makes the New Orleans to Mobile lane difficult?
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt this Gulf Coast corridor at both ends
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt this Gulf Coast corridor at both ends.
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.
Port TEU throughput has recently softened, which can mean inconsistent container-connected freight volume
Port TEU throughput has recently softened, which can mean inconsistent container-connected freight volume.
What freight moves on the New Orleans to Mobile lane?
What travels between New Orleans and Mobile, and why the port's expansion matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Petrochemical Equipment
- •Containerized Cargo
- •Steel Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Port import/export-connected freight (Port of Mobile)
- •Consumer goods
- •Industrial equipment
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Port-connected freight (steady, expansion-driven growth ahead)
- •Hurricane-prep and resupply freight (June-November)
When is the New Orleans to Mobile lane busiest?
Import timing and hurricane season both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays as import volume normalizes.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Import-connected freight climbs ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Hurricane-season disruption risk (June-November)
- •Steady port-connected freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
Real and significant at both ends; Gulf hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt this whole corridor.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, tracking Mobile's growing port and aerospace freight base. Hurricane season, June through November, can affect scheduling.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the New Orleans to Mobile lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a storm contingency.
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 import/export-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 Gulf storm without a contingency plan.
Rate Negotiation Tips for New Orleans to Mobile
- •
At just 145 miles, this is a short, quick run that pairs well with a same-day backhaul.
- •
Aerospace component freight is worth asking about given Airbus's growing Mobile footprint.
- •
Port-linked container drayage is a growing category here as Mobile's terminal expands.
How do I find a backhaul load on the New Orleans to Mobile lane?
The Port of Mobile's expansion investment makes a westbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Mobile, AL
- •Regional distribution hubs near Mobile
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With a $131 million expansion raising capacity to 1.4 million TEU, there is real backhaul variety ahead.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •A port-to-port corridor with dependable freight.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Mobile's port expansion and aerospace growth give you real backhaul options.
- •
New Orleans's own port and petrochemical base keeps westbound freight flowing too.
- •
This short lane is a good fit for more than one round trip in a day.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the New Orleans to Mobile lane?
Three notes before this Gulf Coast port run.
Check hurricane advisories before running this lane June through November.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Confirm current Port of Mobile container volume given recent throughput softening.
Airbus's expanding Mobile plant is a genuinely growing freight source. If you haul oversize or specialized equipment, it's worth building a relationship with shippers there.
New Orleans to Mobile Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Mobile's expansion, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $392 - $450 per load, or $2.70 - $3.10 a mile, across 145 miles.
It recently achieved a 50-foot channel depth and is beginning a $131 million APM Terminals expansion in 2026 that will raise annual berth capacity to 1.4 million TEU.
About 2.5 hours for the 145 miles on I-10.
Reasonably, given the port's ongoing expansion investment, though current TEU throughput has softened somewhat.
Other Louisiana freight lanes we dispatch
- New Orleans to Kansas City
- New Orleans to Shreveport
- New Orleans to Nashville
- New Orleans to San Antonio
- New Orleans to Charlotte
- New Orleans to Baton Rouge
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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