New Orleans to Shreveport Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting New Orleans, LA to Shreveport, LA (330 miles). Connects New Orleans's port to northern Louisiana's oil/gas and distribution base via I-49.
What do truck dispatch rates run from New Orleans to Shreveport?
New Orleans to Shreveport is a 330-mile lane paying about $825 - $957 per load, near $2.50 - $2.90 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, river/intermodal-connected freight and nearshoring-connected freight.
- Distance
- 330 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $825 - $957
- Rate per mile
- $2.50 - $2.90
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
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 Shreveport
New Orleans to Shreveport is a 330-mile, roughly 5.5-hour run northwest on I-49, connecting Louisiana's two biggest logistics markets. The Port of Caddo-Bossier near Shreveport connects to the Red River and Mississippi River system, and a recent 100,000-square-foot port expansion reflects growing nearshoring-driven demand for regional trucking.
Origin
New Orleans, LA
Destination
Shreveport, LA
Distance
330 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$825 - $957
Rate per Mile
$2.50 - $2.90
330-mile lane, about 5.5 hours on I-49
The Port of Caddo-Bossier connects the Red River to the Mississippi River system
A recent 100,000-square-foot port expansion reflects growing regional freight demand
New Orleans to Shreveport: route facts a driver should know
The Port of Caddo-Bossier is a 4,000-acre inland multimodal port
The Port of Caddo-Bossier, at the head of navigation on the Red River Waterway near Shreveport, covers 4,000 acres and holds US Customs Port of Entry and Foreign Trade Zone status. It's served by 25-plus miles of industrial rail track with daily Union Pacific service and Kansas City Southern connections.
Source: City of Shreveport, Port of Caddo-Bossier. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
The port just opened a $12 million heavy-load warehouse
The Port of Caddo-Bossier opened a new $12 million heavy-load, multi-modal warehouse, following a 100,000-square-foot warehouse it opened in 2022, giving the port over 90,000 square feet of transit warehousing.
Source: Port of Caddo-Bossier, warehouse announcement. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for New Orleans to Shreveport?
About $299.69 this week. The lane is 330 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 51 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
- 330 mi
- Diesel needed
- 51 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $299.69
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, river/intermodal-connected freight and nearshoring-connected freight fill the trailers heading northwest.
- Energy Equipment
- Consumer Goods
- Industrial Materials
What makes the New Orleans to Shreveport 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 medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Competition from established Shreveport-based carriers can pressure rates
Competition from established Shreveport-based carriers can pressure rates.
What freight moves on the New Orleans to Shreveport lane?
What travels between New Orleans and Shreveport, and why the Port of Caddo-Bossier matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Energy Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
- •Industrial Materials
Secondary Commodities
- •River/rail-intermodal-connected freight (Port of Caddo-Bossier)
- •Consumer goods
- •Nearshoring-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •River/intermodal-connected freight (steady)
- •Hurricane-prep and resupply freight (June-November)
When is the New Orleans to Shreveport 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 intermodal 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 nearshoring-driven 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 steady year-round, tracking Shreveport's consistent rail and oil-field service freight.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the New Orleans to Shreveport 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 nearshoring-connected freight tends to pay a premium given its growth.
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 Shreveport
- •
This is a 330-mile run, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Rail-linked and heavy-load freight tied to the Port of Caddo-Bossier is worth asking about.
- •
Oil-field service freight is common around Shreveport, given the Haynesville Shale gas region nearby.
How do I find a backhaul load on the New Orleans to Shreveport lane?
The Port of Caddo-Bossier's river connections make a southeastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Shreveport, LA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Shreveport
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With a recent 100,000-square-foot port expansion, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Regional freight supports moderate backhaul via I-49.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
The Port of Caddo-Bossier's rail and warehouse capacity gives you real backhaul options.
- •
New Orleans's own port and petrochemical freight keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
Check freight tied to the port's Foreign Trade Zone status for a specialized backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the New Orleans to Shreveport lane?
Three notes before this river-corridor run.
Check hurricane advisories before running this lane June through November.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check current Shreveport-area freight-market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
The Port of Caddo-Bossier's new heavy-load warehouse is worth knowing about if you haul oversize or specialized freight.
New Orleans to Shreveport Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Caddo-Bossier, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $825 - $957 per load, or $2.50 - $2.90 a mile, across 330 miles.
The Port of Caddo-Bossier connects the Red River to the Mississippi River system, and a recent 100,000-square-foot expansion reflects growing demand.
About 5.5 hours for the 330 miles on I-49.
Reasonably, given the port's river connections and growing nearshoring-driven trucking demand.
Other Louisiana freight lanes we dispatch
- New Orleans to Mobile
- New Orleans to Little Rock
- New Orleans to Kansas City
- New Orleans to Nashville
- New Orleans to San Antonio
- New Orleans to Charlotte
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, Southeast: +$2,550/week after moving to $2.85/mi on automotive parts / retail / beverage freight.
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