Jackson to Gulfport Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Jackson, MS to Gulfport, MS (165 miles). Connects Jackson to the Port of Gulfport's container/perishables freight base via US-49.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Jackson to Gulfport?
Jackson to Gulfport is a 165-mile lane paying about $429 - $495 per load, near $2.60 - $3.00 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, refrigerated/port-connected freight and industrial equipment.
- 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 and can shift during hurricane season. See our dispatch fee structure.
Jackson to Gulfport
Jackson to Gulfport is a 165-mile, roughly 2.5-hour run south on I-55 and I-10, connecting Mississippi's capital to the state's deepwater port on the Gulf Coast. The Port of Gulfport spans a 300-acre deepwater terminal plus a 116-acre inland port, maintains 1,400 refrigerated container plugs for perishable cargo, and is receiving a $43 million Ports America investment to develop Terminal 4.
Origin
Jackson, MS
Destination
Gulfport, MS
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-55 and I-10
The Port of Gulfport spans a 300-acre deepwater terminal plus a 116-acre inland port facility
Port Gulfport maintains 1,400 refrigerated container plugs to support perishable imports and exports
Jackson to Gulfport: route facts a driver should know
Port of Gulfport has run as Mississippi's deep-water port since 1902
The Port of Gulfport, operated by the Mississippi State Port Authority since 1902, covers more than 200 acres with nearly 6,000 feet of berthing, handling more than 2 million tons of cargo annually.
Source: Mississippi State Port Authority, port history. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Jackson sits at Mississippi's I-20/I-55 crossroads
Jackson is Mississippi's capital and largest city, sitting directly at the junction of I-20 and I-55, a natural freight crossroads roughly midway between Memphis and New Orleans.
Source: City of Jackson, MS, Office of Economic Development. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Jackson to Gulfport?
About $149.85 this week. The lane is 165 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 25 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
- 165 mi
- Diesel needed
- 25 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $149.85
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, refrigerated/port-connected freight and industrial equipment fill the trailers heading south.
- Containerized Cargo
- Perishables/Produce
- Military Freight
What makes the Jackson to Gulfport lane difficult?
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt Gulfport-area delivery schedules and port operations
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt Gulfport-area delivery schedules and port operations.
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 congestion can add delay for drayage-connected freight during peak import periods
Port congestion can add delay for drayage-connected freight during peak import periods.
What freight moves on the Jackson to Gulfport lane?
What travels between Jackson and Gulfport, and why the port's refrigerated-cargo role matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Containerized Cargo
- •Perishables/Produce
- •Military Freight
Secondary Commodities
- •Port import/export-connected freight (Port Gulfport)
- •Refrigerated/perishable-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday import surge)
- •Refrigerated cargo freight (steady)
- •Port-connected freight (steady, growing)
When is the Jackson to Gulfport 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 sharply ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
A real factor given Port Gulfport's role as a refrigerated-cargo gateway for perishable imports and exports.
- •Q4 holiday import season
- •Hurricane-season disruption risk (June-November)
- •Steady refrigerated-cargo freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
Real on the Gulfport end; Gulf hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt port operations.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Jackson to Gulfport 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 refrigerated and port import-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 Jackson to Gulfport
- •
At 160 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
- •
Port Gulfport has long been one of the top banana-import ports in the country, making reefer freight worth asking about.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Jackson to Gulfport lane?
Port Gulfport's growth investment makes a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Gulfport, MS
- •Regional distribution hubs near Gulfport
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With a $43 million Terminal 4 investment underway, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •After delivery, look for reloads in Gulfport, Biloxi, and Hattiesburg. Your best targets are port containers, refrigerated cargo, seafood, timber and construction materials freight. Also look at nearby distribution, manufacturing, port, food or farm facilities. If the main reload market is thin, reposition toward the nearest listed return city. Don't accept a long empty move.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Port of Gulfport's container and produce-import freight gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Jackson's crossroads position keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough for a same-day or next-day backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Jackson to Gulfport 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 congestion status before a tight Gulfport delivery appointment.
If you haul reefer, Port Gulfport's banana and produce import trade is worth asking about specifically.
Jackson to Gulfport Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Port Gulfport's refrigerated-cargo role, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $429 - $495 per load, or $2.60 - $3.00 a mile, across 165 miles.
It maintains 1,400 refrigerated container plugs for perishable cargo and is receiving a $43 million investment to develop Terminal 4.
About 2.5 hours for the 165 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's growth investment and refrigerated-cargo capacity.
Other Mississippi freight lanes we dispatch
- Jackson to Birmingham
- Jackson to Atlanta
- Jackson to Nashville
- Jackson to Dallas
- Jackson to Houston
- Jackson to Little Rock
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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