Jackson to Houston Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Jackson, MS to Houston, TX (465 miles). Houston's petrochemical and port sector creates steady freight demand via I-10/I-59.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Jackson to Houston?
Jackson to Houston is a 465-mile lane paying about $1,093 - $1,279 per load, near $2.35 - $2.75 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, petrochemical freight and construction materials.
- Distance
- 465 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,093 - $1,279
- Rate per mile
- $2.35 - $2.75
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and can shift sharply during hurricane season. See our dispatch fee structure.
Jackson to Houston
Jackson to Houston is a 465-mile, roughly 7.5-hour run southwest, connecting Mississippi's capital to the nation's largest petrochemical manufacturing complex. Houston's port and petrochemical freight base creates steady southwestbound and backhaul volume for carriers running this Gulf Coast corridor.
Origin
Jackson, MS
Destination
Houston, TX
Distance
465 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$1,093 - $1,279
Rate per Mile
$2.35 - $2.75
465-mile lane, about 7.5 hours southwest
Houston anchors the nation's largest petrochemical manufacturing complex
Jackson sits at the crossroads of I-20 and I-55
Jackson to Houston: route facts a driver should know
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.
Port Houston moved a record 2.5 million trucks in 2025
Port Houston processed 54.5 million short tons of cargo in 2025, its highest annual total ever. The terminals saw roughly 2.5 million truck moves and a record single-day gate count of 16,438 truck transactions.
Source: Port Houston, 2025 annual cargo statistics. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Jackson to Houston?
About $422.29 this week. The lane is 465 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 72 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
- 465 mi
- Diesel needed
- 72 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $422.29
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, petrochemical freight and construction materials fill the trailers heading southwest.
- Petrochemical Equipment
- Retail Distribution
- Steel Products
What makes the Jackson to Houston lane difficult?
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning.
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt the Houston end of this route
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt the Houston end of this route.
Petrochemical and port-connected freight can require specialized handling or certifications
Petrochemical and port-connected freight can require specialized handling or certifications.
What freight moves on the Jackson to Houston lane?
What travels between Jackson and Houston, and why the petrochemical complex matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Petrochemical Equipment
- •Retail Distribution
- •Steel Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Petrochemical and port-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
- •Construction materials
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Petrochemical freight (steady)
- •Hurricane-prep and resupply freight (June-November)
When is the Jackson to Houston 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 petrochemical and port 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 petrochemical and port freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
Real on the Houston end; Gulf hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt port operations.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs fairly steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Jackson to Houston 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, with extra lead time during hurricane season.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical petrochemical and port-drayage-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 Houston
- •
This is a long haul at 465 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Port-linked drayage freight is worth asking about given Port Houston's record 2025 volume.
- •
Jackson's I-20/I-55 crossroads position makes this an easy lane to combine with other Southern freight.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Jackson to Houston lane?
Houston's port and petrochemical base make a northeastbound load easy to find.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Houston, TX
- •Regional distribution hubs near Houston
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With one of the busiest US ports and the nation's largest petrochemical complex, backhaul options are strong.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •After delivery, look for reloads in Houston, Baytown, and Beaumont. Your best targets are petrochemical, plastics, port, food and industrial 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 Houston's record cargo volume gives you strong backhaul odds.
- •
Jackson's crossroads position keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Jackson to Houston lane?
Three notes before this Gulf Coast run.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this 7.5-hour run.
Check hurricane advisories before running this lane June through November.
Confirm any certification requirements before hauling petrochemical-connected freight.
Port Houston's record 2025 volume makes drayage freight worth checking on the Houston end.
Jackson to Houston Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Houston's petrochemical base, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $1,093 - $1,279 per load, or $2.35 - $2.75 a mile, across 465 miles.
About 7.5 hours for the 465 miles.
Yes, on the Houston end; Gulf hurricane season from June through November can disrupt port operations.
Yes, generally, given the port and petrochemical industry's steady freight volume.
Other Mississippi freight lanes we dispatch
- Jackson to Little Rock
- Jackson to Dallas
- Jackson to Mobile
- Jackson to Tupelo
- Jackson to Charlotte
- Jackson 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.
Read the case studyNeed help running Jackson, MS to Houston, TX consistently?
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