Jackson to Little Rock Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Jackson, MS to Little Rock, AR (257 miles). Connects Jackson to Arkansas's Walmart/Tyson distribution corridor via I-55/US-49.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Jackson to Little Rock?
Jackson to Little Rock is a 257-mile lane paying about $655 - $760 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, barge/rail-connected freight and e-commerce fulfillment freight.
- Distance
- 257 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $655 - $758
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- Transit time
- Same day / 4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and winter weather. See our dispatch fee structure.
Jackson to Little Rock
Jackson to Little Rock is a 257-mile, roughly 4-hour run northwest, connecting Mississippi's capital 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.
Origin
Jackson, MS
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Distance
257 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 4 hrs
Average Rate
$655 - $758
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
257-mile lane, about 4 hours northwest
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
Jackson to Little Rock: route facts a driver should know
The Port of Little Rock sits at a five-interstate crossroads
The Port of Little Rock is accessible by five interstates (I-30, I-40, I-430, I-440 and I-630), spans 2,640 acres of industrial land, and includes two barge docking facilities.
Source: Metro Little Rock Alliance, location and infrastructure overview. 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 Little Rock?
About $233.40 this week. The lane is 257 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 40 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
- 257 mi
- Diesel needed
- 40 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $233.40
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, barge/rail-connected freight and e-commerce fulfillment freight fill the trailers heading northwest.
- Retail Distribution
- Food Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Jackson to Little Rock lane difficult?
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Winter weather along the route can occasionally affect road conditions
Winter weather along the route can occasionally affect road conditions.
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 Jackson to Little Rock lane?
What travels between Jackson 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)
- •E-commerce fulfillment freight (steady, growing)
When is the Jackson to Little Rock lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady multimodal freight 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
- •Steady barge/rail-connected freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Hurricane Risk?
None. Occasional winter weather is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
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 Little Rock lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
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 fast winter delivery without checking road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Jackson to Little Rock
- •
At 225 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
- •
Amazon's new logistics center at the Port of Little Rock is worth asking about as it ramps up toward its 2027 opening.
- •
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 Little Rock lane?
The Port of Little Rock's multimodal access makes a southeastbound 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: 15-20%
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:
- •After delivery, look for reloads in Little Rock, North Little Rock, and Conway. Your best targets are food, retail, paper and manufacturing 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
- •
The Port of Little Rock's five-interstate access gives you real backhaul options in multiple directions.
- •
Jackson's crossroads position keeps southbound 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 Little Rock lane?
Three notes before this multimodal-corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Check current Little Rock-area freight-market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Little Rock's five-interstate port access makes this worth prioritizing for general freight in either direction.
Jackson to Little Rock Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Little Rock's multimodal access, and winter weather.
The lane data shows about $655 - $760 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 257 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 4 hours for the 257 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's multimodal cargo volume and growing e-commerce presence.
Other Mississippi freight lanes we dispatch
- Jackson to Mobile
- Jackson to Houston
- Jackson to Tupelo
- Jackson to Charlotte
- Jackson to Baton Rouge
- Jackson to Shreveport
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 Little Rock, AR consistently?
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