Jackson to Mobile Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Jackson, MS to Mobile, AL (188 miles). Connects the Gulf Coast to Alabama's own Port of Mobile via I-10/I-65.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Jackson to Mobile?
Jackson to Mobile is a 188-mile lane paying about $470 - $545 per load, near $2.50 - $2.90 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port-connected freight and industrial equipment.
- Distance
- 188 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $470 - $545
- Rate per mile
- $2.50 - $2.90
- Transit time
- Same day / 4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this Gulf Coast lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Jackson to Mobile
Jackson to Mobile is a 188-mile, roughly 3-hour run southeast on I-59 and I-65, connecting Mississippi's capital 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.
Origin
Jackson, MS
Destination
Mobile, AL
Distance
188 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 4 hrs
Average Rate
$470 - $545
Rate per Mile
$2.50 - $2.90
188-mile lane, about 3 hours on I-59 and I-65
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
Jackson to Mobile: route facts a driver should know
The Port of Mobile is Alabama's only deep-water port
The Port of Mobile is Alabama's only deep-water port, with 42 berths and a channel being deepened toward 50 feet. It has historically ranked among the top 10 US ports by cargo tonnage.
Source: Wikipedia, Port of Mobile. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Austal USA is investing $288 million to expand its Mobile shipyard
Austal USA, based on Blakeley Island in Mobile, is investing $288 million to expand its shipyard with a new steel-ship assembly facility, creating more than 1,000 jobs to build vessels for the Coast Guard and Navy.
Source: Alabama News Center, Austal USA expansion coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Jackson to Mobile?
About $170.73 this week. The lane is 188 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 29 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
- 188 mi
- Diesel needed
- 29 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $170.73
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, port-connected freight and industrial equipment fill the trailers heading southeast.
- Petrochemical Equipment
- Containerized Cargo
- Steel Products
What makes the Jackson 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 Jackson to Mobile lane?
What travels between Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Austal's active shipyard expansion schedule.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Jackson 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 Jackson to Mobile
- •
At 250 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
- •
Shipbuilding-linked freight is worth asking about given Austal USA's active shipyard expansion.
- •
Port-linked freight is worth checking on the Mobile end too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Jackson to Mobile lane?
The Port of Mobile's expansion investment makes a northwestbound 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: 20-25%
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:
- •After delivery, look for reloads in Mobile, Saraland, and Hattiesburg. Your best targets are port containers, aerospace, shipbuilding, paper and steel 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 Mobile's deep-water cargo base 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 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.
Austal USA's $288 million shipyard expansion is a genuinely growing freight source worth building a relationship around.
Jackson to Mobile Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Mobile's expansion, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $470 - $545 per load, or $2.50 - $2.90 a mile, across 188 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 3 hours for the 188 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's ongoing expansion investment.
Other Mississippi freight lanes we dispatch
- Jackson to Tupelo
- Jackson to Little Rock
- Jackson to Charlotte
- Jackson to Baton Rouge
- Jackson to Shreveport
- Jackson to Indianola
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 Mobile, AL consistently?
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