St. Louis to Little Rock Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting St. Louis, MO to Little Rock, AR (320 miles). Connects Missouri's freight base to Northwest Arkansas's Walmart/Tyson/J.B. Hunt distribution corridor.
What do truck dispatch rates run from St. Louis to Little Rock?
St. Louis to Little Rock is a 320-mile lane paying about $784 - $912 per load, near $2.45 - $2.85 a mile. Freight is mostly agricultural products, manufacturing freight and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 320 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $784 - $912
- Rate per mile
- $2.45 - $2.85
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this Mid-South corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
St. Louis to Little Rock
St. Louis to Little Rock is a 320-mile, roughly 5-hour run south, mostly on I-55/I-40, into Arkansas's freight crossroads. Little Rock sits at the I-40/I-30 junction, home to J.B. Hunt's headquarters in North Little Rock, and the Port of Little Rock on the Arkansas River handles over 12 million tons of cargo a year with barge access to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.
Origin
St. Louis, MO
Destination
Little Rock, AR
Distance
320 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$784 - $912
Rate per Mile
$2.45 - $2.85
320-mile lane, about 5 hours on I-55/I-40
Little Rock sits at the I-40/I-30 crossroads, home to J.B. Hunt's headquarters
The Port of Little Rock handles over 12 million tons of cargo a year
St. Louis to Little Rock: route facts a driver should know
Little Rock sits at the only US point where I-30 and I-40 cross
Little Rock sits at the only point in the country where I-30 and I-40 intersect, connecting Texas-bound freight with the coast-to-coast I-40 corridor.
Source: Metro Little Rock Alliance, distribution and logistics. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
St. Louis is served by six Class I railroads
St. Louis is served by all six Class I railroads through the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, making it one of the largest rail hubs in the country.
Source: Inbound Logistics, St. Louis multimodal freight network. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for St. Louis to Little Rock?
About $301.66 this week. The lane is 320 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 49 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.13 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 the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 320 mi
- Diesel needed
- 49 gal
- Price used
- $6.13/gal
- Fuel cost
- $301.66
Common Freight Types
Agricultural products, manufacturing freight and consumer goods fill the trailers heading south.
- Retail Distribution
- Food Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the St. Louis to Little Rock lane difficult?
Missouri and Arkansas stretches can see winter weather
Missouri and Arkansas stretches can see winter weather.
I-30 through the metro can carry up to 85,000 vehicles a day
I-30 through the metro can carry up to 85,000 vehicles a day.
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range.
What freight moves on the St. Louis to Little Rock lane?
What travels between St. Louis and Little Rock, and why the freight crossroads matters.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Food Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •J.B. Hunt-connected freight
- •Port of Little Rock barge-connected freight
- •Agricultural products
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Agricultural products (fall harvest)
- •Manufacturing freight (steady)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
When is the St. Louis to Little Rock lane busiest?
Fall harvest and retail timing both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady manufacturing freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
A modest factor tied to fall harvest freight along the route.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady agricultural and manufacturing freight
- •Fall harvest freight
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather across Missouri and Arkansas is the 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 St. Louis to Little Rock lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need extra time.
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 Port of Little Rock barge-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight window through Little Rock during peak traffic hours.
Rate Negotiation Tips for St. Louis to Little Rock
- •
At 320 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
- •
Barge-linked freight through the Port of Little Rock is worth asking about.
- •
Rail-linked freight out of St. Louis is worth checking on this end too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the St. Louis to Little Rock lane?
Little Rock's deep concentration of carrier terminals makes a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the northbound load:
- •Little Rock, AR
- •Regional distribution hubs near Little Rock
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With J.B. Hunt headquartered nearby and the Port of Little Rock's barge access, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Arkansas's farm/food-processing freight base offers a regionally distinct backhaul option.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Little Rock's river and interstate access gives you real backhaul options.
- •
St. Louis's own rail and river-port density keeps northbound freight flowing too.
- •
Check freight tied to the Port of Little Rock's rail connections for a specialized backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the St. Louis to Little Rock lane?
Three notes before this Mid-South run.
Check winter conditions across Missouri and Arkansas.
Avoid I-30 through Little Rock during peak traffic hours if you can.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Little Rock sits at the only spot in the country where I-30 and I-40 cross, which keeps this a genuinely useful freight junction.
St. Louis to Little Rock Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Little Rock's freight crossroads, and the port.
The lane data shows about $784 - $912 per load, or $2.45 - $2.85 a mile, across 320 miles.
It sits at the I-40/I-30 junction, home to J.B. Hunt's headquarters, one of the largest trucking companies in the country.
It handles over 12 million tons of cargo a year, with barge access to the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.
Reasonably, given the metro's deep concentration of 3PL operations and carrier terminals.
Other Missouri freight lanes we dispatch
- St. Louis to New Orleans
- St. Louis to Omaha
- St. Louis to Louisville
- St. Louis to Minneapolis
- St. Louis to Wichita
- St. Louis to Kansas City
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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