St. Louis to New Orleans Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting St. Louis, MO to New Orleans, LA (675 miles). The Mississippi River corridor and Port of New Orleans support this I-55 freight lane.
What do truck dispatch rates run from St. Louis to New Orleans?
St. Louis to New Orleans is a 675-mile lane paying about $1,552 - $1,823 per load, near $2.30 - $2.70 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, chemical/plastics freight and import/export cargo.
- Distance
- 675 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,552 - $1,823
- Rate per mile
- $2.30 - $2.70
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 25-30%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and Port NOLA's growing volume. See our dispatch fee structure.
St. Louis to New Orleans
St. Louis to New Orleans is a 675-mile, roughly 10.5-hour run south, mostly on I-55. Port NOLA moved 263,961 TEU in the first half of 2025, up from 258,758 the year before, driven by Latin American trade growth and schedule reliability that climbed to 83%, with organic chemical imports up 70% and plastic resin exports up 30%.
Origin
St. Louis, MO
Destination
New Orleans, LA
Distance
675 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,552 - $1,823
Rate per Mile
$2.30 - $2.70
675-mile lane, about 10.5 hours south
Port NOLA moved 263,961 TEU in the first half of 2025
Port NOLA connects to 30-plus inland hubs via 14,500 miles of waterways and six Class I railroads
St. Louis to New Orleans: route facts a driver should know
Port NOLA's container volume keeps climbing
The Port of New Orleans moved 263,961 TEUs in the first half of 2025, up 2% from the year before, with schedule reliability at 83%.
Source: Port of New Orleans, cargo volume press release. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
The Army Corps of Engineers calls St. Louis the most efficient inland port in the country
The US Army Corps of Engineers has ranked the St. Louis region's barge and port system as the most efficient inland port district by tons moved per river mile, connecting downstream to New Orleans via the Mississippi.
Source: Marine Log, St. Louis metro ports tonnage efficiency. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for St. Louis to New Orleans?
About $636.32 this week. The lane is 675 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 104 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
- 675 mi
- Diesel needed
- 104 gal
- Price used
- $6.13/gal
- Fuel cost
- $636.32
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, chemical/plastics freight and import/export cargo fill the trailers heading south.
- Agricultural Products
- Petrochemical Equipment
- Import Cargo
What makes the St. Louis to New Orleans lane difficult?
The length requires a realistic HOS plan
Understanding and preparing for this challenge helps optimize your operations and maximize profitability on this lane.
Mississippi and Louisiana stretches can see hurricane-season disruptions
Mississippi and Louisiana stretches can see hurricane-season disruptions.
Port-area New Orleans traffic can add time to a pickup
Port-area New Orleans traffic can add time to a pickup.
What freight moves on the St. Louis to New Orleans lane?
What travels between St. Louis and New Orleans, and why the port matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Agricultural Products
- •Petrochemical Equipment
- •Import Cargo
Secondary Commodities
- •Port NOLA import/export cargo
- •Organic chemicals and plastic resin
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Chemical/plastics freight (steady)
- •Import/export cargo (tied to port volume)
When is the St. Louis to New Orleans lane busiest?
Port volume and hurricane season both shape this coastal lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady chemical and plastics freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and port import volume both climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady chemical and plastics freight
- •Hurricane season (June-November)
Hurricane Risk?
Significant. New Orleans sits directly on the Gulf Coast; check storm forecasts closely from June through November.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs fairly steady year-round, with hurricane season (June through November) the main risk factor near the Gulf Coast.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the St. Louis to New Orleans lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
3-4 days out is typical for this haul, more during hurricane season.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical Port NOLA drayage and chemical/plastics freight tend to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fixed New Orleans delivery during an active hurricane watch.
Rate Negotiation Tips for St. Louis to New Orleans
- •
This is a long haul at 675 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Barge-linked freight moving down the Mississippi River corridor is worth asking about.
- •
Watch the hurricane forecast between June and November before you dispatch this lane.
How do I find a backhaul load on the St. Louis to New Orleans lane?
Port NOLA's growing volume makes a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the northbound load:
- •New Orleans, LA
- •Regional distribution hubs near New Orleans
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
Port NOLA's connections to Memphis, Chicago and beyond via six Class I railroads add real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Port import freight moving north from New Orleans is a reliable, if seasonal, backhaul source.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
New Orleans's port and petrochemical base keeps northbound freight flowing.
- •
St. Louis's own rail and river-port density keeps southbound freight flowing too.
- •
Build in schedule flexibility during hurricane season, since storms can shift plans fast.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the St. Louis to New Orleans lane?
Three notes before this Gulf-Coast run.
Plan your rest stops before you leave St. Louis on a run this long.
Check Gulf storm forecasts closely if running this lane between June and November.
Build extra time into a port-area New Orleans pickup or delivery.
Check the tropical weather outlook before you dispatch this lane between June and November.
St. Louis to New Orleans Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Port NOLA, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $1,552 - $1,823 per load, or $2.30 - $2.70 a mile, across 675 miles.
It moved 263,961 TEU in the first half of 2025, driven by Latin American trade growth and schedule reliability that climbed to 83%.
Yes, significantly. New Orleans sits directly on the Gulf Coast, so check storm forecasts closely from June through November.
Yes, generally, given Port NOLA's growing volume and connections to 30-plus inland hubs.
Other Missouri freight lanes we dispatch
- St. Louis to Louisville
- St. Louis to Little Rock
- St. Louis to Minneapolis
- St. Louis to Wichita
- St. Louis to Kansas City
- St. Louis to Chicago
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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