Oklahoma City to Tulsa Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Oklahoma City, OK to Tulsa, OK (105 miles). Connects Oklahoma's two largest metros via I-44, tolled Oklahoma Turnpike.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Oklahoma City to Tulsa?
Oklahoma City to Tulsa is a 105-mile lane paying about $289 - $331 per load, near $2.75 - $3.15 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, barge/rail-connected freight and agricultural exports.
- Distance
- 105 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $289 - $331
- Rate per mile
- $2.75 - $3.15
- Transit time
- Same day / 1.5-2 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for a short, high-rate-per-mile lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Oklahoma City to Tulsa
Oklahoma City to Tulsa is a 105-mile, roughly 1.5-hour run northeast on I-44 (the Turner Turnpike), connecting Oklahoma's dual freight-hub cities. The Tulsa Port of Catoosa, the head of navigation for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, handles more than 2 million tons of cargo annually across a 2,000-acre industrial park home to about 70 companies.
Origin
Oklahoma City, OK
Destination
Tulsa, OK
Distance
105 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 1.5-2 hrs
Average Rate
$289 - $331
Rate per Mile
$2.75 - $3.15
105-mile lane, about 1.5 hours on I-44 (Turner Turnpike)
The Tulsa Port of Catoosa handles more than 2 million tons of cargo annually
Tulsa Port of Catoosa's 2,000-acre industrial park is home to about 70 companies and 3,000 workers
Oklahoma City to Tulsa: route facts a driver should know
Tulsa Port of Catoosa is one of the largest inland river ports in the US
The Tulsa Port of Catoosa sits at the head of navigation for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, one of the largest and most inland river ports in the country, with a projected 20 percent increase in overall tonnage by 2030.
Source: Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Tulsa Port of Catoosa overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Tinker AFB is Oklahoma's largest single-site employer
Tinker Air Force Base is Oklahoma's largest single-site employer, with 26,694 workers, generating $3.5 billion in annual economic impact and supporting about 33,000 secondary jobs.
Source: Oklahoma Watch, Tinker AFB employment coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Oklahoma City to Tulsa?
About $102.61 this week. The lane is 105 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 16 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.35 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
- 105 mi
- Diesel needed
- 16 gal
- Price used
- $6.35/gal
- Fuel cost
- $102.61
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, barge/rail-connected freight and agricultural exports fill the trailers heading northeast.
- Aerospace Components
- Consumer Goods
- Energy Equipment
What makes the Oklahoma City to Tulsa lane difficult?
A very short lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range
A very short lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range.
Barge-connected freight can be seasonal and tied to river navigation conditions
Barge-connected freight can be seasonal and tied to river navigation conditions.
Winter weather along I-44 can occasionally affect road conditions
Winter weather along I-44 can occasionally affect road conditions.
What freight moves on the Oklahoma City to Tulsa lane?
What travels between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, and why the Port of Catoosa matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Aerospace Components
- •Consumer Goods
- •Energy Equipment
Secondary Commodities
- •Barge/rail-intermodal-connected freight (Port of Catoosa)
- •Agricultural exports (soybeans, wheat)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Agricultural exports (fall harvest peak)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Barge/rail-connected freight (steady)
When is the Oklahoma City to Tulsa lane busiest?
Fall harvest season and steady port-connected freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady barge and rail-connected freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
A real factor, as the fall harvest drives agricultural export freight through the Port of Catoosa.
- •Steady barge and rail-intermodal freight year-round
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Fall harvest season (agricultural exports)
Hurricane Risk?
None. Occasional winter storms along I-44 are this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, though river cargo volumes can dip with lower wheat-export years.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Oklahoma City to Tulsa lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need river-navigation awareness.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day booking is typical for this short, fast-turning lane.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical port-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking I-44 conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Oklahoma City to Tulsa
- •
At 105 miles, this is a short, quick run.
- •
Barge-linked freight is worth asking about given Tulsa Port of Catoosa's inland river position.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Oklahoma City to Tulsa lane?
The Port of Catoosa's multimodal scale makes a southwestbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Tulsa, OK
- •Regional distribution hubs near Tulsa
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
With more than 2 million tons of cargo moving through Catoosa annually, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Tulsa's energy sector and Port of Catoosa freight, plus steady aerospace-adjacent volume, keep deadhead risk low on this short, high-frequency lane.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Tulsa's inland port gives you real backhaul options for barge-fed freight.
- •
Oklahoma City's Tinker AFB base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough to plan more than one trip a day.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Oklahoma City to Tulsa lane?
Four notes before this dual-hub run.
This short lane pairs well with two or more turns in a single day.
Confirm river navigation status if your freight connects to Port of Catoosa barge traffic.
Check I-44 winter conditions during occasional storms.
Confirm current port rate schedules before quoting Catoosa-connected freight.
Tulsa Port of Catoosa's barge network makes this worth checking for grain and bulk freight tied to river navigation.
Oklahoma City to Tulsa Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Catoosa, and river navigation.
The lane data shows about $289 - $331 per load, or $2.75 - $3.15 a mile, across 105 miles.
The head of navigation for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, handling more than 2 million tons of cargo annually across a 2,000-acre industrial park.
About 1.5 hours for the 105 miles on I-44.
Reasonably, given the Port of Catoosa's multimodal cargo volume.
Other Oklahoma freight lanes we dispatch
- Oklahoma City to Kansas City
- Oklahoma City to Wichita
- Oklahoma City to Little Rock
- Oklahoma City to Houston
- Oklahoma City to Amarillo
- Oklahoma City to Albuquerque
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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