Arkansas Truck Dispatch: Poultry, Rice and I-40 Freight
Arkansas truck dispatch covers poultry, rice, wood products and northwest Arkansas retail freight on the I-40, I-30 and I-49 corridors. We book Arkansas loads remotely for a flat 6% or 8% of weekly gross, with your first 3 days free.
Figures and rules checked October 30, 2026
Arkansas sits on I-40 halfway between Memphis and Oklahoma City, and I-30 runs from Little Rock to Dallas. For many owner-operators it's a state to cross. But it ships plenty of its own freight too: poultry, rice, wood products and the retail and consumer goods of northwest Arkansas.
Arkansas sent about 45 million tons by truck to other states in 2022 and received about 42 million. Texas and Missouri were the biggest partners in both directions, followed by Oklahoma and Tennessee.
What Arkansas ships
| Freight | Truck tons, 2022 | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wood products | About 9.5 million | The forests and mills of southern and western Arkansas |
| Cereal grains | About 8.7 million | The Delta in eastern Arkansas |
| Nonmetal mineral products | About 7.7 million | Statewide |
| Other agricultural products | About 6.5 million | Rice, soybeans and other crops |
| Mixed freight | About 5.2 million | Northwest Arkansas and Little Rock distribution |
| Animal feed and fertilizers | About 4.9 and 4.1 million | Feed for the poultry industry |
Source: FAF6 truck tons originating in Arkansas. Arkansas is also the nation's leading rice state: the University of Arkansas extension service reports the state grew 45.2% of total U.S. rice production in 2025. Milled and bagged rice moves out by dry van.
Arkansas's freight regions
- Northwest Arkansas (Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville): a fast-growing retail, consumer goods and poultry hub along I-49.
- Little Rock: distribution where I-40, I-30 and I-530 meet.
- The Delta: rice, soybeans and cotton in the east, near Memphis.
- Fort Smith and the west: manufacturing and the I-40 corridor toward Oklahoma.
- South Arkansas: timber, paper and wood products.
Lanes and reloads
- I-40 carries cross-country freight between Memphis and Oklahoma City through Little Rock and Fort Smith.
- I-30 runs from Little Rock to Dallas through Texarkana.
- I-49 links northwest Arkansas with Fort Smith and, to the north, Kansas City.
- Northwest Arkansas reloads well, thanks to its retail and poultry freight. Little Rock is the other strong reload point.
- The Delta can be slow outside harvest. Memphis is close, so plan to reload there.
Arkansas freight by the numbers
| Measure | Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Truck freight starting in the state (2022) | About 137 million tons, 67% delivered in-state |
| Truck freight to other states | About 45 million tons |
| Truck freight from other states | About 42 million tons (more leaves than arrives) |
| Top destination states | Texas, Missouri and Oklahoma |
| Top states sending trucks in | Missouri, Texas and Oklahoma |
| Diesel tax, IFTA, 4th quarter 2026 | 28.5 cents a gallon |
| State rule to check first | No special state tax beyond IFTA |
Tonnage from the BTS Freight Analysis Framework (FAF6, base year 2022). Diesel tax from the IFTA, Inc. rate matrix.
Trailers that fit Arkansas freight
| Equipment | Where it fits |
|---|---|
| Reefer | Poultry and food plants in northwest and central Arkansas |
| Dry van | Retail and consumer goods, bagged rice, paper |
| Flatbed | Lumber, wood products and steel |
| Power only | Trailer moves for retail and consumer goods in northwest Arkansas |
A reefer loop from northwest Arkansas
Chicken goes out to Dallas, and grocery and food loads work the truck back through Little Rock and Memphis.
| Day | Load | About |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Poultry from a northwest Arkansas plant to Dallas by way of Fort Smith | 330 miles |
| Tuesday | Grocery freight from Dallas to Little Rock on I-30 | 320 miles |
| Wednesday | Food from Little Rock to Memphis on I-40 | 135 miles |
| Thursday | Memphis back to northwest Arkansas on I-40 and I-49 | 320 miles |
| Friday | A short local load or home time |
An example of how a week can be planned, not a promise of loads, rates or miles. Distances are rounded.
Rice harvest, ice and the holiday peak
- Spring: Severe storms and planting in the Delta.
- Late summer and fall: Rice and soybean harvest, which fills Delta roads and mills.
- Fall: The holiday retail build hits northwest Arkansas distribution hard.
- Winter: Ice storms can close I-40 for hours, especially in the hills.
Rice harvest and the holiday retail build are Arkansas's busiest stretches. See the seasonal freight calendar for the national peaks.
Costs to know
- Fuel tax. Arkansas diesel tax is 28.5 cents a gallon on the IFTA matrix for the 4th quarter of 2026. The IFTA calculator works out the quarter.
- I-40 traffic. Work zones on I-40 between Little Rock and Memphis can add time. Plan tight appointments with the trip planner.
Reloading across Arkansas
| City or area | Why trucks go there | Reload outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville | Retail, consumer goods and poultry on I-49 | Strong, the best reload area in the state |
| Little Rock | Distribution at I-40, I-30 and I-530 | Strong in most directions |
| Fort Smith | Manufacturing on I-40 and I-49 | Fair, regional |
| Jonesboro | Delta farm freight and manufacturing | Seasonal, strongest at harvest |
| Texarkana | Crossing point on I-30 and I-49 | Fair, often a pass-through |
| Pine Bluff and the south | Paper, wood products and rice | Thin, plan ahead |
Working northwest Arkansas shippers
Northwest Arkansas freight comes in two kinds, and each has its own habits.
- Retail and consumer goods. Many suppliers of the big retailers keep offices around Bentonville and Rogers, and their loads go to large distribution centers. These run on strict appointments. A truck that shows up late can be turned away and rescheduled, so build in time.
- Poultry. Plants around Springdale ship chicken in reefers, often loading at night. Come with a clean, pre-cooled trailer and the right temperature set.
- Detention. Busy docks can hold you for hours. Get detention terms on the rate con before you book.
Arkansas checklist: poultry, I-40 and the Delta
- On poultry loads, confirm temperature settings and appointment windows.
- Check I-40 work zones between Little Rock and Memphis before tight appointments.
- Plan the reload from Memphis when delivering in the Delta.
- In winter, watch for ice storms on I-40 in the hills.
- On northwest Arkansas retail loads, confirm appointment and unloading rules at the distribution center.
Booking Arkansas loads with us
Your dispatcher pairs northwest Arkansas poultry and retail freight with the I-40 lane through Little Rock. When a delivery lands in the Delta, the plan is a short hop to Memphis for the next load rather than a long wait in a farm town.
Same terms in every state. We work online and are registered in New York. There's no local office, so your dispatcher works with you by phone, text and email.
- A flat 6% of weekly gross for dry van, reefer, flatbed and power only, and 8% for box truck and hotshot
- No fee on loads picked up in your first 3 days
- No upfront or setup fees and no long-term contract
- Setup within about 24 hours of getting your documents
Here's how our fee works and what you need to get set up.
Freight tonnage on this page comes from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics Freight Analysis Framework (FAF6, base year 2022).
Texas and Missouri trade the most freight with Arkansas. See Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee for the other end of those lanes.
Arkansas truck dispatch questions
How much rice does Arkansas grow?▾
The University of Arkansas extension service reports Arkansas grew 45.2% of total U.S. rice production in 2025.
Where are the best reloads in Arkansas?▾
Northwest Arkansas, with its retail and poultry freight, and Little Rock. The Delta is slower outside harvest.
What interstates cross Arkansas?▾
I-40 between Memphis and Oklahoma City, I-30 from Little Rock to Dallas, and I-49 through northwest Arkansas.
Is Arkansas good for reefers?▾
Yes. Poultry and food plants in northwest and central Arkansas ship reefer freight year round.
Ready to get your truck loaded?
Talk to a dispatcher today. Your first 3 days are free, with no upfront dispatch fees.