Mississippi Truck Dispatch: Lumber, Poultry and I-55 Lanes

Mississippi ships more truck freight than it receives, by a wide margin. The 2022 federal count shows about 40 million tons leaving Mississippi by truck for other states, against about 30 million coming in. That's one of the strongest outbound balances of any state, and it means a truck delivering into Mississippi usually has freight waiting to take out.

The freight comes from forests, farms and factories: lumber and wood products, poultry, auto assembly and a long list of manufacturers spread across a mostly rural state.

What Mississippi ships

Source: FAF6 truck tons originating in Mississippi, leaving out sand, gravel, fuels and logs. Logs themselves are a big part of Mississippi trucking, but they ride on log trailers, not freight we book.

By tonnage, Mississippi trucks deliver most to Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee, Texas and Arkansas.

Mississippi's freight regions

• Jackson and central Mississippi: distribution, auto assembly north of the city near Canton, and the junction of I-20 and I-55.
• North Mississippi and the Memphis suburbs: large distribution centers in DeSoto County along I-55 and I-269, which work as part of the Memphis market.
• Tupelo and the northeast: furniture manufacturing and auto assembly along I-22 and US-45.
• The Delta: cotton, rice, soybeans and catfish in the west along US-61.
• The Gulf Coast: the Port of Gulfport, shipbuilding and seafood along I-10.
• South and east Mississippi: forests, sawmills and poultry plants.

Lanes and reloads

• I-55 runs from New Orleans through Jackson to Memphis, the state's main north-south corridor.
• I-20 crosses from Louisiana through Jackson and Meridian to Alabama.
• I-22 connects Memphis with Birmingham through Tupelo.
• I-10 follows the Gulf Coast between New Orleans and Mobile.
• DeSoto County reloads like Memphis. Jackson and Meridian are solid. Rural deliveries in the Delta or the piney woods take planning.

Mississippi freight by the numbers

Tonnage from the BTS Freight Analysis Framework (FAF6, base year 2022). Diesel tax from the IFTA, Inc. rate matrix.

Trailers that fit Mississippi freight

A Jackson flatbed week on lumber and steel

Lumber heads west to Dallas, and building materials and steel bring a Jackson flatbed back across I-20.

An example of how a week can be planned, not a promise of loads, rates or miles. Distances are rounded.

Lumber loads need the right number of straps and edge protection. The tiedown calculator checks the count.

Delta harvest and storm season

• Spring: Severe storms and tornadoes, and planting in the Delta.
• June to November: Hurricane season on the coast.
• Fall: Cotton, rice and soybean harvest in the Delta.
• Year round: Steady timber and poultry freight.

Delta harvest and Gulf storms are the two seasons to plan around. The seasonal freight calendar shows the national peaks.

What a Mississippi run costs

• Fuel tax. Mississippi diesel tax is 24 cents a gallon on the IFTA matrix for the 4th quarter of 2026, lower than Alabama's. The IFTA calculator handles it.
• No toll interstates. Mississippi's interstates are free.
• Rural roads. Mills and plants are often on two-lane roads. Allow extra time for the last miles.

Mississippi reload points

Loading at Mississippi lumber mills

Lumber is one of the best flatbed loads in Mississippi, and mills have their own way of working.

• Ask about hours. Many mills load only during day shifts and close on weekends. Confirm the loading window before you head out.
• Bring tarps and straps. Many lumber loads need tarps, and every load needs proper securement. Our flatbed securement guide covers the basics.
• Watch the weight. Lumber can be heavy, especially when it's green. Get the scale weight before you leave the mill.
• Plan the last miles. Mills often sit on narrow two-lane roads, far from the interstate.

Mississippi checklist: mill roads, straps and DeSoto County

• Allow extra time for the last miles to mills and plants on two-lane roads.
• On lumber loads, confirm strap count and edge protection.
• Treat DeSoto County deliveries as part of the Memphis market for reloads.
• In hurricane season, check Gulf forecasts before booking to the coast.
• On poultry and catfish loads, confirm temperature settings and appointments.

Booking Mississippi freight with us

Mississippi has more freight going out than coming in, which makes it a good place to deliver. Your dispatcher works the lumber mills and poultry plants for outbound loads and treats DeSoto County as part of the Memphis market. Mill loads are matched to the straps and edge protection you carry.

Most Mississippi loads cross into Alabama, Louisiana, Tennessee and Arkansas.