346 miles · Est. 5.1 hours · Avg $2.50/mile · Gross $865
Lane Overview
346
Miles
$2.50
Avg rate/mile
$865
Avg gross rate
moderate
Competition
Jacksonville to Atlanta on I-95 north to I-10 west to I-75 north is anchored by Port of Jacksonville — one of the Southeast's most active import terminals. Container freight, consumer goods, and produce coming off ships at JAXPORT head northwest toward Atlanta's Southeast distribution network. Reefer demand is particularly strong as import produce requires temperature control. Rates hold at $2.40–$2.60/mile with reliable moderate-difficulty freight availability.
I-10 west from Jacksonville through Lake City and Live Oak is easy driving. The I-75 north pickup through Valdosta and Tifton gives you a good fuel break opportunity in Tifton — the last real truck stop before the final 90-mile push to Atlanta. Atlanta's I-285 westside and I-75 north interchange near Marietta can add 30 minutes during rush hour. Return loads Atlanta to Jacksonville (Lane 76) carry retail merchandise and consumer goods southbound toward Jacksonville's growing population center.
Driver Tip
Use our Load Profitability Calculator to check if this lane covers your operating costs before accepting a load.
Trip Costs
Fuel Estimate
$128
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$10
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$727
Before your other costs
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Return Freight
Atlanta to Jacksonville
346 miles · $2.45/mile avg
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
Jacksonville doesn't get talked about the way Savannah or Miami do, but JAXPORT is a serious port — one of the Southeast's most active import terminals, processing container freight, vehicles, and bulk cargo in volumes that require constant truck capacity heading north and west. Atlanta is the obvious destination: the Southeast's distribution hub absorbs port freight like a sponge. This is a 346-mile moderate lane that's built on a real and consistent freight relationship between two cities at either end of I-95/I-10/I-75.
JAXPORT's container terminals generate consumer goods — electronics, apparel, retail merchandise — coming off container ships heading for Atlanta's Southeast distribution network. Produce imports, particularly from Central and South America, create reefer demand as temperature-controlled cargo moves northwest. The Navy's Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville generates government contract freight that occasionally hits civilian carrier networks. Consumer goods from Jacksonville's growing population center also ship northwest as the city's retail distribution infrastructure expands with its population.
I-95 north from Jacksonville to I-10 west at the I-95/I-10 interchange on Jacksonville's west side — don't go all the way north on I-95 and then backtrack west. The I-10 west pickup at the Jacksonville interchange is the correct routing. I-10 west through Lake City and Live Oak to the I-75 north interchange at Lake City, FL. I-75 north from there through the Florida panhandle interior — Gainesville, Ocala, and then north into Georgia through Valdosta. Tifton, GA at the I-75/US-41 area is your last reliable fuel and rest stop before the final 90-mile push into Atlanta. The Georgia scale on I-75 northbound near Valdosta is active and frequently pulls trucks for full inspection during business hours. Atlanta approach: I-75 north to I-285 west or the I-285/I-75 interchange for most westside delivery zones. Morning rush on I-75 north into Marietta backs up consistently from 7am to 9am.
At $2.40–$2.60/mile for 346 miles, this lane earns in the $831–$900 range. Reefer loads from JAXPORT carry premium rates — produce importers pay for reliable temperature control and on-time delivery. Dry-van container freight runs mid-range. The Tifton fuel stop opportunity is worth noting: fuel prices in rural Georgia frequently run $0.10–$0.15/gallon below Jacksonville or Atlanta metro prices — fill up in Tifton rather than in the Atlanta metro if timing allows.
Atlanta to Jacksonville southbound (Lane 76) carries retail merchandise, consumer goods, and Southeast distribution freight toward Jacksonville's expanding residential and commercial market. Rates southbound run $2.35–$2.55/mile. Jacksonville's population growth has strengthened the return direction meaningfully compared to five years ago.
Is there a faster routing alternative to I-10 west then I-75 north?
Some carriers use I-16 west from Savannah to pick up I-75 north near Macon — but that requires going north on I-95 first and adds distance. For a direct Jacksonville-to-Atlanta run, the I-10 west to I-75 north pickup at Lake City is the most direct and efficient route.
How active is the Georgia Valdosta I-75 scale for northbound trucks?
Very active. The Valdosta scale on I-75 northbound at the Lowndes County Port of Entry runs business hours most weekdays and catches a high percentage of Florida-origin trucks heading north. Florida trucks are known for agricultural overweight issues during harvest season — Georgia enforcement knows this and the scale reflects it.
What types of cargo come off JAXPORT that require reefer versus dry-van?
Produce imports — bananas, tropical fruits, vegetables from Central American and South American operations — require reefer. Imported frozen foods and refrigerated dairy also move temperature-controlled. Container freight carrying consumer electronics, clothing, and household goods moves dry-van. The port's manifest gives brokers advance notice of cargo types available for trucking — specialty produce importers work through dedicated reefer brokers.
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