467 miles · Est. 6.9 hours · Avg $2.55/mile · Gross $1,191
Lane Overview
467
Miles
$2.55
Avg rate/mile
$1,191
Avg gross rate
moderate
Competition
Tampa to Atlanta northbound on I-75 is Florida's agricultural pipeline to the Southeast. Florida is the second-largest agricultural state — citrus, tomatoes, bell peppers, strawberries, and squash move north from Tampa's surrounding farm belt toward Atlanta's distribution network for onward movement. Consumer goods flow southbound in return. At $2.45–$2.65/mile for 467 miles, moderate difficulty means rates are solid and consistent without being exceptional.
I-75 through the Florida Panhandle interior — past Ocala, Gainesville, and Lake City — is relatively fast with few delays outside of metro areas. The Valdosta, GA stretch has active Georgia State Patrol commercial vehicle enforcement — speed limit is 65mph and it's enforced. Florida Turnpike tolls of $15 apply for the southbound portion but not northbound on this routing. Atlanta delivery: most produce freight goes to the State Farmers Market in Forest Park or the I-285 south industrial corridor. Return loads Atlanta to Tampa (slug: atlanta-to-tampa) carry consumer goods and retail merchandise southbound reliably.
Driver Tip
Use our Load Profitability Calculator to check if this lane covers your operating costs before accepting a load.
Trip Costs
Fuel Estimate
$173
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$15
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$1,003
Before your other costs
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
Tampa to Atlanta is Port Tampa Bay meeting Atlanta's distribution machine — two freight generators at opposite ends of I-75 that keep this lane moving north reliably week in and week out. I've dispatched this run for years and the freight picture hasn't changed much: port-driven consumer goods, Florida agricultural product, and general retail merchandise move north consistently enough that you're rarely scrambling for a load on the Tampa side.
Port Tampa Bay handles phosphate, potash, and general cargo — some of that industrial product moves north, but the bread and butter here is consumer goods cleared through the port and Florida's agricultural output. Citrus from the surrounding Hillsborough and Polk County farms, produce from the plant city strawberry fields in spring, and packaged food from Tampa's food processing facilities all head toward Atlanta. The Forest Park Georgia State Farmers Market is a primary receiver for Florida produce. Anheuser-Busch and Cargill both operate significant Tampa-area facilities that generate dry-van volume too.
You're on I-75 north the entire run — clean interstate with no major route decisions. The Gainesville exit is the natural fuel stop at roughly the 120-mile mark, and there's good truck infrastructure around the I-75/Newberry Road interchange. Lake City is the next option, 60 miles further, before you cross into Georgia. The Georgia scale house on I-75 near Valdosta is active both directions — I've heard from plenty of drivers who got tagged there, so confirm your weights before you cross the state line. Georgia State Patrol runs speed enforcement on I-75 north through Valdosta and Tifton; 65mph is the commercial limit and they watch it. Atlanta approach: I-285 south to I-75 north puts you at the Forest Park and Hapeville industrial cluster where a lot of this freight delivers.
Mid-week loads Tuesday through Thursday run $2.50–$2.65/mile without much resistance. Tampa has enough freight activity that you don't need to take the first load offered — if a broker is posting at $2.40 early Monday, wait them out, because better loads come through Tuesday. Direct accounts with the Port Tampa Bay area shippers and the plant city produce distributors will outperform spot rates by $0.10–$0.15/mile if you can build those relationships.
Atlanta back to Tampa is a solid return. Consumer goods, retail merchandise, and manufactured goods flow south from Atlanta's distribution centers into Florida's market. Rates run $2.45–$2.60/mile southbound. It's a bilateral lane where neither direction stings you.
Does I-75 through Florida have weight station stops for commercial vehicles?
There are weigh-in-motion sensors on I-75 in Florida that can redirect you to a portable scale setup, but the dedicated scale on this lane that matters is the Georgia scale near Valdosta on I-75 northbound. It's active and staffed during daytime hours, typically 6am to 10pm.
What's the toll situation northbound Tampa to Atlanta?
No tolls northbound on I-75 from Tampa to Atlanta. The Florida Turnpike runs parallel from just south of Tampa to Wildwood — you'd only hit it if you start on the Turnpike rather than I-75. Take I-75 from the start and you run toll-free all the way to Atlanta.
Is there seasonal freight variation I should plan for?
Yes — plant city strawberry season runs January through March and pushes reefer rates up noticeably. Summer is solid with general consumer goods. Holiday season September through December sees the highest overall volume as Atlanta's DCs stock up for retail demand.
Dispatch Service
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