Freight shipping from Los Angeles to Phoenix
Lane details
Los Angeles to Phoenix freight at a glance
| Lane | Los Angeles, CA to Phoenix, AZ |
|---|---|
| Distance | About 375 highway miles |
| Drive time | About 5.5 hours by car without stops |
| Typical transit | Typically 1 day by truck, confirmed with every quote |
| Main route | I-10 east through the Inland Empire, the Coachella Valley and Blythe |
| Major stops | Ontario, CA; Banning, CA; Palm Springs, CA; Indio, CA; Blythe, CA; Quartzsite, AZ; Buckeye, AZ |
| Common freight | Imported and retail goods moving from Southern California ports and distribution centers into Phoenix, a major retail distribution market. |
| Equipment | Full truckload, dry van, LTL, refrigerated and flatbed, matched to the load |
| Return lane | Phoenix, AZ to Los Angeles, CA: the same route in reverse, about the same distance |
What to know about this lane
- Nearly the whole trip is one interstate: I-10 carries about 360 of the 375 miles, crossing into Arizona at Blythe.
Industries on this lane
Sources: Greater Phoenix Economic Council, Aerospace and Defense (opens in a new tab); TSMC, TSMC Arizona (opens in a new tab); Caltrans District 8, About District 8 (opens in a new tab).
Distance
Los Angeles to Phoenix drive time and distance
Los Angeles to Phoenix is about 375 miles by road, mostly on I-10, or about 5.5 hours of driving for a car without stops.
That fits inside one truck driver's day: federal hours-of-service rules allow up to 11 hours of driving in a 14-hour window, so freight on this lane typically delivers in 1 day, confirmed with every quote.
Both directions
Phoenix to Los Angeles: the return direction
The Phoenix to Los Angeles drive is the same I-10 run west, about the same 5.5 hours by car. Westbound loads deliver into Southern California ports and distribution centers, where the delivery appointment usually sets the schedule, and the truck still has to meet CARB rules because it operates in California. Summit Link quotes that direction per shipment.
Sources: Distance-Cities, road distance, drive time and route (opens in a new tab); Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations (opens in a new tab).
Rates
What affects freight rates from Los Angeles to Phoenix
California pickups
The truck has to meet CARB's Truck and Bus Regulation and Clean Truck Check, which cover out-of-state trucks too, so only compliant carriers can take the load.
Summer heat
Phoenix recorded 70 days above 110°F in 2024, the most in the National Weather Service record, so food, beverages and other temperature-sensitive goods are often planned on a reefer from late spring to early fall, and a reefer is quoted differently from a dry van.
A closely watched market
Freight-market reports have long tracked spot rates on Los Angeles to Phoenix, so quotes follow current truckload market conditions rather than a fixed price.
Sources: California Air Resources Board, Clean Truck Check overview (opens in a new tab); California Air Resources Board, Truck and Bus Regulation (opens in a new tab); Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Fact brief on Phoenix heat records (2024) (opens in a new tab); DAT, Truckload Volume Index fell 8% in July (2021) (opens in a new tab).
How it works
How Summit Link handles Los Angeles to Phoenix freight
- 1
Quote the load
Tell us what is moving from Los Angeles, when it is ready and what the Phoenix dock needs.
- 2
Match the carrier
Operations selects a carrier partner with the right equipment for this lane and your freight.
- 3
Stay on it
Proactive updates from pickup to delivery, and a call the moment plans change.
- 4
Close it out
Delivery paperwork, invoicing and carrier payment, handled by the same team.
FAQ
Los Angeles to Phoenix freight questions
How far is Los Angeles from Phoenix by truck?
The Los Angeles to Phoenix distance is about 375 highway miles, mostly on I-10, and the return trip is about the same.
How long is the drive from Los Angeles to Phoenix?
Los Angeles to Phoenix driving time is about 5.5 hours for a car without stops, well within a truck driver's 11-hour daily limit, so freight on this lane typically delivers in 1 day.
What equipment can you arrange on this lane?
We arrange full truckload, dry van, LTL, refrigerated and flatbed freight on this lane through carrier partners, matched to your load.
How do I get a freight quote for this lane?
Request a quote online or call us. Tell us what you are shipping, how much it weighs, when it is ready and how often the lane moves, and a real person will follow up.
Can wind stop trucks on I‑10 near Palm Springs?
It can. Caltrans says gusts on I-10 in the Palm Springs area frequently cause high-profile vehicles to be diverted or stopped when they reach 55 mph, so a light, high-profile load may need a flexible schedule on windy days.
Does freight to Phoenix need a reefer in summer?
Not for most dry freight. Food, beverages and other temperature-sensitive goods are usually planned on a reefer or with other protection from late spring to early fall, when Phoenix regularly runs above 110°F.
Freight Moves. Relationships Endure.
Quote a load from Los Angeles to Phoenix.
A real person reviews every request. Call us at 502-463-3192 or email operations@summitlink.biz.