Next up in our mini-series all about moving freight through the Southeastern states, is Mississippi. Mississippi is known as the birthplace of America’s music, Catfish and southern comfort food. However, there is much more to Mississippi than that as far as logistics are concerned. Mississippi is a strategic connecting state between Gulf ports, the Memphis market and East – West freight lanes. Let’s dive deeper into what make Mississippi a key player in the movement of freight.

How Does Moving Freight In Mississippi Work? 🤔

Freight moves through Mississippi using a robust multimodal system. The main artery through the state that dominates the movement of freight here is the Mississippi River, it accommodates huge amounts of inland waterway barge traffic. But, this barge traffic is also supported largely by extensive rail networks and trucking options.

Top Industries That Rely On Freight Movement In Mississippi 🏗

The state of Mississippi plays a huge part in the movement of agricultural, energy, manufacturing and forestry products, all of which rely heavily on cost-effective, reliable movement. Primary commodities include, soybeans, corn, fertilizer, coal, petroleum products, iron, steel, and agricultural products like grains and cotton. The state economy relies on freight, not just to support businesses, but as a fundamental driver of growth.

Inland Waterways 🚢

Mississippi’s inland waterways serve as a cost-effective solution to moving bulk commodities, with the Mississippi River being the main one, with supporting and connecting waterways to Gulf ports and the port of Mobile.

The Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is responsible for moving around 500 million short tons of cargo annually across the entire river system. Spanning from Lake Itasca in Minnesota it runs 2350 miles down to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. When combined with its’ longest tributary, the Missouri River, it extends the waterway to 3710 miles, making it the fourth longest in the world.

Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (Tenn-Tom)

This waterway creates a 234 mile long transportation avenue that connects the Tennessee River in Mississippi to the Tombigbee River in Alabama. It was a man-made purpose built canal and river system to offer a direct route to the Gulf of Mexico.

Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW)

The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is 1300 miles long and intersects the Mississippi River near New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s a vital shallow waterway used in the movement of industrial, agricultural, and petroleum products between Texas and Florida. This route sees over 100 million tons of cargo each year, proving the importance of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

Ohio, Illinois, Arkansas, and Missouri Rivers

The Ohio, Illinois, Arkansas and Missouri Rivers are all major tributaries or associated waterways of the Mississippi River basin. All of which are critical for commerce, and efficient transportation. The Missouri and Ohio lanes that are the primary, large tributaries, while the Illinois and Arkansas flow directly into the Mississippi River which facilities extensive trade routes.

Major Roadways In Mississippi 🛣

There are several major freight roadways in Mississippi that serve as critical logistics corridors for the Southeast. Here’s some of the key roads used most frequently for the movement of freight:

I-55

The I-55 travels through Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. It covers approximately 290 miles through Mississippi, and enters the state at the Louisiana state line near Osyka and leaves at the Tennessee state line near Southaven. This interstate acts as the primary North – South corridor for freight, running parallel to the Mississippi River.

I-20

The I-20 is a major East – West interstate highway, running 154.5 miles through Mississippi. It begins in Texas, and travels through and connects five major cities along its’ route, including: Shreveport, LA, Jackson, MS, Birmingham, AL, Atlanta, GA, and Columbia, SC.

I-10

The I-10 is a crucial coastal route, moving freight East – West. In Mississippi, the I-10 spans around 77 miles along the Gulf coast, connecting Mississippi with Louisiana, and Alabama.

I-22

The I-22 runs approximately 100 miles through the state of Mississippi, most of its’ length is in Mississippi, with a significant portion also running through Alabama.

⚠️ Major Trucking Bottleneck Areas 

Mississippi has just this year ranked as the fourth worst state for truck drivers. This is taking into consideration congestion, road conditions and other drivers on the road. the state has a high number of RTA’s with a large portion of them sadly ending in fatality.

While Mississippi does not always rank in the top 10 national bottlenecks, the freight corridors are a part of a larger, heavily congested region. But where are the bottlenecks appearing in the state? Most bottleneck spots are primarily concentrated along major interstate corridors, roads that move freight nationally and regionally. But the Memphis Metropolitan and key Mississippi River crossings are the most critical points of congestion. Here’s some of the more congested areas to plan for:

I-55: The I-55 in Northern Mississippi is prone to multi-day traffic bottlenecks and closures, which is particularly highlighted in the winter months due to heavy ice and snow, which in turn leads to stalling vehicles.

I-40/I-55: The I-40 and I-55 interchange and the surrounding bridges over the Mississippi River near Memphis are areas that are frequently ranked in the top 100 trucking bottlenecks in the United States. This area is often impacted by infrastructure maintenance, accidents and severe weather conditions, leading to delays.

I-20 and I-10: These are the busiest truck routes in the state, regularly carrying over 11,000 trucks daily, making it prone to traffic congestion.

Jackson Metropolitan Area: The Jackson Metropolitan area in Mississippi faces several traffic and infrastructure bottlenecks. In fact, the states capital city, Jackson, made it to the number 100 spot on a list of worst cities for sharing the road with semis from a truckers survey which ultimately stems from heavy commercial vehicle traffic.

Rail 🚝

The Mississippi rail network offers one of the most connected logistics systems across the Southeastern states. There are 30 railway systems, that cover more than 2500 miles of track and connects Mississippi to every major North American market by rail through five class I carriers. Mississippi also boasts fully integrated intermodal facilities that link the railways, highways, waterways and airports.

Air ✈️

Mississippi is a significant air cargo hub. It benefits from the location of the Memphis International Airport, one of the busiest cargo airports in the world being right on the border of the state. The close proximity to Memphis airport gives shippers in the state quick access to global overnight networks and high capacity of international shipping.

But, we’re here to talk about air freight solutions in Mississippi. The main air cargo hub in the state is Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN). It might not handle the same volumes as Memphis but it plays an essential role in keeping Mississippi’s supply chains moving. JAN supports expedited shipments of high-value freight and critical parts when speed and reliability are the number one factor of a shipment, making Mississippi a major player in national and international air logistics.

Trucking – Legal Size & Weight Limit 🚚

Legal size, weight and limits of a truck and its’ cargo vary significantly by state. In Mississippi, the standard freight restrictions are as follows:

Gross Weight: 80,000lbs

Width: 13 feet 6 inches

Height: 13 feet 6 inches

Length: 53 foot trailer length

Overhang: 3 feet at the front and 14 feet at the rear

If a vehicle and cargo exceeds any of the above dimensions, then that vehicle or load would require special oversize/overweight permits that are issued by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT). It’s always best to double check with the MDOT before shipping to be sure that you’re meeting all of the states requirements, your freight partner should do this on your behalf.

What Other Restrictions Are There When Moving Freight In Mississippi? ⛔️

Besides the dimensional restrictions that we have mentioned above, there are other restrictions affecting how freight moves through Mississippi, especially when the loads are over-dimensional. The following restrictions are in place:

Travel Hours

Travel is permitted from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset and this is only Monday through to Saturday. On a Sunday oversize load travel is generally restricted entirely.

Night Travel Hours

Loads that exceed the dimensional limits cannot travel through the night and are restricted to the above movement times. However, if a standard size load does not exceed 12 feet wide, 13 feet and 6 inches high, 99 feet in total length, 150,000lbs gross vehicle weight, and have a 4 foot rear overhang then they’re permitted to move 24 hours a day.

Holiday Restrictions

Movement is not allowed during certain holidays, including: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. All freight movement stops at 12pm on the day before the holiday.

Weather Travel Restrictions

Freight partners usually make decisions using common sense around moving freight during severe weather conditions. However, it’s legally not permitted for overwidth loads to move during heavy rain, wind or low visibility conditions.

Urban Area Restrictions

Loads that exceed width restrictions to over 12 feet are restricted on movement in urban areas between the hours of 7am – 8:30am and between 4:30pm and 5:30pm in Jackson, Memphis/Southaven and the Gulf Coast. Essentially avoiding peak commuting times.

Escort Vehicle Requirements 🚨

When moving freight through Mississippi, once certain size thresholds are met then escort vehicles are required to perform the move. Here are the typical requirements:

Length & Overhang Triggers

• Rear overhang is 15 feet or more
• Front overhang is 15 feet or more
• Total overall length exceeds 99 feet

Depending on the freights’ route, the above cargo may require a front escort, rear escort or both.

Night Time Moves

When a load is 10 feet wide or wider and moving through the night, then the following escorts with a flashing amber light attached at the rear of the load are needed:

• 2 lane, non-divided roads – minimum of 1 front escort vehicle
• 2 lane, divided road – minimum of 1 rear escort vehicle

Daytime Moves

When moving freight that exceeds 20 feet in width during daytime hours, the following escort vehicles with a flashing amber light attached at the rear of the load are required:

• 2 lane roads require a minimum of 1 escort vehicle

Police Escorts

Loads that exceed 20 feet in width might require a police escort depending on a few factors:

• Route
• Weather conditions
• Load characteristics
• Construction zones

Types of Permits 📑

Key permits in Mississippi include:

• Single trip – oversize permit for one way trips
• Single trip – overweight permit for one way trips
• Annual permit – valid for 12 months for frequent and routine loads/routes
• Special heavy haul annual permit – valid for 12 months for routine heavy haul loads
• Super load permits – valid for freight that exceeds the dimensions or weight of oversize loads, often require special planning and extra escort vehicles
• City and county permits – sometimes required along with a state permit to travel on urban roads
• Trip and fuel permits – this permit is required for out-of-state and non-registered vehicles

Conclusion 😊

Mississippi plays a vital role in keeping the Southeast connected. With its’ strategic positioning between Gulf ports, the Memphis markets, and major East – West corridors the state is a strategic “bridge” for a ton of industries, but most commonly, for moving agricultural, manufacturing, energy and industrial freight.

Mississippi has strong waterways, rail, road and air shipping solutions, making moving any kind of freight here possible and efficient. But understanding how freight moves in Mississippi can help shippers to avoid delays, reduce risks and keep costs on track.

If you’ve got freight that you need to move to, from or through Mississippi then we have got just the people for you, to fulfil your every freight need. Get in touch with us directly via cell on: 888-SHIP-911 or use the link below to reach out, we’d love to hear from you!

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