At the end of I-530
Pine Bluff is where the interstate stops. I-530 runs 45 miles from Little Rock and ends here. Beyond the city, US 65 continues southeast into the Delta toward Dumas and Lake Village, US 79 heads northeast to Stuttgart, and US 63 goes south to Warren.
Most carriers reach Pine Bluff as an out-and-back trip from Little Rock, where the I-30 and I-40 traffic is. That adds about an hour each way to their day. Pickups here can take a few days longer to line up than in the capital and cost a little more per mile. The road itself is four lanes the whole way, with nothing to slow a truck down.
UAPB students and homecoming
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, the state’s public historically Black university, draws students from well beyond Arkansas, including cities like Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago, and Dallas. For a family five or eight hours away, putting the car on a truck can be simpler than a two-car caravan.
- Where to meet. The campus is on University Drive on the north side. Carriers stay out of campus lots, so students usually meet the driver at a larger lot along University Drive or near the I-530 exits.
- Early arrivals. Band members and athletes report weeks before classes start. If your student is one of them, book for their report date, not the general move-in date.
- Homecoming. It is one of the biggest weekends of the year in Pine Bluff, with a parade and a packed stadium. Keep pickups and deliveries off that weekend.
- Who signs. A student who is 18 or older can receive the car alone.
Pine Bluff Arsenal and White Hall
Pine Bluff Arsenal, the Army installation northwest of the city, is one of the area’s major employers, and a large part of its workforce lives next door in White Hall. Soldiers and civilian staff rotate in and out on assignment.
A commercial car hauler cannot enter the installation without clearance. Handoffs for Arsenal families normally take place in White Hall, at a lot along Dollarway Road, or at home. Give us your report or departure date when you ask for a quote, and name another adult on the order if you may be gone before the truck comes.
Deliveries into the Delta
We also arrange transport for the towns south and east of Pine Bluff: Star City, Dumas, McGehee, Monticello, Lake Village, Stuttgart, DeWitt, Rison, and Sheridan.
These are farm and timber towns a long way from any interstate, and carriers pass through less often. Allow a wider pickup window, sometimes a full week. Meeting the truck in Pine Bluff shortens the wait. In September and October, harvest puts combines and grain trucks on the same two-lane roads, and everything moves more slowly.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Give a range of dates. A pickup window of five days or more lets us wait for a truck that is already coming this way.
- Choose open transport unless the car is a classic or has special paint.
- Make sure it starts. A dead battery turns a normal shipment into an inoperable one, which needs a winch and costs more. Replace the battery first if you can.
- Meet near I-530. A handoff at a lot beside the interstate saves the driver time in town.
- Ship in a quiet month. Late fall and midwinter, outside the holidays, are usually the least expensive times.
- Describe the vehicle exactly. A lift kit or oversized tires discovered at pickup can change the price on the spot.
Around Pine Bluff
The Olive Street corridor on the south side has the shopping-center lots that carriers like. Parts of the old downtown have aging buildings and blocked-off blocks, so trucks avoid it. The east side, near the end of the interstate, the port, and the mills, was built for heavy traffic and is easy to get in and out of. Watson Chapel and White Hall are ordinary residential areas where a nearby main road usually serves as the meeting spot.
The casino resort on the east side has brought hospitality managers and staff from other gaming towns. If you are one of them, have the car sent to your home address, since the employee lots are not set up for a car hauler.
Pine Bluff car shipping routes
Estimated miles and normal transit ranges for trips that start or end in Pine Bluff.
| Destination | Distance | Typical time on the truck |
|---|---|---|
| Little Rock, AR | About 45 miles | 1 to 2 days |
| Memphis, TN | About 160 miles | 1 to 2 days |
| Jackson, MS | About 215 miles | 1 to 2 days |
| Dallas, TX | About 350 miles | 2 to 4 days |
| New Orleans, LA | About 400 miles | 2 to 4 days |
| Houston, TX | About 430 miles | 2 to 4 days |
| Atlanta, GA | About 550 miles | 2 to 4 days |
| Chicago, IL | About 690 miles | 3 to 5 days |
| Washington, DC | About 1,030 miles | 4 to 6 days |
| Los Angeles, CA | About 1,720 miles | 5 to 8 days |
Mileage is approximate. Transit times are typical ranges once the vehicle is loaded, not guarantees. Weather, traffic, and other stops on the truck can shift them.
Pine Bluff car shipping questions
Can a UAPB student ship a car home for the summer?
Yes. Book before finals week and set pickup for the day after the last exam. If the student has already left, a roommate or friend can release the car.
Do you deliver to Stuttgart, Dumas, or Monticello?
Yes. Expect a longer lead time than in Pine Bluff, because trucks go to those towns less often. The transit time on the truck is about the same.
My car does not run. Can it still be picked up in Pine Bluff?
Yes, provided it rolls, steers, and brakes. Tell us in advance so the carrier brings a winch. A vehicle that cannot roll needs different equipment and a phone call to the office.
How do I know the driver who shows up is the right one?
The driver should know your name, the vehicle, and where it is going. If anything does not match, call our Pine Bluff office before you hand over the keys.
Is it worth driving the car to Little Rock for pickup?
For most people, no. The saving is usually small next to the cost of a 45-mile drive and a ride back. It can make sense if you need the car collected within a day or two.