Vehicle, Heavy Equipment and Freight Transport in Iowa
Pickups and deliveries anywhere in Iowa, from Cedar Rapids and Davenport to the towns between them, coordinated by one team and hauled by carriers vetted before every dispatch.
Tell us about your shipment in 60 seconds
Your request is in the queue. Our team will text you in under 10 minutes during business hours with your custom quote.
We'll text you at in under 10 minutes during business hours.
Save our number: +1 (888) 354-7402
Every carrier is vetted for operating authority and insurance, and we check the certificate before every dispatch, not once a year. USDOT 3411782 · MC 1100274
At a glance
Shipping in Iowa at a glance
The facts that decide how a load moves here. Regulatory figures link to the official page they come from.
- I-80
- I-35
- I-29
- I-74
- I-380
- I-235
- corn and soybean production
- pork, beef and poultry processing
- ethanol and biofuels
- agricultural equipment manufacturing
- insurance and financial services
- wind energy components
How freight moves in Iowa
Freight in Iowa runs on I-80, I-35, I-29, I-74, I-380 and I-235. The state's economy leans on corn and soybean production, pork, beef and poultry processing, ethanol and biofuels and agricultural equipment manufacturing, and that is most of what moves on its roads.
Services
What we move in Iowa
Three services, one team, carriers vetted before every dispatch.
Car Shipping
Cars, pickups and SUVs to, from and within Iowa, on open or enclosed carriers.
Heavy Equipment Transport
Legal limit 13 ft 6 in tall, permits through Iowa DOT, and the trailer chosen for the machine.
Freight Shipping
Dry van, reefer and flatbed capacity for corn and soybean production and pork, beef and poultry processing and everything else Iowa ships.
Cities
Cities we serve in Iowa
These are the busiest pickup points. Any address in Iowa works, including the towns between them.
Cedar RapidsLinn County
Cedar Rapids, in eastern Iowa on I-380 and US-30, is a major grain-processing center, with corn and food ingredient plants along the Cedar River.
- I-380
- US-30
- US-151
DavenportScott County
Davenport is the largest of the Quad Cities on the Mississippi River, where I-80 and I-74 meet river locks, rail lines and metal and food processing plants.
- I-80
- I-74
- I-280
Des MoinesPolk County
Des Moines, the state capital and largest city, is where I-35 and I-80 cross in central Iowa, with I-235 running through the city, making it a central crossroads for north-south and east-west truck freight.
- I-35
- I-80
- I-235
Sioux CityWoodbury County
Sioux City sits on the Missouri River where Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota meet, on I-29, and is a center of meat and food processing for the tri-state region.
- I-29
- I-129
- US-20
Council BluffsPottawattamie County
Council Bluffs is across the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska, where I-80 and I-29 meet, and has been a rail gateway to the west since the transcontinental railroad, with warehouse and data center growth today.
- I-80
- I-29
- I-680
DubuqueDubuque County
Dubuque is on the Mississippi River in northeast Iowa at the meeting of US-20, US-61 and US-151, with river barge access and a heavy machinery manufacturing base.
- US-20
- US-61
- US-151
WaterlooBlack Hawk County
Waterloo, with neighboring Cedar Falls, anchors northeast Iowa at the northern end of I-380, with meat processing and farm equipment manufacturing.
- I-380
- US-20
- US-218
Rules of the road
What shapes a move in Iowa
- When oversize loads can travel
In Iowa, permitted oversize loads normally move only from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset, night movement is allowed for loads up to 12 ft wide, 14 ft 6 in high and 100 ft long on roads at least 22 ft wide, and no movement is allowed on Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day, after noon on the preceding days, or during holiday weekends. Source ↗
- Escort vehicles
In Iowa, permitted loads wider than 12 ft need an escort (in front on two-lane roads and behind on four-lane roads, with an amber warning light accepted instead in the narrower width bands), loads taller than 14 ft 6 in need a front escort with a height pole, and loads longer than 120 ft need a rear escort. Source ↗
- Seasonal conditions
Iowa's state highways are not subject to seasonal weight restrictions, but counties post low-volume roads with spring weight limits during the thaw, so heavy trucks should check county postings before leaving state routes.
Iowa permit moves may be made only when roads are clear of ice and snow and visibility is at least one-quarter mile.
- If you are moving to the state
Iowa requires new residents to title and register a vehicle within 30 days of becoming a resident, even if the out-of-state plates are still valid. Source ↗
Rules change. The specialist on your move checks the current ones for your exact route before anything is booked.
Questions about shipping in Iowa
Do you pick up and deliver anywhere in Iowa?
Yes. Pickups and deliveries anywhere in Iowa, including Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines and Sioux City, are coordinated with carriers already running those lanes. Rural addresses work too: the carrier confirms access and timing with you before arrival.
Who issues oversize permits in Iowa?
The Iowa Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division (Iowa DOT). A load over the legal limits (13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) tall, 8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) wide) needs its permit for the exact route, and it is arranged before pickup so the machine does not wait at the yard.
How long do I have to register a car after moving to Iowa?
Iowa requires new residents to title and register a vehicle within 30 days of becoming a resident, even if the out-of-state plates are still valid. Confirm the details for your case with the state's motor vehicle office before the car arrives.
What slows trucking in Iowa during the year?
Iowa's state highways are not subject to seasonal weight restrictions, but counties post low-volume roads with spring weight limits during the thaw, so heavy trucks should check county postings before leaving state routes. Iowa permit moves may be made only when roads are clear of ice and snow and visibility is at least one-quarter mile.
Can a load from Iowa go to Mexico?
Yes. Loads from Iowa travel to a Texas crossing such as Laredo or Pharr, where the transfer and the customs paperwork are coordinated with brokers on both sides.
How fast do you reply to a quote request?
In under 10 minutes during business hours, by text or phone for a move inside the U.S., and on WhatsApp for one going to Mexico.
Across the state line
States next to Iowa
Get a Free, No-Obligation Quote Today
Our logistics specialists are standing by. We reply in under 10 minutes.
Every carrier is vetted for operating authority and insurance, and we check the certificate before every dispatch, not once a year. USDOT 3411782 · MC 1100274