Los Angeles to Dallas Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Los Angeles, CA to Dallas, TX (1435 miles). Cross-country freight connecting LA's port complex to the Texas Triangle via I-10/I-20.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Los Angeles to Dallas?
Los Angeles to Dallas is a 1,435-mile lane paying about $3,014 - $3,588 per load, near $2.10 - $2.50 a mile. The lane data lists transit as 2-3 days. Freight is mostly retail distribution, consumer goods and import cargo.
- Distance
- 1435 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $3,014 - $3,588
- Rate per mile
- $2.10 - $2.50
- Transit time
- 2-3 days
- Deadhead risk
- 35-40%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices over this long haul. See our dispatch fee structure.
Los Angeles to Dallas
Los Angeles to Dallas is a 1,435-mile, 2-to-3-day run east, mostly on I-10 then I-20. Dallas-Fort Worth has built itself into what regional analysts call a premier inland logistics hub: the Union Pacific Intermodal Terminal in southern Dallas County handles about 365,000 containers a year, and BNSF's Alliance facility in Fort Worth, part of the 1,400-acre AllianceTexas development, moves more than 1 million containers annually. Fort Worth launched its Alliance Logistics District in 2025 to handle heavier, denser freight like ceramics, plastics and auto parts. A trip this long needs at least one full reset; plan for a 34-hour restart or split the drive over enough days to stay legal.
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Destination
Dallas, TX
Distance
1435 miles
Transit Time
2-3 days
Average Rate
$3,014 - $3,588
Rate per Mile
$2.10 - $2.50
1,435-mile lane, typically a 2-3 day run on I-10 and I-20
Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the country's largest inland logistics hubs
BNSF's Alliance facility in Fort Worth moves more than 1 million containers a year
Los Angeles to Dallas: route facts a driver should know
CARB's Clean Truck Check now runs twice a year
California's Clean Truck Check program requires most diesel trucks over 14,000 pounds to pass emissions testing twice a year, with deadlines tied to DMV registration, applying to out-of-state trucks operating in California too.
Source: California Air Resources Board, Clean Truck Check overview. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A very long lane: plan multiple days
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 1,435-mile lane runs well beyond a single driving day, so plan multiple rest breaks and an overnight stop into your route.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Los Angeles to Dallas?
About $1561.39 this week. The lane is 1,435 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 221 gallons, and diesel is averaging $7.07 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 1,435 mi
- Diesel needed
- 221 gal
- Price used
- $7.07/gal
- Fuel cost
- $1561.39
Common Freight Types
Retail distribution, consumer goods and import cargo fill the trailers on this cross-country run.
- Retail Distribution
- Consumer Goods
- Import Cargo
What makes the Los Angeles to Dallas lane difficult?
The length requires careful HOS planning across multiple days
The length requires careful HOS planning across multiple days.
Southwest desert stretches of I-10 mean long, remote runs with real heat exposure in summer
Southwest desert stretches of I-10 mean long, remote runs with real heat exposure in summer.
Fort Worth and Dallas metro traffic can add time at the end of a long haul
Fort Worth and Dallas metro traffic can add time at the end of a long haul.
What freight moves on the Los Angeles to Dallas lane?
What travels between Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Consumer Goods
- •Import Cargo
Secondary Commodities
- •Union Pacific and BNSF intermodal freight
- •Import cargo transloaded from LA-area ports
- •Manufacturing and industrial freight (ceramics, plastics, auto parts)
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Retail distribution (holiday surge)
- •Consumer goods (steady)
- •Import cargo (tied to port volume)
When is the Los Angeles to Dallas lane busiest?
Retail timing sets the main peak on this long haul.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by Dallas-Fort Worth's steady intermodal and industrial freight base.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Retail distribution and consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this cross-country lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady petrochemical and import freight
- •Spring/summer construction season
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Distribution freight on this long corridor runs steady year-round, with summer desert heat across Arizona and West Texas worth planning equipment and driver breaks around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Los Angeles to Dallas lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need HOS planning.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
3-5 days out is typical for a haul this long, given HOS planning on both ends.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical import transload freight and Alliance Logistics District industrial freight tend to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast turnaround without building in your required rest across the multi-day drive.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Los Angeles to Dallas
- •
Plan your multi-day route with fuel, rest stops and an overnight stay mapped out before you leave Los Angeles.
- •
Confirm your truck's Clean Truck Check status before departing California.
- •
Summer desert heat across Arizona and West Texas is real. Check equipment and driver plans before a summer run.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Los Angeles to Dallas lane?
Dallas-Fort Worth's massive intermodal base makes a westbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the westbound load:
- •Dallas, TX
- •Regional distribution hubs near Dallas
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 35-40%
Check both the Union Pacific southern Dallas terminal and BNSF's Alliance facility in Fort Worth; each has its own reload freight.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •DFW is a major inland distribution hub, so westbound freight back toward Southern California is usually available. That is especially true from the Alliance and South Dallas intermodal facilities.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Dallas-Fort Worth's massive inland distribution market gives this lane strong return-load odds.
- •
Consider a mid-route reload near Phoenix or El Paso if a full round trip doesn't pencil out on one load.
- •
Book your Dallas-area return load before you deliver, given the length of this haul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Los Angeles to Dallas lane?
Three notes before this multi-day run.
Plan your rest stops and any 34-hour restart before you leave LA on a run this long.
Carry extra water and check your cooling system for the New Mexico and West Texas desert stretch.
Dallas-Fort Worth's Alliance and Union Pacific intermodal areas both have steady reload freight if you know which terminal to check.
Check reefer or cooling settings when you cross from the desert legs into the more humid Texas stretch.
Before you book Los Angeles to Dallas, plan your multi-day route with overnight stops, since this lane runs well beyond a single driving day.
Los Angeles to Dallas Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, HOS planning, and the Dallas-Fort Worth freight hub.
The lane data shows about $3,014 - $3,588 per load, or $2.10 - $2.50 a mile, across 1,435 miles.
Typically 2-3 days, which requires proper HOS planning, including your required rest periods, across the drive.
The Union Pacific Intermodal Terminal in southern Dallas County handles about 365,000 containers a year, and BNSF's Alliance facility in Fort Worth, part of the 1,400-acre AllianceTexas development, moves more than 1 million containers annually.
Yes, generally. Its scale as an inland logistics hub, with two major intermodal terminals, gives good odds on a westbound reload.
Other California freight lanes we dispatch
- Los Angeles to Houston
- Los Angeles to Fresno
- Los Angeles to Seattle
- Los Angeles to Denver
- Los Angeles to Salt Lake City
- Los Angeles to Sacramento Valley/Stockton
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
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