Los Angeles to Houston Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX (1550 miles). Houston's petrochemical and port sector rounds out LA's eastbound reach via I-10.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Los Angeles to Houston?
Los Angeles to Houston is a 1,550-mile lane paying about $3,177 - $3,798 per load, near $2.05 - $2.45 a mile. The lane data lists transit as 2-3 days. Freight is mostly petrochemical equipment, retail distribution and import cargo.
- Distance
- 1550 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $3,177 - $3,798
- Rate per mile
- $2.05 - $2.45
- 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 and Port Houston volume. See our dispatch fee structure.
Los Angeles to Houston
Los Angeles to Houston is a 1,550-mile, 2-to-3-day run east on I-10 the whole way. Houston finished 2025 as its best year in history: Port Houston moved a record 4.3 million TEU, a 4% increase over 2024, and handled 54.5 million short tons of cargo, also a record, with roughly 2.5 million trucks served through the port over the year. Petrochemical and industrial freight is a bigger share of this lane than on most California-to-Texas runs, alongside the retail and import freight typical of a long cross-country haul.
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Destination
Houston, TX
Distance
1550 miles
Transit Time
2-3 days
Average Rate
$3,177 - $3,798
Rate per Mile
$2.05 - $2.45
1,550-mile lane, typically a 2-3 day run entirely on I-10
Port Houston moved a record 4.3 million TEU in 2025, its best year in history
Petrochemical and industrial freight is a bigger part of this lane than most cross-country runs
Los Angeles to Houston: 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 1,550-mile lane runs well beyond a single driving day, so plan multiple rest breaks and overnight stops 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 Houston?
About $1686.52 this week. The lane is 1,550 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 238 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
- 1,550 mi
- Diesel needed
- 238 gal
- Price used
- $7.07/gal
- Fuel cost
- $1686.52
Common Freight Types
Petrochemical equipment, retail distribution and import cargo fill the trailers on this cross-country run.
- Petrochemical Equipment
- Retail Distribution
- Import Cargo
What makes the Los Angeles to Houston lane difficult?
The length requires careful HOS planning, likely with a full reset mid-route
The length requires careful HOS planning, likely with a full reset mid-route.
Texas and Louisiana I-10 stretches, especially through Houston itself, carry heavy petrochemical-industry truck traffic
Texas and Louisiana I-10 stretches, especially through Houston itself, carry heavy petrochemical-industry truck traffic.
Gulf Coast humidity and storm season (June-November) can affect scheduling on the Houston end
Gulf Coast humidity and storm season (June-November) can affect scheduling on the Houston end.
What freight moves on the Los Angeles to Houston lane?
What travels between Los Angeles and Houston, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Petrochemical Equipment
- •Retail Distribution
- •Import Cargo
Secondary Commodities
- •Port Houston drayage and transload freight
- •Petrochemical and industrial equipment
- •Manufacturing freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Petrochemical equipment (steady all year)
- •Retail distribution (holiday surge)
- •Import cargo (tied to port volume)
When is the Los Angeles to Houston lane busiest?
Steady petrochemical freight softens the usual retail seasonality here.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady petrochemical and industrial freight that does not follow the retail calendar.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Retail distribution climbs from October through December, and port import volume often peaks ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this cross-country lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady petrochemical freight all year
- •Port import surges
Hurricane Risk?
Real at the Houston end. Gulf storm season runs June through November; check forecasts before a Houston delivery in that window.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Distribution and energy-connected freight on this long corridor runs steady year-round, with summer desert heat worth planning equipment and driver breaks around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Los Angeles to Houston lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
3-5 days out is typical for a haul this long.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical petrochemical equipment and priority port drayage freight tend to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fixed Houston delivery date during peak Gulf storm season without a weather contingency.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Los Angeles to Houston
- •
Plan your multi-day route with fuel, rest stops and overnight stays mapped out before you leave Los Angeles.
- •
Confirm your truck's Clean Truck Check status before departing California.
- •
Summer desert heat across Arizona, New Mexico 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 Houston lane?
Port Houston's record freight volume keeps a westbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the westbound load:
- •Houston, TX
- •Regional distribution hubs near Houston
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 35-40%
Port Houston drayage and petrochemical freight both give you options beyond straight retail backhauls.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Westbound freight from Houston's petrochemical and port operations back toward Southern California and Arizona is usually available. Tank and hazmat backhauls need matching certifications.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Houston's massive energy and petrochemical economy keeps steady demand for a booked return load.
- •
Consider a mid-route reload near Phoenix or El Paso given the corridor's freight density.
- •
Book your Houston-area return load before you deliver, given the length of this haul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Los Angeles to Houston lane?
Three notes before this multi-day Gulf Coast run.
Plan your rest stops and any 34-hour restart before you leave LA on a run this long.
Build extra time into a Houston-area delivery; petrochemical corridor traffic near the port can be heavy.
Check storm forecasts for the Gulf Coast from June through November before a Houston delivery.
Check your equipment for the humidity change once you reach the Gulf Coast; it is a different climate than the desert legs.
Before you book Los Angeles to Houston, plan your multi-day route with overnight stops, since this lane runs well beyond a single driving day.
Los Angeles to Houston Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Port Houston, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $3,177 - $3,798 per load, or $2.05 - $2.45 a mile, across 1,550 miles.
It finished 2025 as its best year ever: a record 4.3 million TEU, up 4% over 2024, and 54.5 million short tons of cargo, also a record, with about 2.5 million trucks served through the year.
It can, at the Houston end. Gulf storm season runs June through November, so check forecasts before a delivery in that window.
Generally yes. Port Houston's record 2025 volume and the region's steady petrochemical freight both give good odds on a westbound reload.
Other California freight lanes we dispatch
- Los Angeles to Seattle
- Los Angeles to Dallas
- Los Angeles to Denver
- Los Angeles to Salt Lake City
- Los Angeles to Sacramento Valley/Stockton
- Los Angeles to Chicago
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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