Denver to Dallas Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Denver, CO to Dallas, TX (780 miles). Cross-country freight connecting Denver's Mountain West hub to the Texas Triangle.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Denver to Dallas?
Denver to Dallas is a 780-mile lane paying about $1,716 - $2,028 per load, near $2.20 - $2.60 a mile. Freight is mostly retail distribution, consumer goods and energy equipment.
- Distance
- 780 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,716 - $2,028
- Rate per mile
- $2.20 - $2.60
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 30-35%
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.
Denver to Dallas
Denver to Dallas is a 780-mile, 1-to-2-day run southeast on I-25 to I-40/I-27 to I-20 or similar routing. Dallas-Fort Worth has built itself into 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 moves more than 1 million containers annually. Energy-equipment freight ties both ends together, given Colorado and Texas's shared oil and gas sectors.
Origin
Denver, CO
Destination
Dallas, TX
Distance
780 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,716 - $2,028
Rate per Mile
$2.20 - $2.60
780-mile lane, typically a 1-2 day run
Dallas-Fort Worth is one of the country's largest inland logistics hubs
Energy-equipment freight ties both ends together
Denver to Dallas: route facts a driver should know
This route runs south, avoiding Denver's mountain-corridor restrictions
The Denver-to-Dallas lane runs south via I-25 and connecting highways rather than west on I-70, so it avoids the Eisenhower Tunnel's hazmat ban and height limit.
Source: Colorado Department of Transportation, Mountain Rules. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A long lane: plan for a real HOS break
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 780-mile lane runs close to a full driving day, so plan your break into the schedule.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Denver to Dallas?
About $739.50 this week. The lane is 780 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 120 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.16 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
- 780 mi
- Diesel needed
- 120 gal
- Price used
- $6.16/gal
- Fuel cost
- $739.50
Common Freight Types
Retail distribution, consumer goods and energy equipment fill the trailers heading southeast.
- Retail Distribution
- Consumer Goods
- Energy Equipment
What makes the Denver to Dallas lane difficult?
The length requires careful HOS planning
Understanding and preparing for this challenge helps optimize your operations and maximize profitability on this lane.
The route crosses the Texas Panhandle, with long, remote stretches
The route crosses the Texas Panhandle, with long, remote stretches.
Fort Worth and Dallas metro traffic can add time at the end
Fort Worth and Dallas metro traffic can add time at the end.
What freight moves on the Denver to Dallas lane?
What travels between Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Consumer Goods
- •Energy Equipment
Secondary Commodities
- •Union Pacific and BNSF intermodal freight
- •Energy equipment
- •Retail distribution
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Retail distribution (holiday surge)
- •Energy equipment (steady)
- •Consumer goods (steady)
When is the Denver to Dallas lane busiest?
Retail timing sets the main peak on this haul.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady energy and intermodal freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Retail distribution and consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady energy-equipment freight
- •Spring/summer construction season
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Distribution freight on this lane runs steady year-round, with winter weather across the New Mexico-Texas Panhandle stretch the main seasonal risk.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Denver to Dallas lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need HOS planning.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
3-4 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical energy-equipment freight and Alliance Logistics District 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.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Denver to Dallas
- •
This southbound route avoids the I-70 mountain corridor, so hazmat and over-height freight moves without a Loveland Pass detour.
- •
This lane runs close to a full driving day, so plan your required HOS break into the schedule.
- •
Winter weather on the New Mexico-Texas Panhandle stretch of this route can add real time. Check conditions before a winter run.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Denver to Dallas lane?
Dallas-Fort Worth's massive intermodal base makes a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the northbound load:
- •Dallas, TX
- •Regional distribution hubs near Dallas
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 30-35%
Check both the Union Pacific southern Dallas terminal and BNSF's Alliance facility in Fort Worth.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Dallas's varied freight base offers many backhaul options that don't rise and fall together.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Dallas-Fort Worth's massive inland distribution market gives this lane strong return-load odds.
- •
This route's avoidance of mountain restrictions makes it a reliable choice for hazmat or over-height freight both directions.
- •
Book your Dallas-area return load before you deliver, given the length of this haul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Denver to Dallas lane?
Three notes before crossing the Panhandle.
Plan your rest stops before you leave Denver on a run this long.
Fuel up before the more remote Texas Panhandle stretches.
Check which terminal (Alliance or the southern Dallas Union Pacific yard) has your reload freight.
Before you book Denver to Dallas, note that this route avoids the I-70 mountain corridor, making it a reliable option for hazmat or over-height loads.
Denver to Dallas Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, HOS planning, and the Dallas-Fort Worth freight hub.
The lane data shows about $1,716 - $2,028 per load, or $2.20 - $2.60 a mile, across 780 miles.
The Union Pacific Intermodal Terminal in southern Dallas County handles about 365,000 containers a year, and BNSF's Alliance facility moves more than 1 million containers annually.
Yes, the Texas Panhandle has long, remote stretches. Fuel up before those sections.
Yes, generally, given its scale as an inland logistics hub.
Other Colorado freight lanes we dispatch
- Denver to Chicago
- Denver to Omaha
- Denver to Las Vegas
- Denver to Colorado Springs
- Denver to Cheyenne
- Denver to St. Louis
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.
Read the case studyNeed help running Denver, CO to Dallas, TX consistently?
Running Denver to Dallas often? Ask about a free custom growth plan.