Des Moines to Dallas Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Des Moines, IA to Dallas, TX (660 miles). Cross-country freight connecting Iowa's agricultural base to the Texas Triangle via I-35.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Des Moines to Dallas?
Des Moines to Dallas is a 660-mile lane paying about $1,518 - $1,782 per load, near $2.30 - $2.70 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, nearshoring-connected freight and industrial equipment.
- Distance
- 660 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,518 - $1,782
- Rate per mile
- $2.30 - $2.70
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 25-30%
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.
Des Moines to Dallas
Des Moines to Dallas is a 660-mile, roughly 10-hour run south, connecting Iowa's capital to DFW's inland freight hub. DFW sits at the intersection of I-20, I-35 and I-45 with BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal facilities, giving this long southbound corridor strong reload options for carriers running the full distance.
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Destination
Dallas, TX
Distance
660 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,518 - $1,782
Rate per Mile
$2.30 - $2.70
660-mile lane, about 10 hours south
DFW sits at the intersection of I-20, I-35 and I-45 with BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal access
Des Moines sits at the crossroads of I-80 and I-35
Des Moines to Dallas: route facts a driver should know
The DFW Inland Port spans over 76,000 acres
The Dallas-Fort Worth Inland Port covers more than 76,000 acres at the crossing of I-20, I-30, I-35, and I-45, with access to Union Pacific and BNSF rail. It's described as the largest inland distribution market in North America.
Source: Partners Real Estate, Dallas-Fort Worth market research. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Des Moines sits directly on I-35, the road that leads straight to Dallas
Des Moines sits at the junction of I-35 and I-80, and I-35 runs essentially straight through to the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, making this one of the more direct long-haul lanes in our network.
Source: Federal Highway Administration, Roundtable on the Freight Economy: Des Moines. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Des Moines to Dallas?
About $622.18 this week. The lane is 660 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 102 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.13 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
- 660 mi
- Diesel needed
- 102 gal
- Price used
- $6.13/gal
- Fuel cost
- $622.18
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, nearshoring-connected freight and industrial equipment fill the trailers heading south.
- Retail Distribution
- Consumer Goods
- Pork Products
What makes the Des Moines to Dallas lane difficult?
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning.
Winter weather across Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma can affect road conditions
Winter weather across Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma can affect road conditions.
Competition from the 32,000+ local DFW truckers can compress rates during slow periods
Competition from the 32,000+ local DFW truckers can compress rates during slow periods.
What freight moves on the Des Moines to Dallas lane?
What travels between Des Moines and Dallas, and why DFW's inland-hub role matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Consumer Goods
- •Pork Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Nearshoring/cross-border-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
- •Industrial equipment
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Nearshoring-connected freight (steady, growing)
- •Industrial equipment (steady)
When is the Des Moines to Dallas lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady nearshoring-connected freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady nearshoring-connected freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather across the Central Plains is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This long-haul lane runs fairly steady year-round. Watch for summer heat across Texas, which can stress reefer equipment.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Des Moines to Dallas lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical nearshoring-connected freight tends to pay a premium given its growth.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Des Moines to Dallas
- •
This is a long haul at 660 miles, so plan real fuel and rest stops.
- •
DFW's massive inland-port freight base usually means solid load availability once you arrive.
- •
This lane runs almost entirely on I-35, so route planning is simpler than most long hauls.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Des Moines to Dallas lane?
DFW's intermodal rail access makes a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Dallas, TX
- •Regional distribution hubs near Dallas
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
With DFW growing as an inland hub for nearshoring freight, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Dallas's steel/oilfield equipment freight offers a reliable backhaul stream back toward the Midwest.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
DFW's rail and inland-port density gives you strong backhaul odds heading back north on I-35.
- •
Des Moines's own grain and manufacturing base keeps southbound freight flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Des Moines to Dallas lane?
Three notes before this long southbound run.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this 10-hour run.
Check winter conditions across the route before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Consider Alliance Global Logistics Hub in Fort Worth for a reload option.
This lane runs nearly the full length of I-35, which makes routing simple even though it's a long haul.
Des Moines to Dallas Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, DFW's growth, and winter weather.
The lane data shows about $1,518 - $1,782 per load, or $2.30 - $2.70 a mile, across 660 miles.
About 10 hours for the 660 miles.
It sits at the intersection of I-20, I-35 and I-45 with BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal access, and is growing as an inland hub for nearshoring freight.
Reasonably, given DFW's growth as an inland hub for cross-border and nearshoring freight.
Other Iowa freight lanes we dispatch
- Des Moines to Detroit
- Des Moines to Cedar Rapids
- Des Moines to Rockford
- Des Moines to Chicago
- Des Moines to Minneapolis
- Des Moines to Kansas City
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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