Dallas to Denver Truck Dispatch
Freight route from Dallas, TX to Denver, CO (780 miles). Denver's distribution and energy-sector freight supports a solid I-25/I-70 link.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Dallas to Denver?
Dallas to Denver is a 780-mile lane paying about $1,677 - $1,989 per load, near $2.15 - $2.55 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, ski-resort resupply freight and air-cargo-connected freight.
- Distance
- 780 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,677 - $1,989
- Rate per mile
- $2.15 - $2.55
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 30-35%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and rise during winter ski season. See our dispatch fee structure.
Dallas to Denver
Dallas to Denver is a 780-mile, roughly 11-hour run northwest on I-35 and I-25, connecting DFW's inland hub to Colorado's high-plains distribution center. Denver International Airport's growing air-cargo operations and the metro's role as a Rocky Mountain regional distribution point keep steady northbound demand on this corridor.
Origin
Dallas, TX
Destination
Denver, CO
Distance
780 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,677 - $1,989
Rate per Mile
$2.15 - $2.55
780-mile lane, about 11 hours on I-35 and I-25
Denver International Airport anchors growing air-cargo operations
DFW's BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal access supports flexible origin reloads
Dallas to Denver: route facts a driver should know
Union Pacific just opened a 620-acre rail park east of Denver
Denver hosts intermodal rail yards for both BNSF and Union Pacific, and in 2025 Union Pacific opened its 620-acre Rocky Mountain Rail Park east of the city.
Source: Progressive Railroading, Union Pacific Colorado rail park. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
DFW Airport's air cargo hit 859,000 tons in 2025
DFW International Airport handled 858,952 tons of air cargo in 2025, up 4.9% from the year before, with cargo's annual economic impact roughly doubling to $42 billion.
Source: Air Cargo News/STAT Times, DFW cargo growth coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Dallas to Denver?
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
Consumer goods, ski-resort resupply freight and air-cargo-connected freight fill the trailers heading northwest.
- Retail Distribution
- Energy Equipment
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Dallas to Denver lane difficult?
Winter weather in Colorado, especially along I-25 and mountain approaches, can affect delivery schedules
Winter weather in Colorado, especially along I-25 and mountain approaches, can affect delivery schedules.
A cross-country run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning
A cross-country run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning.
High-plains stretches through the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma can see limited services
High-plains stretches through the Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma can see limited services.
What freight moves on the Dallas to Denver lane?
What travels between Dallas and Denver, and why Denver's air-cargo role matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Energy Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (Denver International)
- •Consumer goods
- •Ski/tourism-season resupply freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Ski-resort resupply freight (winter)
- •Construction materials (summer season)
When is the Dallas to Denver lane busiest?
Retail timing and Colorado's ski season both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by winter ski-resort resupply 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
- •Winter ski-season resupply freight
- •Summer construction and tourism season
Hurricane Risk?
None. Colorado winter weather along the mountain approaches is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Dallas to Denver 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 ski-season resupply and air-cargo-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a winter delivery through the Colorado mountain approaches without a weather plan.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Dallas to Denver
- •
This is a long haul at 780 miles, so plan multi-day rest and fuel stops.
- •
Rail-linked freight is worth asking about given Denver's new 620-acre rail park.
- •
Air-cargo-linked freight out of Dallas is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Dallas to Denver lane?
Denver's regional distribution role makes a southbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Denver, CO
- •Regional distribution hubs near Denver
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 30-35%
With Denver International Airport's growing cargo operations, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Oil & gas equipment freight offers a fairly reliable two-way backhaul stream along this corridor.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Denver's expanding intermodal rail capacity gives you real backhaul options.
- •
DFW's growing air cargo base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Dallas to Denver lane?
Three notes before this long northwest run.
Check Colorado winter weather conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this 11-hour run.
Fuel up before the high-plains stretch through the Panhandle.
A straightforward long haul connecting two of the region's strongest freight markets.
Dallas to Denver Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, winter weather, and Denver's role as a hub.
The lane data shows about $1,677 - $1,989 per load, or $2.15 - $2.55 a mile, across 780 miles.
About 11 hours for the 780 miles on I-35 and I-25.
Yes, Colorado winter weather along the mountain approaches on I-25 can affect delivery schedules.
Reasonably, given Denver's role as the Rocky Mountain region's main distribution point.
Other Texas freight lanes we dispatch
- Dallas to Oklahoma City
- Dallas to Memphis
- Dallas to Laredo
- Dallas to Kansas City
- Dallas to New Orleans
- Dallas to Nashville
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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