Dallas to Houston Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Dallas, TX to Houston, TX (240 miles). The core Texas Triangle lane connecting DFW's distribution network to Houston's port/petrochemical corridor.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Dallas to Houston?
Dallas to Houston is a 240-mile lane paying about $552 - $648 per load, near $2.30 - $2.70 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, petrochemical freight and construction materials.
- Distance
- 240 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $552 - $648
- Rate per mile
- $2.30 - $2.70
- Transit time
- Same day / 4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing on one of Texas's highest-volume corridors. See our dispatch fee structure.
Dallas to Houston
Dallas to Houston is a 240-mile, roughly 4-hour run south on I-45, connecting Texas's two biggest metros along one of the state's heaviest-volume freight corridors. Dallas-Fort Worth sits at the intersection of I-20, I-35 and I-45 with BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal facilities, while Houston anchors the nation's largest petrochemical complex and one of its busiest ports.
Origin
Dallas, TX
Destination
Houston, TX
Distance
240 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 4 hrs
Average Rate
$552 - $648
Rate per Mile
$2.30 - $2.70
240-mile lane, about 4 hours on I-45
DFW sits at the intersection of I-20, I-35 and I-45 with BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal access
Houston anchors the nation's largest petrochemical manufacturing complex
Dallas to Houston: route facts a driver should know
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, now over half of DFW's total regional economic contribution.
Source: Air Cargo News/STAT Times, DFW cargo growth coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Port Houston moved a record 2.5 million trucks in 2025
Port Houston processed 54.5 million short tons of cargo in 2025, its highest annual total ever. The terminals saw roughly 2.5 million truck moves and a record single-day gate count of 16,438 truck transactions.
Source: Port Houston, 2025 annual cargo statistics. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Dallas to Houston?
About $217.96 this week. The lane is 240 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 37 gallons, and diesel is averaging $5.90 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 this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 240 mi
- Diesel needed
- 37 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $217.96
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, petrochemical freight and construction materials fill the trailers heading south.
- Petrochemical Equipment
- Retail Distribution
- Steel Products
What makes the Dallas to Houston lane difficult?
I-45 traffic through the Houston metro can add significant delay during peak hours
I-45 traffic through the Houston metro can add significant delay during peak hours.
With over 32,000 local truckers competing for freight, rates can compress during slow periods
With over 32,000 local truckers competing for freight, rates can compress during slow periods.
Petrochemical and port-connected freight can require specialized handling or certifications
Petrochemical and port-connected freight can require specialized handling or certifications.
What freight moves on the Dallas to Houston lane?
What travels between Dallas and Houston, and why the petrochemical complex matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Petrochemical Equipment
- •Retail Distribution
- •Steel Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Petrochemical and port-connected freight
- •Retail and consumer goods
- •Construction materials
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Petrochemical freight (steady)
- •Hurricane-prep and resupply freight (June-November)
When is the Dallas to Houston lane busiest?
Retail timing and hurricane season both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady petrochemical and port 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
- •Hurricane-season resupply freight (June-November)
- •Steady petrochemical and port freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
Real on the Houston end; Gulf hurricane season (June-November) can spike resupply freight and disrupt port operations.
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 Houston lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a traffic buffer.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day to 1-2 days out is typical for this high-volume corridor.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical petrochemical and port-drayage-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight Houston-metro appointment during rush hour without a buffer.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Dallas to Houston
- •
At 240 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run, all on I-45.
- •
Port-linked drayage freight is worth asking about given Port Houston's record 2025 volume.
- •
Air-cargo-linked freight out of Dallas is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Dallas to Houston lane?
Houston's port and petrochemical base make a northbound load easy to find.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Houston, TX
- •Regional distribution hubs near Houston
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
With one of the busiest US ports and the nation's largest petrochemical complex, backhaul options are strong.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •This is one of the lowest-deadhead-risk lanes in the batch because of the sheer volume of two-way Texas intrastate freight.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Port Houston's record cargo volume gives you strong backhaul odds.
- •
DFW's growing air cargo base keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough for a same-day or next-day backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Dallas to Houston lane?
Three notes before running this high-volume corridor.
Plan around Houston-area rush hour when running this corridor on a tight appointment.
Consider Alliance Global Logistics Hub in Fort Worth for intermodal reload options.
Confirm any certification requirements before hauling petrochemical-connected freight.
A direct I-45 run connecting Texas's two biggest freight hubs, one air cargo, one port-driven.
Dallas to Houston Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, traffic, and what fills the trailers.
The lane data shows about $552 - $648 per load, or $2.30 - $2.70 a mile, across 240 miles.
About 4 hours for the 240 miles on I-45, longer with Houston-metro traffic.
It connects two of the largest freight markets in the country, with DFW's rail intermodal access on one end and Houston's port and petrochemical complex on the other.
Yes, generally, given the port and petrochemical industry's steady freight volume.
Other Texas freight lanes we dispatch
- Dallas to Atlanta
- Dallas to Miami
- Dallas to Chicago
- Dallas to Los Angeles
- Dallas to Phoenix
- Dallas to Memphis
Local resources
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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