Dallas to Los Angeles Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Dallas, TX to Los Angeles, CA (1435 miles). West Coast port and consumer freight rounds out Dallas's national distribution reach.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Dallas to Los Angeles?
Dallas to Los Angeles is a 1,435-mile lane paying about $2,798 - $3,372 per load, near $1.95 - $2.35 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port-connected freight and industrial equipment.
- Distance
- 1435 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $2,798 - $3,372
- Rate per mile
- $1.95 - $2.35
- Transit time
- 3 days
- Deadhead risk
- 40-45%
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.
Dallas to Los Angeles
Dallas to Los Angeles is a 1,435-mile, multi-day run west on I-20 and I-10, connecting DFW's inland freight hub to the country's busiest port complex. The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach together handle a large share of US containerized imports, feeding steady westbound and backhaul freight for carriers running this corridor.
Origin
Dallas, TX
Destination
Los Angeles, CA
Distance
1435 miles
Transit Time
3 days
Average Rate
$2,798 - $3,372
Rate per Mile
$1.95 - $2.35
1,435-mile lane, a multi-day run on I-20 and I-10
DFW sits at the intersection of I-20, I-35 and I-45 with BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal access
The Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach together handle a large share of US containerized imports
Dallas to Los Angeles: route facts a driver should know
California's Clean Truck Check applies to out-of-state trucks too
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 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 Los Angeles?
About $1561.39 this week. The lane is 1,435 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 221 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
- 1,435 mi
- Diesel needed
- 221 gal
- Price used
- $7.07/gal
- Fuel cost
- $1561.39
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, port-connected freight and industrial equipment fill the trailers heading west.
- Retail Distribution
- Consumer Goods
- Import Cargo
What makes the Dallas to Los Angeles lane difficult?
The length requires a full multi-day trip plan with fuel and rest stops mapped in advance
The length requires a full multi-day trip plan with fuel and rest stops mapped in advance.
West Texas and desert stretches can see extreme summer heat and limited services
West Texas and desert stretches can see extreme summer heat and limited services.
Port congestion in LA/Long Beach can add delay for drayage-connected freight
Port congestion in LA/Long Beach can add delay for drayage-connected freight.
What freight moves on the Dallas to Los Angeles lane?
What travels between Dallas and Los Angeles, and why the port complex matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Consumer Goods
- •Import Cargo
Secondary Commodities
- •Port import-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
- •Industrial equipment
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday import surge)
- •Port-connected freight (steady, summer peak)
- •Industrial equipment (steady)
When is the Dallas to Los Angeles lane busiest?
Import timing and retail restocking both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays as import volume normalizes.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Import-connected freight climbs sharply from August through December ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday import season
- •Summer peak shipping season (port volume)
- •Steady import-connected freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
None. Extreme summer desert heat 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 Los Angeles lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a heat and congestion plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
3-4 days out is typical for a haul this long.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical port drayage and import-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight LA-area appointment without checking current port congestion.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Dallas to Los Angeles
- •
This is a very long haul at 1,435 miles, so plan for multiple days and rest stops.
- •
Check your truck's Clean Truck Check compliance before entering California, since it applies to out-of-state trucks too.
- •
Air-cargo-linked freight out of Dallas is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Dallas to Los Angeles lane?
LA/Long Beach's massive import volume makes an eastbound load easy to find.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Los Angeles, CA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Los Angeles
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 40-45%
With the country's busiest port complex at the destination, backhaul options are strong.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •LA's port-import volume offers one of the strongest backhaul markets in the country despite the long return distance.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Los Angeles's massive port and distribution volume gives you strong backhaul odds in almost any direction.
- •
DFW's growing air cargo base keeps eastbound 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 Los Angeles lane?
Three notes before this long desert run.
Plan your multi-day route with fuel and rest stops before departing.
Prepare for extreme summer heat across West Texas and the desert Southwest.
Check current LA/Long Beach port congestion if your load connects to drayage.
This is one of the longest lanes we track. Make sure your Clean Truck Check compliance is current before you cross into California.
Dallas to Los Angeles Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the LA/Long Beach ports, and desert heat.
The lane data shows about $2,798 - $3,372 per load, or $1.95 - $2.35 a mile, across 1,435 miles.
Together they handle a large share of all US containerized imports, keeping this lane's backhaul freight steady.
It's a multi-day run given the 1,435 miles on I-20 and I-10.
Yes, generally, given the port complex's massive import volume.
Other Texas freight lanes we dispatch
- Dallas to Phoenix
- Dallas to Chicago
- Dallas to Memphis
- Dallas to Denver
- Dallas to Oklahoma City
- Dallas to Laredo
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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