Dallas to San Antonio Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Dallas, TX to San Antonio, TX (275 miles). San Antonio's manufacturing and military logistics base supports steady I-35 freight.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Dallas to San Antonio?
Dallas to San Antonio is a 275-mile lane paying about $701 - $811 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, aerospace/medical-connected freight and drilling equipment.
- Distance
- 275 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $701 - $811
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- Transit time
- Same day / 4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this diversified I-35 corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Dallas to San Antonio
Dallas to San Antonio is a 275-mile, roughly 4.5-hour run south on I-35, connecting DFW to a metro built around aerospace, medical and automotive supply chains, plus the Eagle Ford Shale region's drilling freight. Port San Antonio, developed on the former Kelly Air Force Base, anchors a logistics and aerospace-repair hub, while San Antonio International Airport supports growing distribution activity like Averitt's newly expanded 85,000-square-foot facility.
Origin
Dallas, TX
Destination
San Antonio, TX
Distance
275 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 4 hrs
Average Rate
$701 - $811
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
275-mile lane, about 4.5 hours on I-35
Port San Antonio, on the former Kelly Air Force Base, anchors an aerospace-repair and logistics hub
The Eagle Ford Shale region near San Antonio generates drilling sand and equipment freight
Dallas to San Antonio: route facts a driver should know
Joint Base San Antonio contributed over $55 billion to the Texas economy
Joint Base San Antonio, which includes Fort Sam Houston, Lackland Air Force Base, and Randolph Air Force Base, contributed at least $55 billion to the Texas economy in 2023 and is the region's largest employer.
Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, military economic impact. 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 San Antonio?
About $249.74 this week. The lane is 275 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 42 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
- 275 mi
- Diesel needed
- 42 gal
- Price used
- $5.90/gal
- Fuel cost
- $249.74
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, aerospace/medical-connected freight and drilling equipment fill the trailers heading south.
- Manufacturing Equipment
- Military/Government Freight
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Dallas to San Antonio lane difficult?
I-35 between Dallas and San Antonio (through Austin) can see heavy congestion
I-35 between Dallas and San Antonio (through Austin) can see heavy congestion.
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range.
Oilfield equipment freight tied to Eagle Ford Shale can require specialized flatbed handling
Oilfield equipment freight tied to Eagle Ford Shale can require specialized flatbed handling.
What freight moves on the Dallas to San Antonio lane?
What travels between Dallas and San Antonio, and why Port San Antonio and Eagle Ford Shale matter here.
Primary Commodities
- •Manufacturing Equipment
- •Military/Government Freight
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Aerospace and medical-supply-chain-connected freight
- •Eagle Ford Shale drilling equipment
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Aerospace/medical freight (steady)
- •Drilling equipment (tied to oilfield activity)
When is the Dallas to San Antonio lane busiest?
Retail timing and oilfield activity both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady aerospace and medical-supply-chain 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 aerospace and medical-supply-chain freight year-round
- •Oilfield equipment freight tied to drilling activity
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 San Antonio lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a congestion buffer.
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 aerospace and medical-supply-chain freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight delivery through the Austin corridor without a congestion buffer.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Dallas to San Antonio
- •
At 275 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run, all on I-35.
- •
Military-linked freight is worth asking about given Joint Base San Antonio's $55 billion economic footprint.
- •
Air-cargo-linked freight out of Dallas is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Dallas to San Antonio lane?
San Antonio's diversified freight base makes a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •San Antonio, TX
- •Regional distribution hubs near San Antonio
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With Port San Antonio's aerospace-repair hub and the Eagle Ford Shale region nearby, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •High two-way intrastate volume through Austin makes this one of the lower-deadhead-risk lanes in the batch.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
San Antonio's massive military-base freight base gives you real backhaul options.
- •
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 San Antonio lane?
Three notes before this I-35 corridor run.
Build in extra time for I-35 congestion through the Austin corridor.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Confirm equipment requirements before hauling Eagle Ford Shale-connected freight.
A direct I-35 run connecting two of Texas's biggest freight and military-installation markets.
Dallas to San Antonio Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Port San Antonio, and Eagle Ford Shale.
The lane data shows about $701 - $811 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 275 miles.
Port San Antonio, built on the former Kelly Air Force Base, anchors an aerospace-repair and logistics hub, alongside medical and automotive supply chains.
About 4.5 hours for the 275 miles on I-35.
Reasonably, given the metro's diversified aerospace, medical and oilfield-connected freight base.
Other Texas freight lanes we dispatch
- Dallas to Miami
- Dallas to St. Louis
- Dallas to Houston
- Dallas to Atlanta
- Dallas to Chicago
- Dallas to Los Angeles
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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