Freight Shipping from Baltimore to Dallas
Ship freight from Baltimore, MD to Dallas, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,384-$4,171, LTL from $1,066-$1,738. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,574 mi
Drive Time
29 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,384-$4,171
LTL Rate Est.
$1,066-$1,738
Consumer Goods Corridor
Baltimore → Dallas Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
122–146
running this lane
Weekly Loads
233–250
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
76/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$25–$42 one-way passing through MD, TX, TN, KY, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC. 4 typical fuel stops along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Tue, Wed, Thu. Avoid: Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Baltimore to Dallas Freight Corridor
Baltimore's Port is the nation's top auto import hub, processing over 800,000 vehicles annually through its ro-ro terminals at Dundalk and Fairfield. Tradepoint Atlantic, the redeveloped Sparrows Point steel mill site, has become a 3,300-acre logistics campus attracting Amazon, FedEx, and Under Armour distribution operations. The I-95 corridor gives carriers direct access to the entire Northeast megalopolis.
Dallas is the economic engine of the DFW metroplex, housing more Fortune 500 corporate headquarters than any city except New York. Texas Instruments and the Telecom Corridor in Richardson generate a constant flow of high-value electronics freight, while the South Dallas warehouse district contains over 150 million square feet of distribution space. The city's central location means a truck leaving Dallas can reach 93% of the U.S. population within 48 hours.
The Baltimore-to-Dallas corridor spans 1,574 miles via I-95, I-695, I-35E, I-30. This lane connects port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals freight from the Baltimore market to technology and telecommunications demand in Dallas. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Baltimore
Baltimore's economy is driven by port logistics, biotech & pharmaceuticals, automotive import/export, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
coal & bulk minerals
automobiles (re-export)
poultry products
medical devices
steel products
spices & seasonings
What Dallas Receives
Dallas's technology, telecommunications, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Baltimore.
consumer goods
raw materials
electronic components
building materials
imported merchandise
petroleum products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Baltimore and Dallas, these equipment types best serve this corridor.
Dry Van (FTL)
Ideal for palletized consumer goods, electronics, packaged foods, and general merchandise. Enclosed protection from weather and theft.
$3,384-$4,171 estimated for this lane
Refrigerated (Reefer)
Required for temperature-sensitive freight including fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Maintains precise temperature control throughout transit.
$4,171-$5,273 estimated for this lane
Flatbed
Best for steel, lumber, machinery, building materials, and oversized loads that cannot be palletized or loaded through standard dock doors.
$4,486-$5,745 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$4,958-$6,690 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Baltimore to Dallas lane (1,574 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,384-$4,171 | 29 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,066-$1,738 | 31-33 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $5,116-$7,083 | 19 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,125-$2,912 | 32-34 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Baltimore and Dallas that drive volume on this lane.
Under Armour
McCormick & Company
Amazon BWI Fulfillment
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Shipping Tips for Baltimore to Dallas
Baltimore Seasonal Advisory
Auto import volumes peak in spring as dealers stock for summer selling season. Coal exports through Curtis Bay fluctuate with European energy prices and can spike dramatically during cold winters abroad.
Dallas Seasonal Advisory
E-commerce fulfillment peaks massively during Q4 holidays. Construction freight is year-round due to DFW's unrelenting building boom. Texas Instruments production runs consistently but new product cycles create periodic shipping surges.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,574 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 29 hours without mandatory 10-hour rest breaks, cutting transit time nearly in half compared to a solo driver.
Book Early for Best Rates
Spot market rates fluctuate daily. Booking 3-5 days in advance typically saves 10-15% compared to same-day or next-day freight requests. For recurring shipments, ask about contract rates.
Logistics Infrastructure
How freight actually flows in and out of Baltimore and Dallas — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Baltimore, MD
- Metro Population
- 2.8M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-695, I-70
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Baltimore Intermodal (ICTF); Norfolk Southern Bayview Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Baltimore (Helen Delich Bentley, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Sparrows Point/Tradepoint Atlantic, BWI/Linthicum Corridor, White Marsh/I-95 North
“The Port of Baltimore handles more farm and construction equipment than any other U.S. port. Flatbed carriers staging at Dundalk Marine Terminal can often combine a vehicle haul-away with oversize equipment loads, maximizing revenue per trip on the I-95 corridor.”
Destination
Dallas, TX
- Metro Population
- 7.6M metro (DFW)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.00-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35E, I-30, I-635 (LBJ)
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth); Union Pacific Mesquite Intermodal; BNSF Wilmer Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- South Dallas/I-20 Corridor, Mesquite/I-30 East, Garland/I-635 Northeast
“Dallas's massive inbound-to-outbound imbalance — driven by the region's explosive population growth — means carriers delivering to DFW can almost always find loads out. The challenge is finding loads that pay well enough to justify the outbound leg, especially southbound to Houston where competition is fierce.”
Return Loads from Dallas
Dallas generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Baltimore is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Dallas
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Baltimore to Dallas Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Baltimore to Dallas?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Baltimore, MD to Dallas, TX currently range $3,384-$4,171 (roughly $2.16-$2.66 per mile over 1,574 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,066-$1,738 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently tight on this corridor, so booking 3-5 days out locks in the best pricing. Request a custom quote for exact rates.
How long does freight take from Baltimore to Dallas?
Standard FTL transit from Baltimore to Dallas is approximately 29 hrs by truck over 1,574 miles, with 4 typical fuel stops along the corridor. LTL shipments add 2-4 business days due to terminal transfers. Expedited service with team drivers can reduce FTL transit by up to 40%. Intermodal rail-truck service via CSX Baltimore Intermodal (ICTF) to BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Baltimore to Dallas freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Baltimore commonly ships coal & bulk minerals, automobiles (re-export), poultry products, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Dallas commonly receives consumer goods, raw materials, electronic components. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Dallas to Baltimore?
Strong backhaul (scored 76/100 based on Dallas's outbound commodity mix). Dallas generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Baltimore is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Dallas's top outbound commodities — electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Baltimore to Dallas?
The Baltimore-to-Dallas corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. Baltimore's top outbound commodities include coal & bulk minerals, automobiles (re-export), poultry products, medical devices, steel products, spices & seasonings. Dallas's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, raw materials, electronic components, building materials, imported merchandise, petroleum products. Industries driving this lane include port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals from Baltimore and technology and telecommunications in Dallas.
What tolls should I expect on the Baltimore to Dallas route?
Expect roughly $25-$42 in tolls round-trip passing through MD, TX, TN, KY, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC. Most rate quotes either include tolls in the line-haul or bill them as a separate pass-through — ask your dispatcher to confirm which model applies to your lane.
When are rates highest on the Baltimore to Dallas lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable); Mar-Oct (construction season) (+8-14% on flatbed). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Should I use team drivers for the Baltimore to Dallas lane?
At 1,574 miles, this route exceeds a solo driver's hours-of-service limits and requires at least one 10-hour break, adding roughly 14-18 hours to transit. Team drivers typically deliver in 17-20 hours — nearly half the solo transit — at a 20-35% rate premium. For time-critical freight over 1,200 miles, teams generally pay for themselves.
Get Exact Rates for Baltimore to Dallas
We maintain working relationships with 122+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Baltimore–Dallas corridor. Tell us about your freight and we will match you with one that fits your commodity, timing, and budget. Free quote, no obligation.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM CT | No obligation, no contracts