Freight Shipping from Cleveland to Fort Worth
Ship freight from Cleveland, OH to Fort Worth, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,933-$3,615, LTL from $950-$1,559. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,364 mi
Drive Time
25 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,933-$3,615
LTL Rate Est.
$950-$1,559
Port Drayage Corridor
Cleveland → Fort Worth Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
128–149
running this lane
Weekly Loads
233–248
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.68
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
83/100
Excellent
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$21–$34 one-way passing through OH, TX, TN, KY, VA, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC. 3 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.
Cleveland to Fort Worth Freight Corridor
Cleveland remains the industrial heart of the Great Lakes manufacturing belt, anchored by Sherwin-Williams' new global headquarters and Cleveland-Cliffs' integrated steel operations. The Port of Cleveland connects to global markets via the St. Lawrence Seaway, handling iron ore, steel, and heavy-lift project cargo. The I-90/I-77 junction gives carriers efficient access to the entire Midwest and Northeast.
Fort Worth is the aerospace and rail logistics capital of Texas. Lockheed Martin's mile-long factory produces every F-35 Lightning II fighter jet sold worldwide, generating classified, oversize, and high-security freight that requires specialized carriers. BNSF Railway's headquarters and Alliance Texas — the nation's largest inland port — create one of the most sophisticated intermodal logistics ecosystems in North America. Bell Textron builds V-22 Ospreys and commercial helicopters, adding to the aerospace freight base.
The Cleveland-to-Fort Worth corridor spans 1,364 miles via I-90, I-77, I-35W, I-30. This lane connects steel & metals and automotive parts freight from the Cleveland market to aerospace & defense and rail logistics demand in Fort Worth. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Cleveland
Cleveland's economy is driven by steel & metals, automotive parts, healthcare & biomedical, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
steel products
automotive stampings
industrial chemicals
paint & coatings (Sherwin-Williams)
medical devices
polymer products
What Fort Worth Receives
Fort Worth's aerospace & defense, rail logistics, ranching & agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Cleveland.
aerospace sub-assemblies
raw metals
containerized imports (via Alliance)
consumer goods
building materials
fuel
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Cleveland and Fort Worth, 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.
$2,933-$3,615 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.
$3,887-$4,979 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$4,297-$5,797 estimated for this lane
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
Cost-effective for shipments under 10,000 lbs or fewer than 10 pallets. Shared trailer space with other shippers reduces cost for smaller loads.
$950-$1,559 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Cleveland to Fort Worth lane (1,364 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,933-$3,615 | 25 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $950-$1,559 | 27-29 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $4,433-$6,138 | 17 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,841-$2,523 | 28-30 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Cleveland and Fort Worth that drive volume on this lane.
Sherwin-Williams (HQ)
Cleveland-Cliffs (HQ)
Lincoln Electric
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Shipping Tips for Cleveland to Fort Worth
Cleveland Seasonal Advisory
Steel production runs year-round but construction season (April-October) drives the strongest demand for outbound coil and plate loads. Great Lakes shipping season (April-January) determines iron ore import volumes at the port.
Fort Worth Seasonal Advisory
Defense freight follows federal fiscal year-end spending (September rush). BNSF intermodal volumes peak during Q4 import season. Livestock and agricultural freight from the Fort Worth Stockyards region is strongest March through October.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,364 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 25 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 Cleveland and Fort Worth — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Cleveland, OH
- Metro Population
- 2.1M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-90, I-77, I-480
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Cleveland Intermodal; CSX Collinwood Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Cleveland (Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Seaway, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Solon/I-480 East, Brook Park/I-71 South, Twinsburg/I-480 Corridor
“Cleveland's steel and metals market creates natural synergies between flatbed and van freight. Carriers who deliver raw steel coils to stamping plants can often backhaul finished automotive parts to assembly plants in Detroit, Toledo, or Ontario — a loop that keeps utilization above 90%.”
Destination
Fort Worth, TX
- Metro Population
- 7.6M metro (DFW)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35W, I-30, I-20
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility; Alliance Texas Logistics Hub
- Warehouse Districts
- AllianceTexas/I-35W North, South Fort Worth/I-20 Corridor, Haslet/Alliance Gateway
“AllianceTexas is not just an intermodal facility — it's a 27,000-acre master-planned logistics campus with its own airport, rail yard, and 50+ million square feet of warehouse space. Carriers who operate within the Alliance ecosystem can string together multiple loads without leaving the campus.”
Return Loads from Fort Worth
Fort Worth is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Cleveland typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Fort Worth
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
Cleveland to Fort Worth Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Cleveland to Fort Worth?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Cleveland, OH to Fort Worth, TX currently range $2,933-$3,615 (roughly $2.16-$2.68 per mile over 1,364 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $950-$1,559 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 Cleveland to Fort Worth?
Standard FTL transit from Cleveland to Fort Worth is approximately 25 hrs by truck over 1,364 miles, with 3 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 Norfolk Southern Cleveland Intermodal to BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Cleveland to Fort Worth freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Cleveland commonly ships steel products, automotive stampings, industrial chemicals, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Fort Worth commonly receives aerospace sub-assemblies, raw metals, containerized imports (via Alliance). Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Fort Worth to Cleveland?
Excellent backhaul (scored 83/100 based on Fort Worth's outbound commodity mix). Fort Worth is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Cleveland typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate. Fort Worth's top outbound commodities — F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Cleveland to Fort Worth?
The Cleveland-to-Fort Worth corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Cleveland's top outbound commodities include steel products, automotive stampings, industrial chemicals, paint & coatings (Sherwin-Williams), medical devices, polymer products. Fort Worth's primary inbound freight includes aerospace sub-assemblies, raw metals, containerized imports (via Alliance), consumer goods, building materials, fuel. Industries driving this lane include steel & metals and automotive parts from Cleveland and aerospace & defense and rail logistics in Fort Worth.
When are rates highest on the Cleveland to Fort Worth lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to steel & metals and automotive parts 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.
Get Exact Rates for Cleveland to Fort Worth
We maintain working relationships with 128+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Cleveland–Fort Worth 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