Freight Shipping from Dallas to Austin
Ship freight from Dallas, TX to Austin, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $510-$628, LTL from $330-$601. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
237 mi
Drive Time
4 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$510-$628
LTL Rate Est.
$330-$601
Consumer Goods Corridor
Dallas → Austin Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
156–179
running this lane
Weekly Loads
196–213
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.18–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
73/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$2–$4 one-way passing through TX. 1 typical fuel stop 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.
Dallas to Austin Freight Corridor
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.
Austin has transformed from a state capital and college town into a technology and manufacturing powerhouse. Tesla's Gigafactory Texas in southeast Travis County produces the Model Y and Cybertruck, creating a massive new automotive freight corridor. Samsung's $17 billion semiconductor fab in Taylor and NXP's chipmaking facilities make the Austin metro one of America's most important semiconductor freight origins. The city's explosive growth — the fastest-growing large metro in the U.S. — generates enormous inbound construction and consumer goods freight.
The Dallas-to-Austin corridor spans 237 miles via I-35E, I-30, I-35, US-183. This lane connects technology and telecommunications freight from the Dallas market to technology and semiconductor manufacturing demand in Austin. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Dallas
Dallas's economy is driven by technology, telecommunications, financial services, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
electronics (Texas Instruments)
telecommunications equipment
consumer packaged goods
processed foods
defense systems
e-commerce shipments
What Austin Receives
Austin's technology, semiconductor manufacturing, state government sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Dallas.
building materials
consumer goods
electronic components
silicon wafers
food products
vehicles
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Dallas and Austin, 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.
$510-$628 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.
$675-$865 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.
$330-$601 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Dallas to Austin lane (237 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $510-$628 | 4 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $330-$601 | 6-8 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $770-$1,067 | 3 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Dallas and Austin that drive volume on this lane.
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Tesla Gigafactory Texas
Samsung Austin Semiconductor
NXP Semiconductors
Shipping Tips for Dallas to Austin
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.
Austin Seasonal Advisory
Tesla production runs year-round but new model launches create unpredictable freight spikes. Samsung fab output is consistent but construction of new fab capacity generates enormous heavy-haul and oversize equipment moves. SXSW (March) and ACL Festival (October) create temporary local delivery surges.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 237 miles, a single driver can complete this route within a standard driving window. Expedited same-day service is available for time-critical shipments at a premium.
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 Dallas and Austin — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
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.”
Destination
Austin, TX
- Metro Population
- 2.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35, US-183, US-290
- Rail / Intermodal
- Union Pacific Austin Terminal
- Warehouse Districts
- Pflugerville/US-130 Toll, Del Valle/Tesla Gigafactory Area, Round Rock/I-35 North
“Austin's I-35 corridor is among the most congested in Texas, and carriers who schedule pickups and deliveries outside peak hours (avoiding 7-9 AM and 4-7 PM) can complete 20-30% more loads per week. Tesla's Gigafactory operates its own logistics network but overflow capacity needs create spot market opportunities.”
Return Loads from Austin
Austin generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Dallas is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Austin
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
Dallas to Austin Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Dallas to Austin?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Dallas, TX to Austin, TX currently range $510-$628 (roughly $2.18-$2.66 per mile over 237 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $330-$601 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently balanced 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 Dallas to Austin?
Standard FTL transit from Dallas to Austin is approximately 4 hrs by truck over 237 miles, with 1 typical fuel stop 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%.
What equipment do I need for Dallas to Austin freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Dallas commonly ships electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Austin commonly receives building materials, consumer goods, electronic components. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Austin to Dallas?
Strong backhaul (scored 73/100 based on Austin's outbound commodity mix). Austin generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Dallas is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Austin's top outbound commodities — semiconductors (Samsung/NXP), Tesla vehicles, computers & electronics — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Dallas to Austin?
The Dallas-to-Austin corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. Dallas's top outbound commodities include electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods, processed foods, defense systems, e-commerce shipments. Austin's primary inbound freight includes building materials, consumer goods, electronic components, silicon wafers, food products, vehicles. Industries driving this lane include technology and telecommunications from Dallas and technology and semiconductor manufacturing in Austin.
When are rates highest on the Dallas to Austin lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to technology and telecommunications 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.
Can freight from Dallas to Austin be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 237 miles (4 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Dallas-to-Austin lane in one shift. Same-day delivery requires booking before 9 AM local time at origin and confirming dock availability at destination. Expedited service runs 4 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for Dallas to Austin
We maintain working relationships with 156+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Dallas–Austin corridor. Tell us about your freight and we will match you with one that fits your commodity, timing, and budget. Free quote, no obligation.
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