Freight Shipping from Dallas to Kansas City
Ship freight from Dallas, TX to Kansas City, MO with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,269-$1,564, LTL from $525-$902. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
590 mi
Drive Time
11 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,269-$1,564
LTL Rate Est.
$525-$902
Industrial Freight Lane
Dallas → Kansas City Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
184–205
running this lane
Weekly Loads
232–246
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
73/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$6–$11 one-way passing through TX, MO, AR, OK. 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 Kansas City 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.
Kansas City is America's freight crossroads, sitting at the intersection of I-70 and I-35 — the two busiest coast-to-coast and border-to-border truck corridors. BNSF's Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton is one of the largest inland intermodal facilities in North America, processing 500,000+ containers annually. The metro area has more rail miles per capita than any other U.S. city, reflecting its historical role as the nation's rail hub.
The Dallas-to-Kansas City corridor spans 590 miles via I-35E, I-30, I-70, I-35. This lane connects technology and telecommunications freight from the Dallas market to logistics & intermodal and animal health demand in Kansas City. 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 Kansas City Receives
Kansas City's logistics & intermodal, animal health, automotive manufacturing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Dallas.
intermodal containers
auto parts
consumer goods
raw grain
packaging materials
imported merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Dallas and Kansas City, 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.
$1,269-$1,564 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.
$525-$902 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Dallas to Kansas City lane (590 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,269-$1,564 | 11 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $525-$902 | 13-15 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,918-$2,655 | 7 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $797-$1,092 | 14-16 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Dallas and Kansas City that drive volume on this lane.
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
General Motors (Fairfax)
Ford (Claycomo)
Cerner Corporation
Shipping Tips for Dallas to Kansas City
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.
Kansas City Seasonal Advisory
Grain harvest (September-November) and cattle shipping create fall capacity crunches along I-70 and I-35. Hallmark's holiday card production drives a September-October shipping peak for lightweight, high-volume loads.
Overnight Transit
This 590-mile route typically requires one overnight stop for a solo driver. Schedule pickup before noon for next-day delivery in most cases.
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 Kansas City — 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
Kansas City, MO
- Metro Population
- 2.2M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-70, I-35, I-29
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Logistics Park Kansas City; UP Neff Yard; NS Kansas City Terminal
- Warehouse Districts
- Edgerton/Logistics Park KC, Riverside/I-29 North, Lenexa/I-35 South
“Kansas City's central location means carriers can reach 85% of the U.S. population within two days. This geographic advantage makes it the preferred location for national distribution centers, which is why the metro has added 40+ million square feet of warehouse space in the last five years.”
Return Loads from Kansas City
Kansas City generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Dallas is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Kansas City
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Dallas to Kansas City Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Dallas to Kansas City?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Dallas, TX to Kansas City, MO currently range $1,269-$1,564 (roughly $2.17-$2.65 per mile over 590 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $525-$902 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 Dallas to Kansas City?
Standard FTL transit from Dallas to Kansas City is approximately 11 hrs by truck over 590 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%. Intermodal rail-truck service via BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) to BNSF Logistics Park Kansas City takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Dallas to Kansas City 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. Kansas City commonly receives intermodal containers, auto parts, consumer goods. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Kansas City to Dallas?
Strong backhaul (scored 73/100 based on Kansas City's outbound commodity mix). Kansas City generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Dallas is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Kansas City's top outbound commodities — automotive assemblies (GM/Ford), animal health products, grain & feed — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Dallas to Kansas City?
The Dallas-to-Kansas City corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Dallas's top outbound commodities include electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods, processed foods, defense systems, e-commerce shipments. Kansas City's primary inbound freight includes intermodal containers, auto parts, consumer goods, raw grain, packaging materials, imported merchandise. Industries driving this lane include technology and telecommunications from Dallas and logistics & intermodal and animal health in Kansas City.
When are rates highest on the Dallas to Kansas City 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). 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 Dallas to Kansas City
We maintain working relationships with 184+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Dallas–Kansas City 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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