Freight Shipping from Dallas to Omaha
Ship freight from Dallas, TX to Omaha, NE with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,643-$2,025, LTL from $620-$1,049. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
764 mi
Drive Time
14 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,643-$2,025
LTL Rate Est.
$620-$1,049
Fresh Food Lane
Dallas → Omaha Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
131–151
running this lane
Weekly Loads
85–106
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.15–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
62/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$8–$14 one-way passing through TX, NE, OK. 2 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.
Dallas to Omaha 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.
Omaha is the beef capital of America and Union Pacific's global headquarters, making it a unique dual powerhouse of protein freight and rail logistics. The metro's meatpacking plants process millions of pounds of beef and pork daily, generating an enormous volume of temperature-controlled outbound shipments. Werner Enterprises, one of the nation's largest carriers, is headquartered here, reflecting the city's deep trucking DNA.
The Dallas-to-Omaha corridor spans 764 miles via I-35E, I-30, I-80, I-29. This lane connects technology and telecommunications freight from the Dallas market to meatpacking & food processing and railroads (up hq) demand in Omaha. 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 Omaha Receives
Omaha's meatpacking & food processing, railroads (up hq), financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Dallas.
live cattle
raw grain
packaging materials
consumer goods
building materials
industrial chemicals
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Dallas and Omaha, 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.
$1,643-$2,025 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.
$2,177-$2,789 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,407-$3,247 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.
$620-$1,049 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Dallas to Omaha lane (764 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,643-$2,025 | 14 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $620-$1,049 | 16-18 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,483-$3,438 | 9 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,031-$1,413 | 17-19 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Dallas and Omaha that drive volume on this lane.
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Union Pacific Railroad (HQ)
ConAgra Brands
Tyson Fresh Meats
Shipping Tips for Dallas to Omaha
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.
Omaha Seasonal Advisory
Cattle feedlot finishing peaks in spring and fall, driving livestock hauling demand. Corn and soybean harvest (September-November) floods the market with grain trucks and tightens capacity for all other freight types.
Overnight Transit
This 764-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 Omaha — 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
Omaha, NE
- Metro Population
- 970K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, I-29, US-75
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Global III Intermodal; BNSF Murray Yard
- Warehouse Districts
- Council Bluffs/I-80 Corridor, South Omaha Industrial, Papillion/Sarpy County
“Omaha's reefer market is one of the most consistent in the Midwest — protein plants run year-round with minimal seasonal variation, providing carriers with reliable base freight. Brokers who maintain strong relationships with Tyson and ConAgra facilities have a built-in freight pipeline.”
Return Loads from Omaha
Backhaul from Omaha to Dallas requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Omaha
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Dallas to Omaha Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Dallas to Omaha?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Dallas, TX to Omaha, NE currently range $1,643-$2,025 (roughly $2.15-$2.66 per mile over 764 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $620-$1,049 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 Omaha?
Standard FTL transit from Dallas to Omaha is approximately 14 hrs by truck over 764 miles, with 2 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 BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) to UP Global III Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Dallas to Omaha 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. Omaha commonly receives live cattle, raw grain, packaging materials. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Omaha to Dallas?
Moderate backhaul (scored 62/100 based on Omaha's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Omaha to Dallas requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Omaha's top outbound commodities — beef & pork products, frozen foods, grain & corn — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Dallas to Omaha?
The Dallas-to-Omaha corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Dallas's top outbound commodities include electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods, processed foods, defense systems, e-commerce shipments. Omaha's primary inbound freight includes live cattle, raw grain, packaging materials, consumer goods, building materials, industrial chemicals. Industries driving this lane include technology and telecommunications from Dallas and meatpacking & food processing and railroads (UP HQ) in Omaha.
When are rates highest on the Dallas to Omaha 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); 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 Dallas to Omaha
We maintain working relationships with 131+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Dallas–Omaha 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