Freight Shipping from Dallas to Philadelphia
Ship freight from Dallas, TX to Philadelphia, PA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,627-$4,471, LTL from $1,128-$1,834. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,687 mi
Drive Time
31 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,627-$4,471
LTL Rate Est.
$1,128-$1,834
Energy & Chemicals Route
Dallas → Philadelphia Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
129–143
running this lane
Weekly Loads
227–240
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.18–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
69/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$32–$54 one-way passing through TX, PA, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC. 4 typical fuel stops along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Mon, Tue, Wed. Avoid: Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Dallas to Philadelphia 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.
Philadelphia commands the Delaware River waterfront with PhilaPort, the fastest-growing port on the East Coast and the nation's top import point for fresh fruit, cocoa beans, and forest products. The metro's pharmaceutical corridor — stretching from the Navy Yard to the western suburbs — houses major operations from GSK, AstraZeneca, and dozens of biotech firms generating high-value temperature-controlled freight. The I-95/I-76/New Jersey Turnpike interchange makes Philadelphia the Northeast's critical freight chokepoint.
The Dallas-to-Philadelphia corridor spans 1,687 miles via I-35E, I-30, I-95, I-76. This lane connects technology and telecommunications freight from the Dallas market to pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining demand in Philadelphia. 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 Philadelphia Receives
Philadelphia's pharmaceuticals & biotech, petroleum refining, food processing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Dallas.
crude oil
containerized imports
cocoa beans & sugar
vehicles
steel & metals
produce (Latin America)
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Dallas and Philadelphia, 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.
$3,627-$4,471 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.
$4,471-$5,651 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.
$4,808-$6,158 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$5,314-$7,170 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Dallas to Philadelphia lane (1,687 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,627-$4,471 | 31 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,128-$1,834 | 33-35 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $5,483-$7,592 | 20 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,277-$3,121 | 34-36 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Dallas and Philadelphia that drive volume on this lane.
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES)
Comcast (HQ)
Campbell Soup (Camden)
Shipping Tips for Dallas to Philadelphia
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.
Philadelphia Seasonal Advisory
Fresh fruit imports peak January through April (Chilean fruit season). Pharmaceutical shipments maintain steady year-round volume with slight spikes during flu vaccine distribution (August-October). Holiday retail import surge hits September through November.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,687 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 31 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 Dallas and Philadelphia — 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
Philadelphia, PA
- Metro Population
- 6.2M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-76, I-476
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Philadelphia Terminal; CSX Greenwich Yard; PhilaPort Packer Avenue Marine Terminal
- Port Access
- PhilaPort — Port of Philadelphia (Delaware River, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Northeast Philadelphia/I-95 Corridor, King of Prussia/I-76 West, South Jersey/I-295 (Camden-Gloucester)
“PhilaPort's concentration in perishable imports creates a natural reefer freight ecosystem — carriers delivering produce from Central and South America can backhaul pharmaceuticals and processed foods northbound on I-95 or westbound on I-76, maintaining cold chain both ways.”
Return Loads from Philadelphia
Philadelphia generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Dallas is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Philadelphia
Seasonal Rate Patterns
May-Aug (produce season)
+12-18% on reefer capacity
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 Philadelphia Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Dallas to Philadelphia?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Dallas, TX to Philadelphia, PA currently range $3,627-$4,471 (roughly $2.18-$2.66 per mile over 1,687 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,128-$1,834 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 Philadelphia?
Standard FTL transit from Dallas to Philadelphia is approximately 31 hrs by truck over 1,687 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 BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) to Norfolk Southern Philadelphia Terminal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Dallas to Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia commonly receives crude oil, containerized imports, cocoa beans & sugar. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Philadelphia to Dallas?
Strong backhaul (scored 69/100 based on Philadelphia's outbound commodity mix). Philadelphia generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Dallas is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Philadelphia's top outbound commodities — refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Dallas to Philadelphia?
The Dallas-to-Philadelphia corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Energy & Chemicals Route. Dallas's top outbound commodities include electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods, processed foods, defense systems, e-commerce shipments. Philadelphia's primary inbound freight includes crude oil, containerized imports, cocoa beans & sugar, vehicles, steel & metals, produce (Latin America). Industries driving this lane include technology and telecommunications from Dallas and pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining in Philadelphia.
What tolls should I expect on the Dallas to Philadelphia route?
Expect roughly $32-$54 in tolls round-trip passing through TX, PA, TN, KY, VA, 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 Dallas to Philadelphia lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to technology and telecommunications cycles. Key periods: May-Aug (produce season) (+12-18% on reefer capacity); 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 (Mon, Tue, Wed) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Should I use team drivers for the Dallas to Philadelphia lane?
At 1,687 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 18-22 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 Dallas to Philadelphia
We maintain working relationships with 129+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Dallas–Philadelphia 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