Freight Shipping from El Paso to Long Beach
Ship freight from El Paso, TX to Long Beach, CA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,939-$2,390, LTL from $696-$1,167. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
902 mi
Drive Time
16 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,939-$2,390
LTL Rate Est.
$696-$1,167
Fresh Food Lane
El Paso → Long Beach Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
132–157
running this lane
Weekly Loads
84–104
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.15–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
87/100
Excellent
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$12–$19 one-way passing through TX, CA. 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.
El Paso to Long Beach Freight Corridor
El Paso is America's largest land port of entry, processing more commercial truck crossings than any other U.S.-Mexico border point. The city's economy is inseparable from Ciudad Juarez across the Rio Grande — together they form a binational manufacturing and logistics powerhouse where raw materials flow south into maquiladora factories and finished goods flow north for U.S. distribution. Fort Bliss, the Army's largest installation by area, adds significant military logistics volume.
The Port of Long Beach, paired with the adjacent Port of Los Angeles, forms the San Pedro Bay complex that handles nearly half of all US maritime imports. Long Beach itself has invested billions in on-dock rail infrastructure, allowing containers to move directly from ship to train without a truck dray, though the majority still leave by truck on the notoriously congested I-710. The city's zero-emission truck mandates are reshaping drayage economics as carriers invest in electric and hydrogen-powered equipment.
The El Paso-to-Long Beach corridor spans 902 miles via I-10, US-54, I-710, I-405. This lane connects cross-border trade and maquiladora logistics freight from the El Paso market to port operations and oil & petrochemicals demand in Long Beach. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from El Paso
El Paso's economy is driven by cross-border trade, maquiladora logistics, military (fort bliss), generating consistent outbound freight demand.
Mexican-manufactured goods
automotive wire harnesses
electronics assemblies
processed foods
military equipment
apparel
What Long Beach Receives
Long Beach's port operations, oil & petrochemicals, aerospace sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like El Paso.
containerized consumer goods
electronics
furniture
auto parts
textiles
toys & housewares
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between El Paso and Long Beach, 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.
$1,939-$2,390 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.
$696-$1,167 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the El Paso to Long Beach lane (902 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,939-$2,390 | 16 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $696-$1,167 | 18-20 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,932-$4,059 | 11 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,218-$1,669 | 19-21 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both El Paso and Long Beach that drive volume on this lane.
Fort Bliss (largest Army post by area)
Foxconn (Juarez)
Bosch (Juarez)
Virgin Orbit
Boeing C-17 (closed 2015, still parts)
Epson America
Shipping Tips for El Paso to Long Beach
El Paso Seasonal Advisory
Cross-border freight runs year-round but Mexican holiday shutdowns (Christmas week, Semana Santa in April) create brief production gaps. Fort Bliss freight follows federal fiscal year patterns. Summer heat (June-September) limits driver hours and increases mechanical breakdowns.
Long Beach Seasonal Advisory
Peak import season runs August through November for holiday retail. The "blank sailing" period during Chinese New Year (January-February) creates a 3-4 week dip before the spring restocking wave.
Overnight Transit
This 902-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 El Paso and Long Beach — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
El Paso, TX
- Metro Population
- 870K metro (El Paso-Juarez: 2.7M binational)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.20-$2.60/mi
- Key Highways
- I-10, US-54, US-85
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF El Paso Intermodal; Union Pacific El Paso Yard
- Warehouse Districts
- Upper Valley/Santa Teresa, NM, East El Paso/I-10 Corridor, Zaragoza Bridge Industrial Area
“Cross-border freight is El Paso's bread and butter, but the customs clearance process creates natural carrier choke points at the international bridges. Carriers with C-TPAT certification and pre-cleared documentation can cross in hours rather than days — a competitive advantage worth significant rate premiums.”
Destination
Long Beach, CA
- Metro Population
- 475K city
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.40-$2.80/mi
- Key Highways
- I-710, I-405, SR-47
- Rail / Intermodal
- Pier B On-Dock Rail (UP/BNSF); ITS Terminal; TTI Terminal
- Port Access
- Port of Long Beach (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- North Long Beach, Carson/Dominguez, Signal Hill
“Long Beach's Clean Truck Program now requires all drayage trucks entering the port to meet 2010 or newer emission standards. The upcoming zero-emission mandate is already driving smaller drayage operators out of the market, concentrating volume with larger, better-capitalized fleets.”
Return Loads from Long Beach
Long Beach is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to El Paso typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Long Beach
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
El Paso to Long Beach Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from El Paso to Long Beach?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from El Paso, TX to Long Beach, CA currently range $1,939-$2,390 (roughly $2.15-$2.66 per mile over 902 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $696-$1,167 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 El Paso to Long Beach?
Standard FTL transit from El Paso to Long Beach is approximately 16 hrs by truck over 902 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 El Paso Intermodal to Pier B On-Dock Rail (UP/BNSF) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for El Paso to Long Beach freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. El Paso commonly ships Mexican-manufactured goods, automotive wire harnesses, electronics assemblies, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Long Beach commonly receives containerized consumer goods, electronics, furniture. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Long Beach to El Paso?
Excellent backhaul (scored 87/100 based on Long Beach's outbound commodity mix). Long Beach is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to El Paso typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate. Long Beach's top outbound commodities — transloaded imports, petroleum products, recycled materials — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from El Paso to Long Beach?
The El Paso-to-Long Beach corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. El Paso's top outbound commodities include Mexican-manufactured goods, automotive wire harnesses, electronics assemblies, processed foods, military equipment, apparel. Long Beach's primary inbound freight includes containerized consumer goods, electronics, furniture, auto parts, textiles, toys & housewares. Industries driving this lane include cross-border trade and maquiladora logistics from El Paso and port operations and oil & petrochemicals in Long Beach.
When are rates highest on the El Paso to Long Beach lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to cross-border trade and maquiladora logistics 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 El Paso to Long Beach
We maintain working relationships with 132+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the El Paso–Long Beach 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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