Freight Shipping from Elizabeth to Dallas
Ship freight from Elizabeth, NJ to Dallas, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,799-$4,683, LTL from $1,172-$1,902. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,767 mi
Drive Time
32 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,799-$4,683
LTL Rate Est.
$1,172-$1,902
Fresh Food Lane
Elizabeth → Dallas Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
111–127
running this lane
Weekly Loads
83–96
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
83/100
Excellent
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$33–$55 one-way passing through NJ, TX, 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: Tue, Wed, Thu. Avoid: Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Elizabeth to Dallas Freight Corridor
Elizabeth is home to the largest container terminal complex in the Port of New York and New Jersey, processing millions of TEUs annually across the APM and Maersk terminals. The ExpressRail on-dock intermodal facility allows containers to move directly from ship to rail without a truck drayage move. Phillips 66's Bayway Refinery adds petroleum freight volume, while IKEA's massive distribution center serves the entire Northeast.
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.
The Elizabeth-to-Dallas corridor spans 1,767 miles via NJ Turnpike, I-278 (Goethals Bridge), I-35E, I-30. This lane connects container port operations and intermodal logistics freight from the Elizabeth market to technology and telecommunications demand in Dallas. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Elizabeth
Elizabeth's economy is driven by container port operations, intermodal logistics, petroleum refining, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
re-exported containers
refined petroleum
chemicals
scrap metal
food products
recycled materials
What Dallas Receives
Dallas's technology, telecommunications, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Elizabeth.
consumer goods
raw materials
electronic components
building materials
imported merchandise
petroleum products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Elizabeth and Dallas, 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.
$3,799-$4,683 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.
$5,036-$6,450 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$5,566-$7,510 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.
$1,172-$1,902 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Elizabeth to Dallas lane (1,767 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,799-$4,683 | 32 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,172-$1,902 | 34-36 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $5,743-$7,952 | 21 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,385-$3,269 | 35-37 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Elizabeth and Dallas that drive volume on this lane.
APM Terminals (Elizabeth)
IKEA Elizabeth DC
Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Shipping Tips for Elizabeth to Dallas
Elizabeth Seasonal Advisory
Peak import season (August-October) can extend vessel wait times to 5-7 days at anchor, cascading into terminal congestion and chassis shortages that ripple through the entire regional freight market.
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.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,767 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 32 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 Elizabeth and Dallas — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Elizabeth, NJ
- Metro Population
- 137K city (Union County 575K)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.55-$3.00/mi
- Key Highways
- NJ Turnpike, I-278 (Goethals Bridge), US-1/9
- Rail / Intermodal
- ExpressRail Elizabeth; APM Elizabeth Marine Terminal
- Port Access
- Elizabeth Marine Terminal (Port of NY/NJ, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Elizabeth Port District, Linden/Tremley Point
“Elizabeth's port terminals operate 24/7 with gate reservations becoming increasingly mandatory. Carriers who invest in port-specific technology (terminal appointment systems, chassis tracking apps) gain a significant efficiency advantage over those navigating the system manually.”
Destination
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.”
Return Loads from Dallas
Dallas is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Elizabeth typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Dallas
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Elizabeth to Dallas Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Elizabeth to Dallas?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Elizabeth, NJ to Dallas, TX currently range $3,799-$4,683 (roughly $2.17-$2.67 per mile over 1,767 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,172-$1,902 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 Elizabeth to Dallas?
Standard FTL transit from Elizabeth to Dallas is approximately 32 hrs by truck over 1,767 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 ExpressRail Elizabeth to BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Elizabeth to Dallas freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Elizabeth commonly ships re-exported containers, refined petroleum, chemicals, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Dallas commonly receives consumer goods, raw materials, electronic components. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Dallas to Elizabeth?
Excellent backhaul (scored 83/100 based on Dallas's outbound commodity mix). Dallas is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Elizabeth typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate. Dallas's top outbound commodities — electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Elizabeth to Dallas?
The Elizabeth-to-Dallas corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Elizabeth's top outbound commodities include re-exported containers, refined petroleum, chemicals, scrap metal, food products, recycled materials. Dallas's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, raw materials, electronic components, building materials, imported merchandise, petroleum products. Industries driving this lane include container port operations and intermodal logistics from Elizabeth and technology and telecommunications in Dallas.
What tolls should I expect on the Elizabeth to Dallas route?
Expect roughly $33-$55 in tolls round-trip passing through NJ, TX, 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 Elizabeth to Dallas lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to container port operations and intermodal logistics 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.
Should I use team drivers for the Elizabeth to Dallas lane?
At 1,767 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 19-23 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 Elizabeth to Dallas
We maintain working relationships with 111+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Elizabeth–Dallas 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