Freight Shipping from Fort Worth to Birmingham
Ship freight from Fort Worth, TX to Birmingham, AL with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,707-$2,104, LTL from $637-$1,075. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
794 mi
Drive Time
14 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,707-$2,104
LTL Rate Est.
$637-$1,075
Energy & Chemicals Route
Fort Worth → Birmingham Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
142–159
running this lane
Weekly Loads
191–211
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
58/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$6–$10 one-way passing through TX, AL, AR. 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.
Fort Worth to Birmingham Freight Corridor
Fort Worth is the aerospace and rail logistics capital of Texas. Lockheed Martin's mile-long factory produces every F-35 Lightning II fighter jet sold worldwide, generating classified, oversize, and high-security freight that requires specialized carriers. BNSF Railway's headquarters and Alliance Texas — the nation's largest inland port — create one of the most sophisticated intermodal logistics ecosystems in North America. Bell Textron builds V-22 Ospreys and commercial helicopters, adding to the aerospace freight base.
Birmingham sits at the crossroads of I-20 and I-65, making it the natural distribution pivot between the Gulf Coast and the upper Southeast. The metro's steel heritage lives on through McWane and U.S. Steel operations that keep flatbed demand consistently high. Mercedes-Benz and Honda assembly plants in Tuscaloosa and Lincoln create a steady diet of JIT automotive freight moving on dedicated lanes to suppliers across the Midwest.
The Fort Worth-to-Birmingham corridor spans 794 miles via I-20. This lane connects aerospace & defense and rail logistics freight from the Fort Worth market to automotive manufacturing and steel production demand in Birmingham. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Fort Worth
Fort Worth's economy is driven by aerospace & defense, rail logistics, ranching & agriculture, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
F-35 fighter jet components
Bell helicopters
grain & cattle
consumer goods
dairy products
industrial equipment
What Birmingham Receives
Birmingham's automotive manufacturing, steel production, medical devices sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Fort Worth.
raw iron ore
automotive components
consumer electronics
building materials
petroleum products
packaging materials
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Fort Worth and Birmingham, 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.
$1,707-$2,104 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.
$2,104-$2,660 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.
$2,263-$2,898 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,501-$3,375 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Fort Worth to Birmingham lane (794 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,707-$2,104 | 14 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $637-$1,075 | 16-18 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,581-$3,573 | 10 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,072-$1,469 | 17-19 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Fort Worth and Birmingham that drive volume on this lane.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Mercedes-Benz U.S. International
U.S. Steel
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama
Shipping Tips for Fort Worth to Birmingham
Fort Worth Seasonal Advisory
Defense freight follows federal fiscal year-end spending (September rush). BNSF intermodal volumes peak during Q4 import season. Livestock and agricultural freight from the Fort Worth Stockyards region is strongest March through October.
Birmingham Seasonal Advisory
Steel shipments peak Q1-Q2 as construction season ramps up. Automotive freight dips during the two-week July shutdown at Mercedes and Honda plants.
Overnight Transit
This 794-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 Fort Worth and Birmingham — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Fort Worth, TX
- Metro Population
- 7.6M metro (DFW)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35W, I-30, I-20
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility; Alliance Texas Logistics Hub
- Warehouse Districts
- AllianceTexas/I-35W North, South Fort Worth/I-20 Corridor, Haslet/Alliance Gateway
“AllianceTexas is not just an intermodal facility — it's a 27,000-acre master-planned logistics campus with its own airport, rail yard, and 50+ million square feet of warehouse space. Carriers who operate within the Alliance ecosystem can string together multiple loads without leaving the campus.”
Destination
Birmingham, AL
- Metro Population
- 1.1M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-20, I-65, I-59
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Irondale Intermodal; CSX Boyles Yard
- Warehouse Districts
- Irondale/Eastwood, Bessemer/I-20 Corridor
“Flatbed carriers running steel out of Birmingham often deadhead to the Alabama poultry belt around Decatur and Cullman for backhaul reefer loads, creating one of the Southeast's most efficient two-way lane combinations.”
Return Loads from Birmingham
Backhaul from Birmingham to Fort Worth requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Birmingham
Seasonal Rate Patterns
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
Fort Worth to Birmingham Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Fort Worth to Birmingham?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Fort Worth, TX to Birmingham, AL currently range $1,707-$2,104 (roughly $2.17-$2.66 per mile over 794 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $637-$1,075 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 Fort Worth to Birmingham?
Standard FTL transit from Fort Worth to Birmingham is approximately 14 hrs by truck over 794 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 Facility to Norfolk Southern Irondale Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Fort Worth to Birmingham freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Fort Worth commonly ships F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Birmingham commonly receives raw iron ore, automotive components, consumer electronics. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Birmingham to Fort Worth?
Moderate backhaul (scored 58/100 based on Birmingham's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Birmingham to Fort Worth requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Birmingham's top outbound commodities — steel coils & pipe, automotive parts, medical equipment — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Fort Worth to Birmingham?
The Fort Worth-to-Birmingham corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Energy & Chemicals Route. Fort Worth's top outbound commodities include F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle, consumer goods, dairy products, industrial equipment. Birmingham's primary inbound freight includes raw iron ore, automotive components, consumer electronics, building materials, petroleum products, packaging materials. Industries driving this lane include aerospace & defense and rail logistics from Fort Worth and automotive manufacturing and steel production in Birmingham.
When are rates highest on the Fort Worth to Birmingham lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to aerospace & defense and rail 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); 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 Fort Worth to Birmingham
We maintain working relationships with 142+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Fort Worth–Birmingham 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