Freight Shipping from Fort Worth to Des Moines
Ship freight from Fort Worth, TX to Des Moines, IA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,797-$2,215, LTL from $660-$1,111. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
836 mi
Drive Time
15 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,797-$2,215
LTL Rate Est.
$660-$1,111
Industrial Freight Lane
Fort Worth → Des Moines Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
141–157
running this lane
Weekly Loads
89–106
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
56/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$9–$15 one-way passing through TX, IA, MO, AR, 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.
Fort Worth to Des Moines 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.
Des Moines sits at the junction of I-80 and I-35, making it the natural crossroads of the upper Midwest agricultural belt. The city punches above its weight in freight thanks to a concentration of food processing plants (Tyson, Barilla, Kemin) and Hy-Vee's distribution network that services grocery stores across eight states. Meta's massive data center campus in Altoona has added a new dimension of high-value technology freight for server equipment and infrastructure.
The Fort Worth-to-Des Moines corridor spans 836 miles via I-35W, I-30, I-80, I-35. This lane connects aerospace & defense and rail logistics freight from the Fort Worth market to insurance & financial services and food processing demand in Des Moines. 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 Des Moines Receives
Des Moines's insurance & financial services, food processing, agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Fort Worth.
consumer goods
construction materials
livestock feed
agricultural chemicals
retail merchandise
technology equipment (data centers)
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Fort Worth and Des Moines, 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.
$1,797-$2,215 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.
$2,215-$2,801 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.
$2,383-$3,051 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,633-$3,553 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Fort Worth to Des Moines lane (836 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,797-$2,215 | 15 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $660-$1,111 | 17-19 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,717-$3,762 | 10 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,129-$1,547 | 18-20 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Fort Worth and Des Moines that drive volume on this lane.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
John Deere (Des Moines Works)
Hy-Vee (HQ)
Principal Financial (HQ)
Shipping Tips for Fort Worth to Des Moines
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.
Des Moines Seasonal Advisory
Harvest season (September-November) transforms the freight market as grain trucks flood the highways and competition for drivers intensifies. Holiday food processing peaks October through December. Data center construction freight has become a year-round constant.
Overnight Transit
This 836-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 Des Moines — 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
Des Moines, IA
- Metro Population
- 699K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.00-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, I-35, I-235
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Des Moines Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- Ankeny/I-35 North, Altoona/I-80 East, Grimes/I-80/I-35
“Iowa's 80/35 interchange is the most critical truck routing decision point between Chicago and the Great Plains. Carriers heading west can choose I-80 toward Omaha or I-35 toward Kansas City, and rate differentials between these two lanes can swing 15-20% depending on seasonal demand.”
Return Loads from Des Moines
Backhaul from Des Moines to Fort Worth requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Des Moines
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Fort Worth to Des Moines Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Fort Worth to Des Moines?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Fort Worth, TX to Des Moines, IA currently range $1,797-$2,215 (roughly $2.16-$2.65 per mile over 836 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $660-$1,111 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 Des Moines?
Standard FTL transit from Fort Worth to Des Moines is approximately 15 hrs by truck over 836 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 UP Des Moines Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Fort Worth to Des Moines 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. Des Moines commonly receives consumer goods, construction materials, livestock feed. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Des Moines to Fort Worth?
Moderate backhaul (scored 56/100 based on Des Moines's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Des Moines to Fort Worth requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Des Moines's top outbound commodities — processed meats, corn products & ethanol, insurance documents — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Fort Worth to Des Moines?
The Fort Worth-to-Des Moines corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Fort Worth's top outbound commodities include F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle, consumer goods, dairy products, industrial equipment. Des Moines's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, construction materials, livestock feed, agricultural chemicals, retail merchandise, technology equipment (data centers). Industries driving this lane include aerospace & defense and rail logistics from Fort Worth and insurance & financial services and food processing in Des Moines.
When are rates highest on the Fort Worth to Des Moines 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); 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 Des Moines
We maintain working relationships with 141+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Fort Worth–Des Moines 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