Freight Shipping from Fort Worth to Detroit
Ship freight from Fort Worth, TX to Detroit, MI with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,857-$3,522, LTL from $931-$1,530. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,329 mi
Drive Time
24 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,857-$3,522
LTL Rate Est.
$931-$1,530
Auto Manufacturing Corridor
Fort Worth → Detroit Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
133–151
running this lane
Weekly Loads
227–247
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
72/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$20–$33 one-way passing through TX, MI, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC. 3 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 Detroit 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.
Detroit remains the undisputed capital of North American automotive freight. The Big Three automakers and hundreds of tier-1 suppliers generate an enormous volume of JIT parts shipments crisscrossing the Ambassador Bridge to Canadian assembly plants daily. The EV transition is reshaping freight flows, with massive battery plants from GM (Ultium) and Ford drawing new inbound raw materials from lithium and nickel sources.
The Fort Worth-to-Detroit corridor spans 1,329 miles via I-35W, I-30, I-75, I-94. This lane connects aerospace & defense and rail logistics freight from the Fort Worth market to automotive manufacturing and autonomous vehicle tech demand in Detroit. 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 Detroit Receives
Detroit's automotive manufacturing, autonomous vehicle tech, steel processing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Fort Worth.
auto parts (cross-border)
raw steel
aluminum
rubber & plastics
electronic components
glass
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Fort Worth and Detroit, 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.
$2,857-$3,522 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.
$3,522-$4,452 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.
$3,788-$4,851 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.
$931-$1,530 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Fort Worth to Detroit lane (1,329 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,857-$3,522 | 24 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $931-$1,530 | 26-28 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $4,319-$5,981 | 16 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,794-$2,459 | 27-29 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Fort Worth and Detroit that drive volume on this lane.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
General Motors
Ford Motor Company
Stellantis (Chrysler)
Shipping Tips for Fort Worth to Detroit
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.
Detroit Seasonal Advisory
Automotive production follows a predictable cycle with two-week shutdowns in July and late December. Model changeover periods (August-September) create surge demand for tooling and equipment freight as assembly lines are retooled.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,329 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 24 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 Fort Worth and Detroit — 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
Detroit, MI
- Metro Population
- 4.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.20-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-75, I-94, I-96
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Detroit Intermodal; CSX Livernois Junction
- Port Access
- Ambassador Bridge & Detroit-Windsor Tunnel (Canada border, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Romulus/I-94 Airport Corridor, Warren/Sterling Heights, Woodhaven/Downriver
“The Ambassador Bridge and the new Gordie Howe International Bridge handle over 8,000 trucks daily, making the Detroit-Windsor corridor the busiest commercial land crossing in North America. FAST card-holding drivers command premium rates for cross-border automotive lanes.”
Return Loads from Detroit
Detroit generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Fort Worth is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Detroit
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 Detroit Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Fort Worth to Detroit?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Fort Worth, TX to Detroit, MI currently range $2,857-$3,522 (roughly $2.16-$2.66 per mile over 1,329 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $931-$1,530 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 Fort Worth to Detroit?
Standard FTL transit from Fort Worth to Detroit is approximately 24 hrs by truck over 1,329 miles, with 3 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 Detroit Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Fort Worth to Detroit 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. Detroit commonly receives auto parts (cross-border), raw steel, aluminum. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Detroit to Fort Worth?
Strong backhaul (scored 72/100 based on Detroit's outbound commodity mix). Detroit generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Fort Worth is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Detroit's top outbound commodities — finished vehicles, automotive parts & assemblies, steel coils — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Fort Worth to Detroit?
The Fort Worth-to-Detroit corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Auto Manufacturing Corridor. Fort Worth's top outbound commodities include F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle, consumer goods, dairy products, industrial equipment. Detroit's primary inbound freight includes auto parts (cross-border), raw steel, aluminum, rubber & plastics, electronic components, glass. Industries driving this lane include aerospace & defense and rail logistics from Fort Worth and automotive manufacturing and autonomous vehicle tech in Detroit.
When are rates highest on the Fort Worth to Detroit 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 Detroit
We maintain working relationships with 133+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Fort Worth–Detroit 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