Freight Shipping from Fort Worth to Little Rock
Ship freight from Fort Worth, TX to Little Rock, AR with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $897-$1,105, LTL from $429-$754. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
417 mi
Drive Time
8 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$897-$1,105
LTL Rate Est.
$429-$754
Industrial Freight Lane
Fort Worth → Little Rock Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
156–170
running this lane
Weekly Loads
83–95
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.65
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
$4–$7 one-way passing through TX, AR, OK. 1 typical fuel stop 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 Little Rock 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.
Little Rock benefits from its central US location at the junction of I-40 and I-30, putting it within a day's drive of Dallas, Memphis, Kansas City, and St. Louis. The McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System connects the metro to inland barge traffic, creating intermodal opportunities for bulk shippers. The North Little Rock rail yards are among the busiest in the mid-South, with UP and BNSF both running major classification operations.
The Fort Worth-to-Little Rock corridor spans 417 miles via I-30. This lane connects aerospace & defense and rail logistics freight from the Fort Worth market to food processing and steel manufacturing demand in Little Rock. 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 Little Rock Receives
Little Rock's food processing, steel manufacturing, defense sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Fort Worth.
raw steel
consumer goods
agricultural chemicals
petroleum products
packaging materials
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Fort Worth and Little Rock, 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.
$897-$1,105 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.
$1,105-$1,397 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.
$1,188-$1,522 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$1,314-$1,772 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Fort Worth to Little Rock lane (417 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $897-$1,105 | 8 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $429-$754 | 10-12 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,355-$1,877 | 5 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Fort Worth and Little Rock that drive volume on this lane.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Dillard's (HQ)
Welspun Tubular
L'Oreal Manufacturing
Shipping Tips for Fort Worth to Little Rock
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.
Little Rock Seasonal Advisory
Rice harvest (August-October) drives bulk and hopper trailer demand. Post-Thanksgiving through Christmas, Dillard's distribution network creates retail surge freight on lanes to the Southeast and Midwest.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 417 miles, a single driver can complete this route within a standard driving window. Expedited same-day service is available for time-critical shipments at a premium.
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 Little Rock — 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
Little Rock, AR
- Metro Population
- 748K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $1.95-$2.25/mi
- Key Highways
- I-40, I-30, I-440
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP North Little Rock Yard; BNSF Little Rock Intermodal
- Port Access
- Port of Little Rock/McClellan-Kerr Waterway (5 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- North Little Rock/I-40, Port of Little Rock Industrial Park
“Arkansas's poultry industry (Tyson, Simmons) generates thousands of reefer loads weekly from processing plants within 100 miles of Little Rock. Savvy carriers position in Little Rock to grab these loads at premium rates during summer grilling season.”
Return Loads from Little Rock
Backhaul from Little Rock to Fort Worth requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Little Rock
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 Little Rock Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Fort Worth to Little Rock?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Fort Worth, TX to Little Rock, AR currently range $897-$1,105 (roughly $2.16-$2.65 per mile over 417 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $429-$754 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 Little Rock?
Standard FTL transit from Fort Worth to Little Rock is approximately 8 hrs by truck over 417 miles, with 1 typical fuel stop 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%.
What equipment do I need for Fort Worth to Little Rock 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. Little Rock commonly receives raw steel, consumer goods, agricultural chemicals. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Little Rock to Fort Worth?
Moderate backhaul (scored 58/100 based on Little Rock's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Little Rock to Fort Worth requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Little Rock's top outbound commodities — processed poultry, steel products, rice & grains — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Fort Worth to Little Rock?
The Fort Worth-to-Little Rock 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. Little Rock's primary inbound freight includes raw steel, consumer goods, agricultural chemicals, petroleum products, packaging materials, retail merchandise. Industries driving this lane include aerospace & defense and rail logistics from Fort Worth and food processing and steel manufacturing in Little Rock.
When are rates highest on the Fort Worth to Little Rock 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 Little Rock
We maintain working relationships with 156+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Fort Worth–Little Rock 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