Freight Shipping from Fort Worth to Los Angeles
Ship freight from Fort Worth, TX to Los Angeles, CA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,378-$4,163, LTL from $1,064-$1,735. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,571 mi
Drive Time
29 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,378-$4,163
LTL Rate Est.
$1,064-$1,735
Auto Manufacturing Corridor
Fort Worth → Los Angeles Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
132–152
running this lane
Weekly Loads
232–250
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
77/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$19–$31 one-way passing through TX, CA, OK, NM. 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.
Fort Worth to Los Angeles 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.
The Los Angeles basin is the undisputed freight capital of the Western Hemisphere. The San Pedro Bay port complex (LA + Long Beach) handles 40% of all US containerized imports, generating a tidal wave of drayage and long-haul freight that radiates outward on I-10, I-15, and I-5. The Inland Empire east of LA has become the largest warehouse market in the world, with over 600 million square feet of distribution space absorbing and redistributing Asian imports to every corner of the country.
The Fort Worth-to-Los Angeles corridor spans 1,571 miles via I-35W, I-30, I-5, I-10. This lane connects aerospace & defense and rail logistics freight from the Fort Worth market to entertainment & media and international trade demand in Los Angeles. 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 Los Angeles Receives
Los Angeles's entertainment & media, international trade, aerospace sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Fort Worth.
consumer electronics
furniture & housewares
automotive parts
textiles & fabrics
industrial machinery
toys & games
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Fort Worth and Los Angeles, 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.
$3,378-$4,163 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.
$4,163-$5,263 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.
$4,477-$5,734 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.
$1,064-$1,735 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Fort Worth to Los Angeles lane (1,571 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,378-$4,163 | 29 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,064-$1,735 | 31-33 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $5,106-$7,070 | 19 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,121-$2,906 | 32-34 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Fort Worth and Los Angeles that drive volume on this lane.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Amazon (15+ facilities)
Target (import DC)
Nike Distribution
Shipping Tips for Fort Worth to Los Angeles
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.
Los Angeles Seasonal Advisory
Import surge begins in August for holiday retail season, peaking in October-November. Chinese New Year (January-February) creates a brief lull followed by a restocking wave in March.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,571 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 29 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 Los Angeles — 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
Los Angeles, CA
- Metro Population
- 13.2M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.45-$2.85/mi
- Key Highways
- I-5, I-10, I-710
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Hobart Yard (Commerce); UP ICTF (Wilmington); UP East LA Intermodal
- Port Access
- Port of Los Angeles (20 mi) / Port of Long Beach (22 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Inland Empire (Ontario/Riverside), Commerce/Vernon, Carson/Compton
“The I-710 corridor from the ports to the intermodal yards in Commerce is the most heavily trucked stretch of highway in America. Container drayage rates fluctuate wildly based on port congestion — chassis availability can add $100-200 per container in detention charges during peak seasons.”
Return Loads from Los Angeles
Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Fort Worth to Los Angeles Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Fort Worth to Los Angeles?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Fort Worth, TX to Los Angeles, CA currently range $3,378-$4,163 (roughly $2.16-$2.67 per mile over 1,571 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,064-$1,735 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 Los Angeles?
Standard FTL transit from Fort Worth to Los Angeles is approximately 29 hrs by truck over 1,571 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 BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility to BNSF Hobart Yard (Commerce) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Fort Worth to Los Angeles 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. Los Angeles commonly receives consumer electronics, furniture & housewares, automotive parts. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Los Angeles to Fort Worth?
Strong backhaul (scored 77/100 based on Los Angeles's outbound commodity mix). Los Angeles generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Fort Worth is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Los Angeles's top outbound commodities — containerized imports (re-distribution), entertainment equipment, apparel & fashion — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Fort Worth to Los Angeles?
The Fort Worth-to-Los Angeles 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. Los Angeles's primary inbound freight includes consumer electronics, furniture & housewares, automotive parts, textiles & fabrics, industrial machinery, toys & games. Industries driving this lane include aerospace & defense and rail logistics from Fort Worth and entertainment & media and international trade in Los Angeles.
When are rates highest on the Fort Worth to Los Angeles 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). 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 Fort Worth to Los Angeles lane?
At 1,571 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 17-20 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 Fort Worth to Los Angeles
We maintain working relationships with 132+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Fort Worth–Los Angeles 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