Freight Shipping from Fort Worth to Philadelphia
Ship freight from Fort Worth, TX to Philadelphia, PA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,704-$4,566, LTL from $1,148-$1,865. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,723 mi
Drive Time
31 hrs
FTL Budget Range
$3,704-$4,566
LTL Budget Range
$1,148-$1,865
Distance is road-adjusted straight-line mileage; drive time assumes 55 mph average including stops. Budget ranges apply a $2.15–$2.65 per-mile dry van band to that distance. These are planning figures, not quotes — live pricing depends on your commodity, equipment, timing and the market that week.
What actually drives the price on Fort Worth → Philadelphia
Mileage is the starting point, not the answer. Three things move a quote on this corridor more than distance does — what comes back the other way, what season you are shipping in, and what the route costs the driver to run.
Return freight — steady
Philadelphia's outbound mix (refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods) partially matches what moves back toward Fort Worth. Return loads exist but are not guaranteed, so carriers price this lane with some repositioning risk built in.
Seasonal pressure
- May-August. Produce season pulls reefer capacity toward growing regions, so refrigerated trailers get harder to source and price up across the board.
- October-December. Retail peak. Dry van capacity tightens nationally ahead of the holidays — booking two or more weeks out is the difference between a normal rate and a scramble.
- July. Most auto plants take summer shutdown, so parts freight on this corridor drops off predictably for a few weeks and capacity loosens with it.
- March-October. Construction season. Flatbed and step-deck demand climbs with the building calendar and stays elevated until the first hard freeze.
Cost of running it
Roughly $33–$55 in tolls one way, estimated from published commercial rates in TX, PA, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC, plus about 4 fuel stops at a stop per 380 loaded miles. Exact routing and axle count will shift this.
Booking that saves money
Give more than 48 hours notice and avoid Friday-afternoon pickups. Those two habits save shippers more than negotiating does — a truck booked Tuesday for Thursday prices very differently from the same truck booked Friday morning for that afternoon.
Fort Worth to Philadelphia 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.
Philadelphia commands the Delaware River waterfront with PhilaPort, the fastest-growing port on the East Coast and the nation's top import point for fresh fruit, cocoa beans, and forest products. The metro's pharmaceutical corridor — stretching from the Navy Yard to the western suburbs — houses major operations from GSK, AstraZeneca, and dozens of biotech firms generating high-value temperature-controlled freight. The I-95/I-76/New Jersey Turnpike interchange makes Philadelphia the Northeast's critical freight chokepoint.
The Fort Worth-to-Philadelphia corridor spans 1,723 miles via I-35W, I-30, I-95, I-76. This lane connects aerospace & defense and rail logistics freight from the Fort Worth market to pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining demand in Philadelphia. 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 Philadelphia Receives
Philadelphia's pharmaceuticals & biotech, petroleum refining, food processing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Fort Worth.
crude oil
containerized imports
cocoa beans & sugar
vehicles
steel & metals
produce (Latin America)
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Fort Worth and Philadelphia, 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.
$3,704-$4,566 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.
$4,566-$5,772 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.
$4,911-$6,289 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$5,427-$7,323 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Fort Worth to Philadelphia lane (1,723 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,704-$4,566 | 31 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,148-$1,865 | 33-35 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $5,600-$7,754 | 21 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,326-$3,188 | 34-36 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Fort Worth and Philadelphia that drive volume on this lane.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES)
Comcast (HQ)
Campbell Soup (Camden)
Shipping Tips for Fort Worth to Philadelphia
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.
Philadelphia Seasonal Advisory
Fresh fruit imports peak January through April (Chilean fruit season). Pharmaceutical shipments maintain steady year-round volume with slight spikes during flu vaccine distribution (August-October). Holiday retail import surge hits September through November.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,723 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 31 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 Philadelphia — 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
Philadelphia, PA
- Metro Population
- 6.2M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-76, I-476
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Philadelphia Terminal; CSX Greenwich Yard; PhilaPort Packer Avenue Marine Terminal
- Port Access
- PhilaPort — Port of Philadelphia (Delaware River, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Northeast Philadelphia/I-95 Corridor, King of Prussia/I-76 West, South Jersey/I-295 (Camden-Gloucester)
“PhilaPort's concentration in perishable imports creates a natural reefer freight ecosystem — carriers delivering produce from Central and South America can backhaul pharmaceuticals and processed foods northbound on I-95 or westbound on I-76, maintaining cold chain both ways.”
Return Loads from Philadelphia
Philadelphia's outbound mix (refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods) partially matches what moves back toward Fort Worth. Return loads exist but are not guaranteed, so carriers price this lane with some repositioning risk built in.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Philadelphia
Seasonal Rate Patterns
May-August
Produce season pulls reefer capacity toward growing regions, so refrigerated trailers get harder to source and price up across the board.
October-December
Retail peak. Dry van capacity tightens nationally ahead of the holidays — booking two or more weeks out is the difference between a normal rate and a scramble.
July
Most auto plants take summer shutdown, so parts freight on this corridor drops off predictably for a few weeks and capacity loosens with it.
March-October
Construction season. Flatbed and step-deck demand climbs with the building calendar and stays elevated until the first hard freeze.
Fort Worth to Philadelphia Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Fort Worth to Philadelphia?
As a planning figure, budget $3,704-$4,566 for a full truckload from Fort Worth, TX to Philadelphia, PA. That is the 1,723-mile lane distance run against a $2.15-$2.65 per-mile dry van range, which is a broad industry band rather than a live quote for your freight. LTL lands roughly $1,148-$1,865 depending on freight class, weight and dimensions. Real pricing moves with fuel, season, equipment type and how much notice you give — a lane like this can quote well outside that band in a tight week. Send us the details and we will price it against what carriers are actually accepting right now.
How long does freight take from Fort Worth to Philadelphia?
Standard FTL transit from Fort Worth to Philadelphia is approximately 31 hrs by truck over 1,723 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 Norfolk Southern Philadelphia Terminal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Fort Worth to Philadelphia 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. Philadelphia commonly receives crude oil, containerized imports, cocoa beans & sugar. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Philadelphia to Fort Worth?
Philadelphia's outbound mix (refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods) partially matches what moves back toward Fort Worth. Return loads exist but are not guaranteed, so carriers price this lane with some repositioning risk built in. Why it matters to you as a shipper: backhaul is the single least visible input into your rate. Two lanes of identical mileage can quote hundreds of dollars apart purely because one has a return load waiting and the other does not.
What commodities move from Fort Worth to Philadelphia?
Fort Worth's top outbound commodities include F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle, consumer goods, dairy products, industrial equipment. Philadelphia's primary inbound freight includes crude oil, containerized imports, cocoa beans & sugar, vehicles, steel & metals, produce (Latin America). The industries driving the lane are aerospace & defense and rail logistics on the Fort Worth end and pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining in Philadelphia. That mix is what determines which trailer types run the corridor regularly — and a lane with steady demand for your equipment type is one where you will find a truck on short notice.
What tolls should I expect on the Fort Worth to Philadelphia route?
Budget roughly $33-$55 one way. That is an estimate built from published commercial toll rates in the states this corridor is likely to cross (TX, PA, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC) — actual tolls depend on the exact routing, axle count and whether the carrier runs a transponder. The part worth asking about: most quotes either fold tolls into the line-haul or bill them separately as a pass-through. Confirm which model you are being quoted before you compare two carriers on price.
When are rates highest on the Fort Worth to Philadelphia lane?
Rate pressure on this corridor follows the aerospace & defense and rail logistics calendar. May-August: Produce season pulls reefer capacity toward growing regions, so refrigerated trailers get harder to source and price up across the board. October-December: Retail peak. Dry van capacity tightens nationally ahead of the holidays — booking two or more weeks out is the difference between a normal rate and a scramble. July: Most auto plants take summer shutdown, so parts freight on this corridor drops off predictably for a few weeks and capacity loosens with it. March-October: Construction season. Flatbed and step-deck demand climbs with the building calendar and stays elevated until the first hard freeze. Two habits that help regardless of season — book mid-week rather than Friday afternoon, and give more than 48 hours notice. Last-minute Friday pickups are where shippers overpay most consistently.
Should I use team drivers for the Fort Worth to Philadelphia lane?
At 1,723 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 18-22 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 Philadelphia
Tell us what you are moving on the Fort Worth–Philadelphia corridor and we will source an FMCSA-verified carrier that fits the commodity, the timing and the budget. We check authority, insurance and safety record before a truck is ever assigned to your freight. Free quote, no obligation.
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