Freight Shipping from Fort Worth to San Antonio
Ship freight from Fort Worth, TX to San Antonio, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $671-$827, LTL from $372-$665. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
312 mi
Drive Time
6 hrs
FTL Budget Range
$671-$827
LTL Budget Range
$372-$665
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 → San Antonio
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 — strong
San Antonio ships out military equipment, processed foods, manufactured goods — categories Fort Worth takes in — so a truck running this lane has a realistic shot at a paying return load rather than deadheading. That usually shows up as a slightly better forward rate, because the carrier is not pricing an empty trip back into your quote.
Seasonal pressure
- 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 $3–$5 in tolls one way, estimated from published commercial rates in TX, plus about 1 fuel stop 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 San Antonio 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.
San Antonio's freight economy is uniquely driven by the military — Joint Base San Antonio encompasses three installations and is the largest Department of Defense joint base in the country. Toyota's Tundra and Sequoia assembly plant in south San Antonio creates dedicated automotive lanes to suppliers across Texas and Mexico. H-E-B, the beloved Texas grocery chain headquartered here, operates one of the most efficient private distribution networks in the retail industry.
The Fort Worth-to-San Antonio corridor spans 312 miles via I-35W, I-30, I-35, I-10. This lane connects aerospace & defense and rail logistics freight from the Fort Worth market to military & defense and healthcare demand in San Antonio. 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 San Antonio Receives
San Antonio's military & defense, healthcare, cybersecurity sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Fort Worth.
consumer goods
building materials
military supplies
food products
fuel
vehicles
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Fort Worth and San Antonio, 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.
$671-$827 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.
$827-$1,045 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.
$889-$1,139 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.
$372-$665 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Fort Worth to San Antonio lane (312 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $671-$827 | 6 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $372-$665 | 8-10 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,014-$1,404 | 4 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Fort Worth and San Antonio that drive volume on this lane.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland/Randolph/Fort Sam)
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas
H-E-B (HQ)
Shipping Tips for Fort Worth to San Antonio
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.
San Antonio Seasonal Advisory
Military freight follows federal fiscal year cycles with a September surge. Toyota production runs year-round with July and December shutdowns. H-E-B distribution intensifies ahead of holidays and during severe weather events when Texans stock up.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 312 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 San Antonio — 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
San Antonio, TX
- Metro Population
- 2.6M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35, I-10, I-37
- Rail / Intermodal
- Union Pacific San Antonio Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- South San Antonio/I-35 South, Converse/I-10 East, New Braunfels/I-35 North
“San Antonio's position on I-35 between Austin and the Mexican border at Laredo makes it a natural waypoint for northbound cross-border freight. Carriers who deliver locally can often pick up Mexico-origin loads heading to Dallas, Austin, or beyond without significant deadhead.”
Return Loads from San Antonio
San Antonio ships out military equipment, processed foods, manufactured goods — categories Fort Worth takes in — so a truck running this lane has a realistic shot at a paying return load rather than deadheading. That usually shows up as a slightly better forward rate, because the carrier is not pricing an empty trip back into your quote.
Top Backhaul Commodities from San Antonio
Seasonal Rate Patterns
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 San Antonio Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Fort Worth to San Antonio?
As a planning figure, budget $671-$827 for a full truckload from Fort Worth, TX to San Antonio, TX. That is the 312-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 $372-$665 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 San Antonio?
Standard FTL transit from Fort Worth to San Antonio is approximately 6 hrs by truck over 312 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 San Antonio 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. San Antonio commonly receives consumer goods, building materials, military supplies. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from San Antonio to Fort Worth?
San Antonio ships out military equipment, processed foods, manufactured goods — categories Fort Worth takes in — so a truck running this lane has a realistic shot at a paying return load rather than deadheading. That usually shows up as a slightly better forward rate, because the carrier is not pricing an empty trip back into your quote. 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 San Antonio?
Fort Worth's top outbound commodities include F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle, consumer goods, dairy products, industrial equipment. San Antonio's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, building materials, military supplies, food products, fuel, vehicles. The industries driving the lane are aerospace & defense and rail logistics on the Fort Worth end and military & defense and healthcare in San Antonio. 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.
When are rates highest on the Fort Worth to San Antonio lane?
Rate pressure on this corridor follows the aerospace & defense and rail logistics calendar. 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.
Can freight from Fort Worth to San Antonio be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 312 miles (6 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Fort Worth-to-San Antonio lane in one shift. Same-day delivery requires booking before 9 AM local time at origin and confirming dock availability at destination. Expedited service runs 5 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for Fort Worth to San Antonio
Tell us what you are moving on the Fort Worth–San Antonio 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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