Freight Shipping from Fort Worth to Tulsa
Ship freight from Fort Worth, TX to Tulsa, OK with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $690-$851, LTL from $377-$673. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
321 mi
Drive Time
6 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$690-$851
LTL Rate Est.
$377-$673
Fresh Food Lane
Fort Worth → Tulsa Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
165–182
running this lane
Weekly Loads
196–209
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
57/100
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, 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 Tulsa 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.
Tulsa is the aerospace maintenance capital of the central U.S., with American Airlines operating its largest MRO facility here — capable of servicing widebody aircraft. The Port of Catoosa, America's most inland river port, connects Tulsa to the Gulf of Mexico via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, enabling barge-to-truck transloading for heavy industrial freight. The city's legacy oil refining infrastructure creates steady tanker and hazmat volumes.
The Fort Worth-to-Tulsa corridor spans 321 miles via I-35W, I-30, I-44, US-75. This lane connects aerospace & defense and rail logistics freight from the Fort Worth market to aerospace manufacturing and energy demand in Tulsa. 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 Tulsa Receives
Tulsa's aerospace manufacturing, energy, steel fabrication sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Fort Worth.
crude oil
raw steel
aircraft sub-assemblies
chemicals
electronic components
packaging materials
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Fort Worth and Tulsa, 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.
$690-$851 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.
$851-$1,075 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.
$915-$1,172 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$1,011-$1,364 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Fort Worth to Tulsa lane (321 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $690-$851 | 6 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $377-$673 | 8-10 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,043-$1,445 | 4 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Fort Worth and Tulsa that drive volume on this lane.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
American Airlines Maintenance Base
NORDAM Group
Holly Frontier Refining
Shipping Tips for Fort Worth to Tulsa
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.
Tulsa Seasonal Advisory
Aerospace MRO work peaks during winter when airlines pull aircraft from service for heavy maintenance checks. Refinery output is steady but turnaround seasons (spring and fall) temporarily reduce outbound tanker volumes while increasing inbound equipment freight.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 321 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 Tulsa — 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
Tulsa, OK
- Metro Population
- 1.0M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-44, US-75, US-169
- Rail / Intermodal
- Tulsa Port of Catoosa (McClellan-Kerr Waterway)
- Port Access
- Port of Catoosa (McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, 7 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Broken Arrow/US-169 South, Catoosa/Port Industrial Park, Tulsa International Airport Area
“The Port of Catoosa handles oversized cargo that can't move efficiently by highway alone — wind turbine components, industrial boilers, and heavy machinery arrive by barge and transfer to specialized heavy-haul carriers for final-mile delivery across the region.”
Return Loads from Tulsa
Backhaul from Tulsa to Fort Worth requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Tulsa
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 Tulsa Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Fort Worth to Tulsa?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Fort Worth, TX to Tulsa, OK currently range $690-$851 (roughly $2.17-$2.67 per mile over 321 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $377-$673 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 Tulsa?
Standard FTL transit from Fort Worth to Tulsa is approximately 6 hrs by truck over 321 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 Tulsa 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. Tulsa commonly receives crude oil, raw steel, aircraft sub-assemblies. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Tulsa to Fort Worth?
Moderate backhaul (scored 57/100 based on Tulsa's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Tulsa to Fort Worth requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Tulsa's top outbound commodities — aircraft components, refined fuels, steel pipe & fittings — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Fort Worth to Tulsa?
The Fort Worth-to-Tulsa corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Fort Worth's top outbound commodities include F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle, consumer goods, dairy products, industrial equipment. Tulsa's primary inbound freight includes crude oil, raw steel, aircraft sub-assemblies, chemicals, electronic components, packaging materials. Industries driving this lane include aerospace & defense and rail logistics from Fort Worth and aerospace manufacturing and energy in Tulsa.
When are rates highest on the Fort Worth to Tulsa 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.
Can freight from Fort Worth to Tulsa be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 321 miles (6 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Fort Worth-to-Tulsa 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 Tulsa
We maintain working relationships with 165+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Fort Worth–Tulsa 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