Freight Shipping from Fresno to Dallas
Ship freight from Fresno, CA to Dallas, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,717-$4,582, LTL from $1,151-$1,870. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,729 mi
Drive Time
31 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,717-$4,582
LTL Rate Est.
$1,151-$1,870
Port Drayage Corridor
Fresno → Dallas Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
98–114
running this lane
Weekly Loads
188–204
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
78/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$21–$35 one-way passing through CA, TX, OK, NM. 4 typical fuel stops along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Mon, Tue, Wed. Avoid: Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Fresno to Dallas Freight Corridor
Fresno County is the single most productive agricultural county in the United States, and the city sits at the epicenter of a reefer freight machine that feeds the nation. Every major agricultural commodity — from grapes and citrus to dairy and nuts — ships from cold storage facilities clustered along SR-99. The BNSF intermodal facility connects Valley produce to transcontinental rail networks, but the vast majority moves by truck on the two-lane highways that crisscross the Valley floor.
Dallas is the economic engine of the DFW metroplex, housing more Fortune 500 corporate headquarters than any city except New York. Texas Instruments and the Telecom Corridor in Richardson generate a constant flow of high-value electronics freight, while the South Dallas warehouse district contains over 150 million square feet of distribution space. The city's central location means a truck leaving Dallas can reach 93% of the U.S. population within 48 hours.
The Fresno-to-Dallas corridor spans 1,729 miles via SR-99, SR-41, I-35E, I-30. This lane connects agriculture and food processing freight from the Fresno market to technology and telecommunications demand in Dallas. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Fresno
Fresno's economy is driven by agriculture, food processing, wine production, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
grapes & raisins
citrus fruits
tomatoes
dairy products
almonds & pistachios
cotton
What Dallas Receives
Dallas's technology, telecommunications, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Fresno.
consumer goods
raw materials
electronic components
building materials
imported merchandise
petroleum products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Fresno and Dallas, 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.
$3,717-$4,582 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.
$4,582-$5,792 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.
$4,928-$6,311 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$5,446-$7,348 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Fresno to Dallas lane (1,729 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,717-$4,582 | 31 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,151-$1,870 | 33-35 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $5,619-$7,781 | 21 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,334-$3,199 | 34-36 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Fresno and Dallas that drive volume on this lane.
Sun-Maid Growers
Producers Dairy
Zacky Farms
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Shipping Tips for Fresno to Dallas
Fresno Seasonal Advisory
Grape harvest (August-October) is the largest single event. Citrus runs November through April. There is no true "slow season" in Fresno if you haul reefer — something is always being harvested or processed.
Dallas Seasonal Advisory
E-commerce fulfillment peaks massively during Q4 holidays. Construction freight is year-round due to DFW's unrelenting building boom. Texas Instruments production runs consistently but new product cycles create periodic shipping surges.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,729 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 Fresno and Dallas — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Fresno, CA
- Metro Population
- 1.0M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- SR-99, SR-41, SR-180
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Fresno Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- South Fresno/SR-99 Corridor, Fresno Yosemite International Airport area
“Fresno's reefer market operates on agricultural cycles, not retail cycles. Carriers who understand the planting-to-harvest calendar for each commodity can position trucks weeks ahead of demand spikes and negotiate rates 15-20% above spot.”
Destination
Dallas, TX
- Metro Population
- 7.6M metro (DFW)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.00-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35E, I-30, I-635 (LBJ)
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth); Union Pacific Mesquite Intermodal; BNSF Wilmer Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- South Dallas/I-20 Corridor, Mesquite/I-30 East, Garland/I-635 Northeast
“Dallas's massive inbound-to-outbound imbalance — driven by the region's explosive population growth — means carriers delivering to DFW can almost always find loads out. The challenge is finding loads that pay well enough to justify the outbound leg, especially southbound to Houston where competition is fierce.”
Return Loads from Dallas
Dallas generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Fresno is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Dallas
Seasonal Rate Patterns
May-Aug (produce season)
+12-18% on reefer capacity
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Fresno to Dallas Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Fresno to Dallas?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Fresno, CA to Dallas, TX currently range $3,717-$4,582 (roughly $2.17-$2.67 per mile over 1,729 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,151-$1,870 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 Fresno to Dallas?
Standard FTL transit from Fresno to Dallas is approximately 31 hrs by truck over 1,729 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 Fresno Intermodal to BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Fresno to Dallas freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Fresno commonly ships grapes & raisins, citrus fruits, tomatoes, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Dallas commonly receives consumer goods, raw materials, electronic components. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Dallas to Fresno?
Strong backhaul (scored 78/100 based on Dallas's outbound commodity mix). Dallas generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Fresno is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Dallas's top outbound commodities — electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Fresno to Dallas?
The Fresno-to-Dallas corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Fresno's top outbound commodities include grapes & raisins, citrus fruits, tomatoes, dairy products, almonds & pistachios, cotton. Dallas's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, raw materials, electronic components, building materials, imported merchandise, petroleum products. Industries driving this lane include agriculture and food processing from Fresno and technology and telecommunications in Dallas.
When are rates highest on the Fresno to Dallas lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to agriculture and food processing cycles. Key periods: May-Aug (produce season) (+12-18% on reefer capacity); 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 (Mon, Tue, Wed) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Should I use team drivers for the Fresno to Dallas lane?
At 1,729 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 Fresno to Dallas
We maintain working relationships with 98+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Fresno–Dallas 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