Freight Shipping from Houston to Fayetteville
Ship freight from Houston, TX to Fayetteville, AR with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,236-$1,524, LTL from $516-$889. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
575 mi
Drive Time
10 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,236-$1,524
LTL Rate Est.
$516-$889
Port Drayage Corridor
Houston → Fayetteville Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
163–182
running this lane
Weekly Loads
84–103
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.68
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
71/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$6–$10 one-way passing through TX, AR, 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.
Houston to Fayetteville Freight Corridor
Houston is the energy capital of the world, and its freight profile reflects it. The Houston Ship Channel — a 52-mile industrial corridor lined with the highest concentration of refineries and petrochemical plants on Earth — generates massive tanker, flatbed, and hazmat freight volumes. Port Houston ranks first in the U.S. for foreign waterborne tonnage and handles more export cargo than any other American port. The Texas Medical Center, the world's largest, adds a significant layer of pharmaceutical and medical equipment freight.
Northwest Arkansas is one of America's most remarkable freight ecosystems, anchored by the headquarters of three Fortune 500 companies: Walmart (#1), Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt Transport. Walmart's vendor community brings thousands of consumer products companies to Bentonville, making this relatively small metro one of the most freight-dense in the nation. Tyson's massive poultry processing operations generate enormous reefer volumes, while J.B. Hunt's headquarters campus serves as the nerve center for one of America's largest trucking and intermodal networks.
The Houston-to-Fayetteville corridor spans 575 miles via I-10, I-45, I-49, US-71. This lane connects oil & gas and petrochemicals freight from the Houston market to retail (walmart hq) and food processing (tyson hq) demand in Fayetteville. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Houston
Houston's economy is driven by oil & gas, petrochemicals, healthcare (texas medical center), generating consistent outbound freight demand.
refined petroleum
petrochemicals
plastic resins
oilfield equipment
LNG equipment
medical devices
What Fayetteville Receives
Fayetteville's retail (walmart hq), food processing (tyson hq), transportation (j.b. hunt hq) sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Houston.
consumer goods (for Walmart testing)
packaging materials
food ingredients
building materials
industrial supplies
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Houston and Fayetteville, 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.
$1,236-$1,524 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.
$1,639-$2,099 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$1,811-$2,444 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.
$516-$889 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Houston to Fayetteville lane (575 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,236-$1,524 | 10 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $516-$889 | 12-14 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,869-$2,588 | 7 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $776-$1,064 | 13-15 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Houston and Fayetteville that drive volume on this lane.
ExxonMobil (Spring)
Phillips 66 (HQ)
Houston Ship Channel Refineries
Walmart (HQ Bentonville)
Tyson Foods (HQ Springdale)
J.B. Hunt Transport (HQ Lowell)
Shipping Tips for Houston to Fayetteville
Houston Seasonal Advisory
Hurricane season (June-November) is the dominant variable — storms can shut down the Ship Channel and port for days, creating massive freight backlogs and rate spikes. Petrochemical production is year-round but refinery turnarounds in spring and fall temporarily shift freight patterns.
Fayetteville Seasonal Advisory
Walmart vendor shipments peak Q3-Q4 as holiday inventory builds. Tyson poultry processing ramps for Thanksgiving and grilling season. University of Arkansas football season creates temporary event freight. Spring buyers' market in Bentonville brings vendor freight surges.
Overnight Transit
This 575-mile route typically requires one overnight stop for a solo driver. Schedule pickup before noon for next-day delivery in most cases.
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 Houston and Fayetteville — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Houston, TX
- Metro Population
- 7.1M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $1.95-$2.30/mi
- Key Highways
- I-10, I-45, I-69/US-59
- Rail / Intermodal
- Union Pacific Settegast Yard; BNSF Pearland Intermodal; Port Houston Barbours Cut Container Terminal
- Port Access
- Port Houston (Houston Ship Channel, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Katy/I-10 West, Baytown/Ship Channel East, Missouri City/US-59 South
“Houston's energy corridor creates a unique freight dynamic — when oil prices rise, oilfield equipment and pipe shipments to the Permian Basin surge on flatbeds heading west on I-10. When prices fall, the same corridor reverses as equipment is mothballed and returned. Carriers who read the energy cycle can position ahead of these waves.”
Destination
Fayetteville, AR
- Metro Population
- 575K metro (Northwest Arkansas)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-49, US-71, US-62
- Rail / Intermodal
- J.B. Hunt Intermodal Hub (Lowell)
- Warehouse Districts
- Springdale/I-49 Corridor, Bentonville/Walmart Vendor Zone, Rogers/Pinnacle Hills
“Walmart vendor compliance freight is a unique market — vendors must deliver to Walmart distribution centers on specific schedules with exact documentation, and penalties for late or non-compliant shipments are severe. Carriers who master Walmart's OTIF (On Time In Full) requirements access a reliable, high-volume freight stream.”
Return Loads from Fayetteville
Fayetteville generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Houston is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Fayetteville
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Houston to Fayetteville Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Houston to Fayetteville?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Houston, TX to Fayetteville, AR currently range $1,236-$1,524 (roughly $2.17-$2.68 per mile over 575 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $516-$889 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 Houston to Fayetteville?
Standard FTL transit from Houston to Fayetteville is approximately 10 hrs by truck over 575 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%. Intermodal rail-truck service via Union Pacific Settegast Yard to J.B. Hunt Intermodal Hub (Lowell) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Houston to Fayetteville freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Houston commonly ships refined petroleum, petrochemicals, plastic resins, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Fayetteville commonly receives consumer goods (for Walmart testing), packaging materials, food ingredients. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Fayetteville to Houston?
Strong backhaul (scored 71/100 based on Fayetteville's outbound commodity mix). Fayetteville generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Houston is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Fayetteville's top outbound commodities — poultry products, consumer goods, pet food — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Houston to Fayetteville?
The Houston-to-Fayetteville corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Houston's top outbound commodities include refined petroleum, petrochemicals, plastic resins, oilfield equipment, LNG equipment, medical devices. Fayetteville's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods (for Walmart testing), packaging materials, food ingredients, building materials, industrial supplies, retail merchandise. Industries driving this lane include oil & gas and petrochemicals from Houston and retail (Walmart HQ) and food processing (Tyson HQ) in Fayetteville.
When are rates highest on the Houston to Fayetteville lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to oil & gas and petrochemicals 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.
Get Exact Rates for Houston to Fayetteville
We maintain working relationships with 163+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Houston–Fayetteville 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