Freight Shipping from Jacksonville to Houston
Ship freight from Jacksonville, FL to Houston, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,294-$2,828, LTL from $787-$1,307. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,067 mi
Drive Time
19 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,294-$2,828
LTL Rate Est.
$787-$1,307
Industrial Freight Lane
Jacksonville → Houston Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
157–177
running this lane
Weekly Loads
230–245
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.15–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
63/100
Moderate
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$18–$31 one-way passing through FL, TX. 2 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.
Jacksonville to Houston Freight Corridor
Jacksonville is where the Southeast's freight arteries converge. As CSX's headquarters city and the junction of I-95 and I-10, Jax controls rail and truck freight flows between the entire Eastern Seaboard and the Gulf Coast. JAXPORT is the #1 vehicle-import port in the US, processing over 700,000 vehicles annually that Southeast Toyota and other distributors truck to dealerships across the Southeast. The city's geographic position makes it the ideal repositioning hub for carriers running Florida's north-south lanes.
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.
The Jacksonville-to-Houston corridor spans 1,067 miles via I-10. This lane connects logistics & distribution and automotive import processing freight from the Jacksonville market to oil & gas and petrochemicals demand in Houston. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Jacksonville
Jacksonville's economy is driven by logistics & distribution, automotive import processing, financial services, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
imported vehicles
paper & pulp products
containerized goods
lumber
phosphate
citrus products
What Houston Receives
Houston's oil & gas, petrochemicals, healthcare (texas medical center) sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Jacksonville.
crude oil
containerized imports
steel pipe
industrial chemicals
consumer goods
drilling equipment
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Jacksonville and Houston, 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.
$2,294-$2,828 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.
$2,828-$3,574 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.
$3,041-$3,895 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$3,361-$4,535 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Jacksonville to Houston lane (1,067 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,294-$2,828 | 19 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $787-$1,307 | 21-23 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $3,468-$4,802 | 13 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,440-$1,974 | 22-24 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Jacksonville and Houston that drive volume on this lane.
CSX Transportation (HQ)
Southeast Toyota Distributors
Johnson & Johnson Vision
ExxonMobil (Spring)
Phillips 66 (HQ)
Houston Ship Channel Refineries
Shipping Tips for Jacksonville to Houston
Jacksonville Seasonal Advisory
Vehicle import volume peaks in spring (new model year distribution) and fall. Hurricane season can temporarily disrupt port operations. Snowbird migration (October-November) drives a surge in household goods shipments headed to Central and South Florida.
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.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,067 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 19 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 Jacksonville and Houston — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Jacksonville, FL
- Metro Population
- 1.6M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-10, I-295
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area); NS Jacksonville Terminal
- Port Access
- JAXPORT (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Westside/I-10 Corridor, Northside/JAXPORT area, Imeson Industrial Park
“Jacksonville is the re-positioning capital of Florida freight. Carriers dropping loads in Miami or Tampa routinely deadhead to Jax to grab northbound I-95 loads rather than searching for scarce outbound freight in South Florida.”
Destination
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.”
Return Loads from Houston
Backhaul from Houston to Jacksonville requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Houston
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
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Jacksonville to Houston Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Jacksonville to Houston?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Jacksonville, FL to Houston, TX currently range $2,294-$2,828 (roughly $2.15-$2.65 per mile over 1,067 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $787-$1,307 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 Jacksonville to Houston?
Standard FTL transit from Jacksonville to Houston is approximately 19 hrs by truck over 1,067 miles, with 2 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 CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area) to Union Pacific Settegast Yard takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Jacksonville to Houston freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Jacksonville commonly ships imported vehicles, paper & pulp products, containerized goods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Houston commonly receives crude oil, containerized imports, steel pipe. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Houston to Jacksonville?
Moderate backhaul (scored 63/100 based on Houston's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Houston to Jacksonville requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Houston's top outbound commodities — refined petroleum, petrochemicals, plastic resins — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Jacksonville to Houston?
The Jacksonville-to-Houston corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Jacksonville's top outbound commodities include imported vehicles, paper & pulp products, containerized goods, lumber, phosphate, citrus products. Houston's primary inbound freight includes crude oil, containerized imports, steel pipe, industrial chemicals, consumer goods, drilling equipment. Industries driving this lane include logistics & distribution and automotive import processing from Jacksonville and oil & gas and petrochemicals in Houston.
When are rates highest on the Jacksonville to Houston lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to logistics & distribution and automotive import 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); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable); 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.
Get Exact Rates for Jacksonville to Houston
We maintain working relationships with 157+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Jacksonville–Houston 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