Freight Shipping from Lehigh Valley to Dallas
Ship freight from Lehigh Valley, PA to Dallas, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,636-$4,481, LTL from $1,130-$1,837. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,691 mi
Drive Time
31 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,636-$4,481
LTL Rate Est.
$1,130-$1,837
Port Drayage Corridor
Lehigh Valley → Dallas Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
102–123
running this lane
Weekly Loads
89–105
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
72/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$32–$54 one-way passing through PA, TX, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC. 4 typical fuel stops 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.
Lehigh Valley to Dallas Freight Corridor
The Lehigh Valley has transformed from its steel-era roots into one of the East Coast's premier e-commerce fulfillment corridors. Amazon operates multiple fulfillment centers here, FedEx runs a major ground hub, and over 50 million square feet of warehouse space has been built in the past decade along the I-78 corridor. The valley's position — 90 minutes from both New York City and Philadelphia — makes it the ideal one-day ground shipping point for the entire Northeast megalopolis. Crayola's Easton factory and B. Braun Medical's North American headquarters add manufacturing diversity.
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 Lehigh Valley-to-Dallas corridor spans 1,691 miles via I-78, I-476 (PA Turnpike NE Extension), I-35E, I-30. This lane connects e-commerce fulfillment and food processing freight from the Lehigh Valley 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 Lehigh Valley
Lehigh Valley's economy is driven by e-commerce fulfillment, food processing, healthcare, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
e-commerce shipments
processed foods
cement & concrete products
pharmaceutical products
consumer goods
building materials
What Dallas Receives
Dallas's technology, telecommunications, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Lehigh Valley.
consumer goods
raw materials
electronic components
building materials
imported merchandise
petroleum products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Lehigh Valley 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.
$3,636-$4,481 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.
$4,819-$6,172 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$5,327-$7,187 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.
$1,130-$1,837 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Lehigh Valley to Dallas lane (1,691 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,636-$4,481 | 31 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,130-$1,837 | 33-35 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $5,496-$7,610 | 20 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,283-$3,128 | 34-36 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Lehigh Valley and Dallas that drive volume on this lane.
Amazon ABE Fulfillment Network (multiple)
FedEx Ground (Hub)
Crayola (Easton)
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Shipping Tips for Lehigh Valley to Dallas
Lehigh Valley Seasonal Advisory
E-commerce fulfillment peaks dramatically during Q4 holidays (October-December), with Amazon and FedEx running at maximum capacity. Construction-grade cement from local quarries peaks spring through fall. B. Braun medical supply shipments are steady year-round.
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 1,691 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 Lehigh Valley and Dallas — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Lehigh Valley, PA
- Metro Population
- 870K metro (Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-78, I-476 (PA Turnpike NE Extension), US-22
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Bethlehem Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- Upper Macungie/I-78 West, Bethlehem/I-78 East, Forks Township/US-22
“The Lehigh Valley is arguably the best backhaul market in the Northeast. With so many fulfillment centers concentrated along I-78, carriers delivering inbound inventory can almost always find outbound e-commerce loads heading to distribution points across the eastern seaboard.”
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 Lehigh Valley is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Dallas
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Lehigh Valley to Dallas Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Lehigh Valley to Dallas?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Lehigh Valley, PA to Dallas, TX currently range $3,636-$4,481 (roughly $2.16-$2.66 per mile over 1,691 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,130-$1,837 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 Lehigh Valley to Dallas?
Standard FTL transit from Lehigh Valley to Dallas is approximately 31 hrs by truck over 1,691 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 Norfolk Southern Bethlehem Intermodal to BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Lehigh Valley to Dallas freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Lehigh Valley commonly ships e-commerce shipments, processed foods, cement & concrete products, 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 Lehigh Valley?
Strong backhaul (scored 72/100 based on Dallas's outbound commodity mix). Dallas generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Lehigh Valley 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 Lehigh Valley to Dallas?
The Lehigh Valley-to-Dallas corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Lehigh Valley's top outbound commodities include e-commerce shipments, processed foods, cement & concrete products, pharmaceutical products, consumer goods, building materials. Dallas's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, raw materials, electronic components, building materials, imported merchandise, petroleum products. Industries driving this lane include e-commerce fulfillment and food processing from Lehigh Valley and technology and telecommunications in Dallas.
What tolls should I expect on the Lehigh Valley to Dallas route?
Expect roughly $32-$54 in tolls round-trip passing through PA, TX, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC. Most rate quotes either include tolls in the line-haul or bill them as a separate pass-through — ask your dispatcher to confirm which model applies to your lane.
When are rates highest on the Lehigh Valley to Dallas lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to e-commerce fulfillment and food processing 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.
Should I use team drivers for the Lehigh Valley to Dallas lane?
At 1,691 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 Lehigh Valley to Dallas
We maintain working relationships with 102+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Lehigh Valley–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