Freight Shipping from Nashville to Fort Worth
Ship freight from Nashville, TN to Fort Worth, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,804-$2,223, LTL from $661-$1,113. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
839 mi
Drive Time
15 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,804-$2,223
LTL Rate Est.
$661-$1,113
Fresh Food Lane
Nashville → Fort Worth Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
154–171
running this lane
Weekly Loads
234–248
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
84/100
Excellent
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$8–$14 one-way passing through TN, TX, MO, AR, OK. 2 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.
Nashville to Fort Worth Freight Corridor
Nashville has emerged as one of America's fastest-growing freight markets, fueled by explosive population growth and a diversified economy anchored by healthcare and automotive. Nissan's Smyrna assembly plant — the most productive auto plant in North America — builds 640,000+ vehicles annually, while HCA Healthcare's headquarters drives medical supply distribution across 180+ hospitals. The I-40/I-65/I-24 triple junction gives Nashville reach to virtually every major market east of the Rockies.
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.
The Nashville-to-Fort Worth corridor spans 839 miles via I-40, I-65, I-35W, I-30. This lane connects healthcare and music & entertainment freight from the Nashville market to aerospace & defense and rail logistics demand in Fort Worth. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Nashville
Nashville's economy is driven by healthcare, music & entertainment, automotive manufacturing, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
healthcare products
automotive parts (Nissan)
consumer goods
publishing & media
processed foods
building materials
What Fort Worth Receives
Fort Worth's aerospace & defense, rail logistics, ranching & agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Nashville.
aerospace sub-assemblies
raw metals
containerized imports (via Alliance)
consumer goods
building materials
fuel
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Nashville and Fort Worth, 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.
$1,804-$2,223 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.
$2,391-$3,062 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.
$661-$1,113 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Nashville to Fort Worth lane (839 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,804-$2,223 | 15 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $661-$1,113 | 17-19 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,727-$3,776 | 10 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,133-$1,552 | 18-20 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Nashville and Fort Worth that drive volume on this lane.
Nissan North America (HQ & Smyrna Plant)
HCA Healthcare (HQ)
Bridgestone Americas (HQ)
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Shipping Tips for Nashville to Fort Worth
Nashville Seasonal Advisory
Nissan production runs year-round with brief shutdowns in July and December. Healthcare supply distribution peaks during flu season (October-March). The massive construction boom for Nashville's growth creates steady building material demand March through November.
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.
Overnight Transit
This 839-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 Nashville and Fort Worth — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Nashville, TN
- Metro Population
- 2.0M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-40, I-65, I-24
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Nashville Intermodal; Radnor Yard (Nashville's primary rail facility)
- Warehouse Districts
- La Vergne/I-24 Southeast, Lebanon/I-40 East, Smyrna/I-24 Nissan Corridor
“Nashville's population boom (adding 80+ people per day) has created a permanent imbalance — inbound freight exceeds outbound, meaning carriers delivering to Nashville often face deadhead miles finding loads out. Savvy dispatchers book outbound loads in advance, particularly automotive parts heading to Midwest assembly plants.”
Destination
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.”
Return Loads from Fort Worth
Fort Worth is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Nashville typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Fort Worth
Seasonal Rate Patterns
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
Nashville to Fort Worth Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Nashville to Fort Worth?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Nashville, TN to Fort Worth, TX currently range $1,804-$2,223 (roughly $2.17-$2.67 per mile over 839 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $661-$1,113 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 Nashville to Fort Worth?
Standard FTL transit from Nashville to Fort Worth is approximately 15 hrs by truck over 839 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 Nashville Intermodal to BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Nashville to Fort Worth freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Nashville commonly ships healthcare products, automotive parts (Nissan), consumer goods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Fort Worth commonly receives aerospace sub-assemblies, raw metals, containerized imports (via Alliance). Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Fort Worth to Nashville?
Excellent backhaul (scored 84/100 based on Fort Worth's outbound commodity mix). Fort Worth is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Nashville typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate. Fort Worth's top outbound commodities — F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Nashville to Fort Worth?
The Nashville-to-Fort Worth corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Nashville's top outbound commodities include healthcare products, automotive parts (Nissan), consumer goods, publishing & media, processed foods, building materials. Fort Worth's primary inbound freight includes aerospace sub-assemblies, raw metals, containerized imports (via Alliance), consumer goods, building materials, fuel. Industries driving this lane include healthcare and music & entertainment from Nashville and aerospace & defense and rail logistics in Fort Worth.
When are rates highest on the Nashville to Fort Worth lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to healthcare and music & entertainment cycles. Key periods: 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 (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Get Exact Rates for Nashville to Fort Worth
We maintain working relationships with 154+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Nashville–Fort Worth 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