Freight Shipping from Oakland to Fort Worth
Ship freight from Oakland, CA to Fort Worth, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $4,038-$4,977, LTL from $1,233-$1,996. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,878 mi
Drive Time
34 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$4,038-$4,977
LTL Rate Est.
$1,233-$1,996
Industrial Freight Lane
Oakland → Fort Worth Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
96–113
running this lane
Weekly Loads
229–247
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
64/100
Moderate
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$23–$38 one-way passing through CA, TX, OK, NM. 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.
Oakland to Fort Worth Freight Corridor
Oakland is Northern California's freight nerve center. The Port of Oakland is the 8th busiest container port in North America and the primary export gateway for Central Valley agricultural products, particularly almonds bound for Asia and hay destined for Japan and the Middle East. The Oakland International Gateway intermodal facility provides direct rail connections to UP's transcontinental network, enabling shippers to avoid the congestion of Southern California ports.
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 Oakland-to-Fort Worth corridor spans 1,878 miles via I-80, I-880, I-35W, I-30. This lane connects port operations & logistics and food & beverage distribution freight from the Oakland 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 Oakland
Oakland's economy is driven by port operations & logistics, food & beverage distribution, technology, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
agricultural exports (almonds, hay)
recycled commodities
manufactured goods
wine & spirits
machinery
containerized exports
What Fort Worth Receives
Fort Worth's aerospace & defense, rail logistics, ranching & agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Oakland.
aerospace sub-assemblies
raw metals
containerized imports (via Alliance)
consumer goods
building materials
fuel
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Oakland 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.
$4,038-$4,977 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.
$5,352-$6,855 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.
$1,233-$1,996 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Oakland to Fort Worth lane (1,878 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $4,038-$4,977 | 34 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,233-$1,996 | 36-38 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $6,104-$8,451 | 23 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,535-$3,474 | 37-39 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Oakland and Fort Worth that drive volume on this lane.
Dreyer's/Nestle
Clorox (HQ)
Peet's Coffee (HQ)
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Shipping Tips for Oakland to Fort Worth
Oakland Seasonal Advisory
Export volumes peak September through December as post-harvest agricultural commodities move to overseas markets. Import volumes follow retail patterns with an August-November surge for holiday goods.
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.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,878 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 34 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 Oakland and Fort Worth — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Oakland, CA
- Metro Population
- 2.8M metro (East Bay)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.50-$2.90/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, I-880, I-580
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Oakland Intermodal Gateway; Oakland International Gateway (OIG)
- Port Access
- Port of Oakland (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Oakland Army Base redevelopment, San Leandro/I-880 Corridor, West Oakland port district
“Unlike LA/Long Beach, Oakland is primarily an export port. Agricultural exporters from the Central Valley prefer Oakland because transit times to Asia are 1-2 days shorter than from Southern California, and port congestion is significantly lower.”
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
Backhaul from Fort Worth to Oakland requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Fort Worth
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Oakland to Fort Worth Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Oakland to Fort Worth?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Oakland, CA to Fort Worth, TX currently range $4,038-$4,977 (roughly $2.17-$2.67 per mile over 1,878 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,233-$1,996 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 Oakland to Fort Worth?
Standard FTL transit from Oakland to Fort Worth is approximately 34 hrs by truck over 1,878 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 UP Oakland Intermodal Gateway to BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Oakland to Fort Worth freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Oakland commonly ships agricultural exports (almonds, hay), recycled commodities, manufactured 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 Oakland?
Moderate backhaul (scored 64/100 based on Fort Worth's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Fort Worth to Oakland requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. 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 Oakland to Fort Worth?
The Oakland-to-Fort Worth corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Oakland's top outbound commodities include agricultural exports (almonds, hay), recycled commodities, manufactured goods, wine & spirits, machinery, containerized exports. 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 port operations & logistics and food & beverage distribution from Oakland and aerospace & defense and rail logistics in Fort Worth.
When are rates highest on the Oakland to Fort Worth lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to port operations & logistics and food & beverage distribution 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 Oakland to Fort Worth lane?
At 1,878 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 20-24 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 Oakland to Fort Worth
We maintain working relationships with 96+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Oakland–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