Freight Shipping from Richmond to Dallas
Ship freight from Richmond, VA to Dallas, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,186-$3,927, LTL from $1,015-$1,660. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,482 mi
Drive Time
27 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,186-$3,927
LTL Rate Est.
$1,015-$1,660
Fresh Food Lane
Richmond → Dallas Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
101–115
running this lane
Weekly Loads
188–206
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.18–$2.68
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
68/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$17–$29 one-way passing through VA, TX, TN, KY, IL, MO, AR, OK, GA, SC, NC. 3 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.
Richmond to Dallas Freight Corridor
Richmond is the I-95 corridor's mid-Atlantic distribution sweet spot — equidistant between the Northeast megalopolis and the Southeast's growth markets. Altria Group's massive headquarters and manufacturing complex makes Richmond one of America's top tobacco freight origins, while Performance Food Group's headquarters drives broadline foodservice distribution across the eastern seaboard. The I-95/I-64 junction positions Richmond as a natural redistribution point where north-south and east-west freight flows intersect.
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 Richmond-to-Dallas corridor spans 1,482 miles via I-95, I-64, I-35E, I-30. This lane connects tobacco & consumer products and financial services freight from the Richmond 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 Richmond
Richmond's economy is driven by tobacco & consumer products, financial services, government (state capital), generating consistent outbound freight demand.
cigarettes & tobacco products (Altria)
pharmaceuticals
processed foods
chemicals
paper products
consumer packaged goods
What Dallas Receives
Dallas's technology, telecommunications, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Richmond.
consumer goods
raw materials
electronic components
building materials
imported merchandise
petroleum products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Richmond 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.
$3,186-$3,927 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.
$3,927-$4,965 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.
$4,224-$5,409 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$4,668-$6,299 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Richmond to Dallas lane (1,482 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,186-$3,927 | 27 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,015-$1,660 | 29-31 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $4,817-$6,669 | 18 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,001-$2,742 | 30-32 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Richmond and Dallas that drive volume on this lane.
Altria Group (HQ)
CarMax (HQ)
Performance Food Group (HQ)
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Shipping Tips for Richmond to Dallas
Richmond Seasonal Advisory
Tobacco freight is steady year-round with slight upticks in Q4 for holiday carton sales. Performance Food Group distribution peaks during summer restaurant season and Q4 holiday catering. State government freight follows the legislative session calendar (January-March).
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 1,482 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 27 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 Richmond and Dallas — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Richmond, VA
- Metro Population
- 1.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-64, I-295
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Richmond Terminal; Norfolk Southern Richmond Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Richmond (James River, limited barge)
- Warehouse Districts
- Hanover/I-95 North, Chester/I-95 South, Short Pump/I-64 West
“Richmond's position on I-95 at the midpoint between New York and Atlanta makes it a premier relay and driver swap location. Carriers running the I-95 corridor can stage in Richmond to comply with HOS regulations while maintaining on-time delivery windows to both endpoints.”
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 Richmond 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
Richmond to Dallas Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Richmond to Dallas?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Richmond, VA to Dallas, TX currently range $3,186-$3,927 (roughly $2.18-$2.68 per mile over 1,482 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,015-$1,660 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 Richmond to Dallas?
Standard FTL transit from Richmond to Dallas is approximately 27 hrs by truck over 1,482 miles, with 3 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 Richmond Terminal to BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Richmond to Dallas freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Richmond commonly ships cigarettes & tobacco products (Altria), pharmaceuticals, processed foods, 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 Richmond?
Strong backhaul (scored 68/100 based on Dallas's outbound commodity mix). Dallas generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Richmond 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 Richmond to Dallas?
The Richmond-to-Dallas corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Richmond's top outbound commodities include cigarettes & tobacco products (Altria), pharmaceuticals, processed foods, chemicals, paper products, consumer packaged goods. Dallas's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, raw materials, electronic components, building materials, imported merchandise, petroleum products. Industries driving this lane include tobacco & consumer products and financial services from Richmond and technology and telecommunications in Dallas.
When are rates highest on the Richmond to Dallas lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to tobacco & consumer products and financial services 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 Richmond to Dallas
We maintain working relationships with 101+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Richmond–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.
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