Freight Shipping from Sacramento to Fort Worth
Ship freight from Sacramento, CA to Fort Worth, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,941-$4,857, LTL from $1,208-$1,958. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,833 mi
Drive Time
33 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,941-$4,857
LTL Rate Est.
$1,208-$1,958
Consumer Goods Corridor
Sacramento → Fort Worth Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
70–89
running this lane
Weekly Loads
191–205
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
69/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$22–$37 one-way passing through CA, TX, OK, NM. 4 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.
Sacramento to Fort Worth Freight Corridor
Sacramento is the gateway between California's Central Valley agricultural empire and the rest of the nation. The UP Roseville Yard, the largest railroad classification yard on the West Coast, processes thousands of railcars daily and makes Sacramento a critical intermodal node. The city's position at the junction of I-5 and I-80 means freight naturally flows through here whether it's heading to the Bay Area, Reno, or Portland.
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 Sacramento-to-Fort Worth corridor spans 1,833 miles via I-5, I-80, I-35W, I-30. This lane connects government and agriculture & food processing freight from the Sacramento 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 Sacramento
Sacramento's economy is driven by government, agriculture & food processing, healthcare, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
almonds & tree nuts
rice
processed tomatoes
wine
canned fruits & vegetables
dairy products
What Fort Worth Receives
Fort Worth's aerospace & defense, rail logistics, ranching & agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Sacramento.
aerospace sub-assemblies
raw metals
containerized imports (via Alliance)
consumer goods
building materials
fuel
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Sacramento 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.
$3,941-$4,857 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.
$4,857-$6,141 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.
$5,224-$6,690 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.
$1,208-$1,958 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Sacramento to Fort Worth lane (1,833 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,941-$4,857 | 33 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,208-$1,958 | 35-37 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $5,957-$8,249 | 22 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,475-$3,391 | 36-38 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Sacramento and Fort Worth that drive volume on this lane.
Blue Diamond Growers
Campbell Soup (Sacramento plant)
Amazon (3 facilities)
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Shipping Tips for Sacramento to Fort Worth
Sacramento Seasonal Advisory
Almond harvest (August-October) is the single biggest freight event, generating tens of thousands of loads. Tomato processing (July-September) and rice harvest (September-November) overlap to create the busiest reefer market in the state.
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 1,833 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 33 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 Sacramento and Fort Worth — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Sacramento, CA
- Metro Population
- 2.4M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.20-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-5, I-80, US-50
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Roseville Yard (largest on West Coast); BNSF Stockton Intermodal
- Port Access
- Port of West Sacramento (deepwater port, 5 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- West Sacramento/Port area, Rancho Cordova/Sunrise Corridor, North Natomas
“California's Central Valley produces 25% of the nation's food, and Sacramento is where much of it gets consolidated for cross-country shipment. Reefer carriers who build relationships with Valley ag shippers can stay loaded year-round without ever leaving a 100-mile radius.”
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 generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Sacramento is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Fort Worth
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
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Sacramento to Fort Worth Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Sacramento to Fort Worth?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Sacramento, CA to Fort Worth, TX currently range $3,941-$4,857 (roughly $2.17-$2.66 per mile over 1,833 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,208-$1,958 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 Sacramento to Fort Worth?
Standard FTL transit from Sacramento to Fort Worth is approximately 33 hrs by truck over 1,833 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 Roseville Yard (largest on West Coast) to BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Sacramento to Fort Worth freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Sacramento commonly ships almonds & tree nuts, rice, processed tomatoes, 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 Sacramento?
Strong backhaul (scored 69/100 based on Fort Worth's outbound commodity mix). Fort Worth generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Sacramento is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of 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 Sacramento to Fort Worth?
The Sacramento-to-Fort Worth corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. Sacramento's top outbound commodities include almonds & tree nuts, rice, processed tomatoes, wine, canned fruits & vegetables, dairy products. 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 government and agriculture & food processing from Sacramento and aerospace & defense and rail logistics in Fort Worth.
When are rates highest on the Sacramento to Fort Worth lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to government and agriculture & food 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); 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.
Should I use team drivers for the Sacramento to Fort Worth lane?
At 1,833 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 Sacramento to Fort Worth
We maintain working relationships with 70+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Sacramento–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