Freight Shipping from San Antonio to Baltimore
Ship freight from San Antonio, TX to Baltimore, MD with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $3,960-$4,881, LTL from $1,213-$1,966. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,842 mi
Drive Time
33 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$3,960-$4,881
LTL Rate Est.
$1,213-$1,966
Fresh Food Lane
San Antonio → Baltimore Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
68–92
running this lane
Weekly Loads
195–207
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
77/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$30–$49 one-way passing through TX, MD, TN, KY, 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, Mon AM, Fri PM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
San Antonio to Baltimore Freight Corridor
San Antonio's freight economy is uniquely driven by the military — Joint Base San Antonio encompasses three installations and is the largest Department of Defense joint base in the country. Toyota's Tundra and Sequoia assembly plant in south San Antonio creates dedicated automotive lanes to suppliers across Texas and Mexico. H-E-B, the beloved Texas grocery chain headquartered here, operates one of the most efficient private distribution networks in the retail industry.
Baltimore's Port is the nation's top auto import hub, processing over 800,000 vehicles annually through its ro-ro terminals at Dundalk and Fairfield. Tradepoint Atlantic, the redeveloped Sparrows Point steel mill site, has become a 3,300-acre logistics campus attracting Amazon, FedEx, and Under Armour distribution operations. The I-95 corridor gives carriers direct access to the entire Northeast megalopolis.
The San Antonio-to-Baltimore corridor spans 1,842 miles via I-35, I-10, I-95, I-695. This lane connects military & defense and healthcare freight from the San Antonio market to port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals demand in Baltimore. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from San Antonio
San Antonio's economy is driven by military & defense, healthcare, cybersecurity, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
military equipment
processed foods
manufactured goods
building materials
medical supplies
automotive parts
What Baltimore Receives
Baltimore's port logistics, biotech & pharmaceuticals, automotive import/export sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like San Antonio.
imported vehicles
containerized goods
farm equipment
crude sugar
gypsum
roll-on/roll-off cargo
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between San Antonio and Baltimore, 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.
$3,960-$4,881 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.
$5,250-$6,723 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.
$1,213-$1,966 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the San Antonio to Baltimore lane (1,842 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $3,960-$4,881 | 33 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,213-$1,966 | 35-37 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $5,987-$8,289 | 22 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,487-$3,408 | 36-38 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both San Antonio and Baltimore that drive volume on this lane.
Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland/Randolph/Fort Sam)
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas
H-E-B (HQ)
Under Armour
McCormick & Company
Amazon BWI Fulfillment
Shipping Tips for San Antonio to Baltimore
San Antonio Seasonal Advisory
Military freight follows federal fiscal year cycles with a September surge. Toyota production runs year-round with July and December shutdowns. H-E-B distribution intensifies ahead of holidays and during severe weather events when Texans stock up.
Baltimore Seasonal Advisory
Auto import volumes peak in spring as dealers stock for summer selling season. Coal exports through Curtis Bay fluctuate with European energy prices and can spike dramatically during cold winters abroad.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,842 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 San Antonio and Baltimore — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
San Antonio, TX
- Metro Population
- 2.6M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35, I-10, I-37
- Rail / Intermodal
- Union Pacific San Antonio Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- South San Antonio/I-35 South, Converse/I-10 East, New Braunfels/I-35 North
“San Antonio's position on I-35 between Austin and the Mexican border at Laredo makes it a natural waypoint for northbound cross-border freight. Carriers who deliver locally can often pick up Mexico-origin loads heading to Dallas, Austin, or beyond without significant deadhead.”
Destination
Baltimore, MD
- Metro Population
- 2.8M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-695, I-70
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Baltimore Intermodal (ICTF); Norfolk Southern Bayview Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Baltimore (Helen Delich Bentley, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Sparrows Point/Tradepoint Atlantic, BWI/Linthicum Corridor, White Marsh/I-95 North
“The Port of Baltimore handles more farm and construction equipment than any other U.S. port. Flatbed carriers staging at Dundalk Marine Terminal can often combine a vehicle haul-away with oversize equipment loads, maximizing revenue per trip on the I-95 corridor.”
Return Loads from Baltimore
Baltimore generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to San Antonio is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Baltimore
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
San Antonio to Baltimore Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from San Antonio to Baltimore?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from San Antonio, TX to Baltimore, MD currently range $3,960-$4,881 (roughly $2.17-$2.67 per mile over 1,842 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,213-$1,966 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 San Antonio to Baltimore?
Standard FTL transit from San Antonio to Baltimore is approximately 33 hrs by truck over 1,842 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 Union Pacific San Antonio Intermodal to CSX Baltimore Intermodal (ICTF) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for San Antonio to Baltimore freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. San Antonio commonly ships military equipment, processed foods, manufactured goods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Baltimore commonly receives imported vehicles, containerized goods, farm equipment. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Baltimore to San Antonio?
Strong backhaul (scored 77/100 based on Baltimore's outbound commodity mix). Baltimore generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to San Antonio is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Baltimore's top outbound commodities — coal & bulk minerals, automobiles (re-export), poultry products — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from San Antonio to Baltimore?
The San Antonio-to-Baltimore corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. San Antonio's top outbound commodities include military equipment, processed foods, manufactured goods, building materials, medical supplies, automotive parts. Baltimore's primary inbound freight includes imported vehicles, containerized goods, farm equipment, crude sugar, gypsum, roll-on/roll-off cargo. Industries driving this lane include military & defense and healthcare from San Antonio and port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals in Baltimore.
What tolls should I expect on the San Antonio to Baltimore route?
Expect roughly $30-$49 in tolls round-trip passing through TX, MD, TN, KY, 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 San Antonio to Baltimore lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to military & defense and healthcare cycles. Key periods: 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, Mon AM, Fri PM pickups when possible.
Should I use team drivers for the San Antonio to Baltimore lane?
At 1,842 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 San Antonio to Baltimore
We maintain working relationships with 68+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the San Antonio–Baltimore 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