Freight Shipping from San Antonio to Kansas City
Ship freight from San Antonio, TX to Kansas City, MO with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,969-$2,427, LTL from $704-$1,179. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
916 mi
Drive Time
17 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,969-$2,427
LTL Rate Est.
$704-$1,179
Fresh Food Lane
San Antonio → Kansas City Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
136–159
running this lane
Weekly Loads
190–204
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.18–$2.68
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
73/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$10–$17 one-way passing through 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.
San Antonio to Kansas City 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.
Kansas City is America's freight crossroads, sitting at the intersection of I-70 and I-35 — the two busiest coast-to-coast and border-to-border truck corridors. BNSF's Logistics Park Kansas City in Edgerton is one of the largest inland intermodal facilities in North America, processing 500,000+ containers annually. The metro area has more rail miles per capita than any other U.S. city, reflecting its historical role as the nation's rail hub.
The San Antonio-to-Kansas City corridor spans 916 miles via I-35. This lane connects military & defense and healthcare freight from the San Antonio market to logistics & intermodal and animal health demand in Kansas City. 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 Kansas City Receives
Kansas City's logistics & intermodal, animal health, automotive manufacturing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like San Antonio.
intermodal containers
auto parts
consumer goods
raw grain
packaging materials
imported merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between San Antonio and Kansas City, 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.
$1,969-$2,427 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.
$2,611-$3,343 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.
$704-$1,179 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the San Antonio to Kansas City lane (916 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,969-$2,427 | 17 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $704-$1,179 | 19-21 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,977-$4,122 | 11 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,237-$1,695 | 20-22 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both San Antonio and Kansas City that drive volume on this lane.
Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland/Randolph/Fort Sam)
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Texas
H-E-B (HQ)
General Motors (Fairfax)
Ford (Claycomo)
Cerner Corporation
Shipping Tips for San Antonio to Kansas City
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.
Kansas City Seasonal Advisory
Grain harvest (September-November) and cattle shipping create fall capacity crunches along I-70 and I-35. Hallmark's holiday card production drives a September-October shipping peak for lightweight, high-volume loads.
Overnight Transit
This 916-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 San Antonio and Kansas City — 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
Kansas City, MO
- Metro Population
- 2.2M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-70, I-35, I-29
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Logistics Park Kansas City; UP Neff Yard; NS Kansas City Terminal
- Warehouse Districts
- Edgerton/Logistics Park KC, Riverside/I-29 North, Lenexa/I-35 South
“Kansas City's central location means carriers can reach 85% of the U.S. population within two days. This geographic advantage makes it the preferred location for national distribution centers, which is why the metro has added 40+ million square feet of warehouse space in the last five years.”
Return Loads from Kansas City
Kansas City 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 Kansas City
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
San Antonio to Kansas City Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from San Antonio to Kansas City?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from San Antonio, TX to Kansas City, MO currently range $1,969-$2,427 (roughly $2.18-$2.68 per mile over 916 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $704-$1,179 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 Kansas City?
Standard FTL transit from San Antonio to Kansas City is approximately 17 hrs by truck over 916 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 Union Pacific San Antonio Intermodal to BNSF Logistics Park Kansas City takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for San Antonio to Kansas City 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. Kansas City commonly receives intermodal containers, auto parts, consumer goods. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Kansas City to San Antonio?
Strong backhaul (scored 73/100 based on Kansas City's outbound commodity mix). Kansas City generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to San Antonio is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Kansas City's top outbound commodities — automotive assemblies (GM/Ford), animal health products, grain & feed — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from San Antonio to Kansas City?
The San Antonio-to-Kansas City 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. Kansas City's primary inbound freight includes intermodal containers, auto parts, consumer goods, raw grain, packaging materials, imported merchandise. Industries driving this lane include military & defense and healthcare from San Antonio and logistics & intermodal and animal health in Kansas City.
When are rates highest on the San Antonio to Kansas City lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to military & defense and healthcare 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 San Antonio to Kansas City
We maintain working relationships with 136+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the San Antonio–Kansas City 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