Freight Shipping from San Francisco to Dallas
Ship freight from San Francisco, CA to Dallas, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $4,139-$5,101, LTL from $1,259-$2,036. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,925 mi
Drive Time
35 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$4,139-$5,101
LTL Rate Est.
$1,259-$2,036
Consumer Goods Corridor
San Francisco → Dallas Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
74–88
running this lane
Weekly Loads
195–212
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.18–$2.68
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
84/100
Excellent
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$23–$39 one-way passing through CA, TX, OK, NM. 5 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 Francisco to Dallas Freight Corridor
San Francisco's freight economy is driven by the highest-value-per-pound commodities in the country. Biotech shipments from the South San Francisco corridor require validated cold chain logistics, while tech companies demand white-glove, high-security transport for prototype hardware and server equipment. The constrained geography of the peninsula limits warehouse space, pushing most distribution operations across the bay to Oakland or south to San Jose.
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 San Francisco-to-Dallas corridor spans 1,925 miles via I-80, US-101, I-35E, I-30. This lane connects technology and biotechnology freight from the San Francisco 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 San Francisco
San Francisco's economy is driven by technology, biotechnology, financial services, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
tech hardware & servers
biotech pharmaceuticals
wine & spirits
specialty foods
medical devices
lab equipment
What Dallas Receives
Dallas's technology, telecommunications, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like San Francisco.
consumer goods
raw materials
electronic components
building materials
imported merchandise
petroleum products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between San Francisco 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.
$4,139-$5,101 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.
$5,101-$6,449 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.
$5,486-$7,026 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$6,064-$8,181 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the San Francisco to Dallas lane (1,925 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $4,139-$5,101 | 35 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,259-$2,036 | 37-39 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $6,256-$8,663 | 23 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,599-$3,561 | 38-40 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both San Francisco and Dallas that drive volume on this lane.
Salesforce
Genentech
McKesson
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Shipping Tips for San Francisco to Dallas
San Francisco Seasonal Advisory
Wine harvest (August-October) from Napa and Sonoma valleys creates seasonal reefer and temperature-controlled demand. Tech company product launches (often September-October) drive spikes in white-glove shipments.
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 1,925 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 35 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 Francisco and Dallas — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
San Francisco, CA
- Metro Population
- 4.7M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.55-$2.95/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, US-101, I-280
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Oakland Intermodal
- Port Access
- Port of Oakland (10 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- South San Francisco biotech corridor, Brisbane/Bayshore
“San Francisco proper has some of the most restrictive truck access regulations in the US. Many downtown deliveries require box trucks or smaller, and certain streets ban commercial vehicles entirely during peak hours. Last-mile costs here can be triple the national average.”
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 is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to San Francisco typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the 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
San Francisco to Dallas Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from San Francisco to Dallas?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from San Francisco, CA to Dallas, TX currently range $4,139-$5,101 (roughly $2.18-$2.68 per mile over 1,925 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,259-$2,036 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 Francisco to Dallas?
Standard FTL transit from San Francisco to Dallas is approximately 35 hrs by truck over 1,925 miles, with 5 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 to BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for San Francisco to Dallas freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. San Francisco commonly ships tech hardware & servers, biotech pharmaceuticals, wine & spirits, 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 San Francisco?
Excellent backhaul (scored 84/100 based on Dallas's outbound commodity mix). Dallas is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to San Francisco typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the 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 San Francisco to Dallas?
The San Francisco-to-Dallas corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. San Francisco's top outbound commodities include tech hardware & servers, biotech pharmaceuticals, wine & spirits, specialty foods, medical devices, lab equipment. Dallas's primary inbound freight includes consumer goods, raw materials, electronic components, building materials, imported merchandise, petroleum products. Industries driving this lane include technology and biotechnology from San Francisco and technology and telecommunications in Dallas.
When are rates highest on the San Francisco to Dallas lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to technology and biotechnology 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 San Francisco to Dallas lane?
At 1,925 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 21-25 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 Francisco to Dallas
We maintain working relationships with 74+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the San Francisco–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.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM CT | No obligation, no contracts