Freight Shipping from San Francisco to Fort Worth
Ship freight from San Francisco, CA to Fort Worth, TX with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $4,059-$5,003, LTL from $1,238-$2,005. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,888 mi
Drive Time
34 hrs
FTL Budget Range
$4,059-$5,003
LTL Budget Range
$1,238-$2,005
Distance is road-adjusted straight-line mileage; drive time assumes 55 mph average including stops. Budget ranges apply a $2.15–$2.65 per-mile dry van band to that distance. These are planning figures, not quotes — live pricing depends on your commodity, equipment, timing and the market that week.
What actually drives the price on San Francisco → Fort Worth
Mileage is the starting point, not the answer. Three things move a quote on this corridor more than distance does — what comes back the other way, what season you are shipping in, and what the route costs the driver to run.
Return freight — strong
Fort Worth ships out F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle — categories San Francisco takes in — so a truck running this lane has a realistic shot at a paying return load rather than deadheading. That usually shows up as a slightly better forward rate, because the carrier is not pricing an empty trip back into your quote.
Seasonal pressure
- October-December. Retail peak. Dry van capacity tightens nationally ahead of the holidays — booking two or more weeks out is the difference between a normal rate and a scramble.
- March-October. Construction season. Flatbed and step-deck demand climbs with the building calendar and stays elevated until the first hard freeze.
Cost of running it
Roughly $23–$38 in tolls one way, estimated from published commercial rates in CA, TX, OK, NM, plus about 4 fuel stops at a stop per 380 loaded miles. Exact routing and axle count will shift this.
Booking that saves money
Give more than 48 hours notice and avoid Friday-afternoon pickups. Those two habits save shippers more than negotiating does — a truck booked Tuesday for Thursday prices very differently from the same truck booked Friday morning for that afternoon.
San Francisco to Fort Worth 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.
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 San Francisco-to-Fort Worth corridor spans 1,888 miles via I-80, US-101, I-35W, I-30. This lane connects technology and biotechnology freight from the San Francisco 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 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 Fort Worth Receives
Fort Worth's aerospace & defense, rail logistics, ranching & agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like San Francisco.
aerospace sub-assemblies
raw metals
containerized imports (via Alliance)
consumer goods
building materials
fuel
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between San Francisco 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.
$4,059-$5,003 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.
$5,003-$6,325 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.
$5,381-$6,891 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.
$1,238-$2,005 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the San Francisco to Fort Worth lane (1,888 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $4,059-$5,003 | 34 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,238-$2,005 | 36-38 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $6,136-$8,496 | 23 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $2,549-$3,493 | 37-39 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both San Francisco and Fort Worth that drive volume on this lane.
Salesforce
Genentech
McKesson
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics (F-35)
Bell Textron (HQ)
BNSF Railway (HQ)
Shipping Tips for San Francisco to Fort Worth
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.
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 1,888 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 34 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 Fort Worth — 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
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 ships out F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle — categories San Francisco takes in — so a truck running this lane has a realistic shot at a paying return load rather than deadheading. That usually shows up as a slightly better forward rate, because the carrier is not pricing an empty trip back into your quote.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Fort Worth
Seasonal Rate Patterns
October-December
Retail peak. Dry van capacity tightens nationally ahead of the holidays — booking two or more weeks out is the difference between a normal rate and a scramble.
March-October
Construction season. Flatbed and step-deck demand climbs with the building calendar and stays elevated until the first hard freeze.
San Francisco to Fort Worth Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from San Francisco to Fort Worth?
As a planning figure, budget $4,059-$5,003 for a full truckload from San Francisco, CA to Fort Worth, TX. That is the 1,888-mile lane distance run against a $2.15-$2.65 per-mile dry van range, which is a broad industry band rather than a live quote for your freight. LTL lands roughly $1,238-$2,005 depending on freight class, weight and dimensions. Real pricing moves with fuel, season, equipment type and how much notice you give — a lane like this can quote well outside that band in a tight week. Send us the details and we will price it against what carriers are actually accepting right now.
How long does freight take from San Francisco to Fort Worth?
Standard FTL transit from San Francisco to Fort Worth is approximately 34 hrs by truck over 1,888 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 Oakland Intermodal to BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for San Francisco to Fort Worth 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. 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 San Francisco?
Fort Worth ships out F-35 fighter jet components, Bell helicopters, grain & cattle — categories San Francisco takes in — so a truck running this lane has a realistic shot at a paying return load rather than deadheading. That usually shows up as a slightly better forward rate, because the carrier is not pricing an empty trip back into your quote. Why it matters to you as a shipper: backhaul is the single least visible input into your rate. Two lanes of identical mileage can quote hundreds of dollars apart purely because one has a return load waiting and the other does not.
What commodities move from San Francisco to Fort Worth?
San Francisco's top outbound commodities include tech hardware & servers, biotech pharmaceuticals, wine & spirits, specialty foods, medical devices, lab equipment. Fort Worth's primary inbound freight includes aerospace sub-assemblies, raw metals, containerized imports (via Alliance), consumer goods, building materials, fuel. The industries driving the lane are technology and biotechnology on the San Francisco end and aerospace & defense and rail logistics in Fort Worth. That mix is what determines which trailer types run the corridor regularly — and a lane with steady demand for your equipment type is one where you will find a truck on short notice.
When are rates highest on the San Francisco to Fort Worth lane?
Rate pressure on this corridor follows the technology and biotechnology calendar. October-December: Retail peak. Dry van capacity tightens nationally ahead of the holidays — booking two or more weeks out is the difference between a normal rate and a scramble. March-October: Construction season. Flatbed and step-deck demand climbs with the building calendar and stays elevated until the first hard freeze. Two habits that help regardless of season — book mid-week rather than Friday afternoon, and give more than 48 hours notice. Last-minute Friday pickups are where shippers overpay most consistently.
Should I use team drivers for the San Francisco to Fort Worth lane?
At 1,888 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 20-25 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 Fort Worth
Tell us what you are moving on the San Francisco–Fort Worth corridor and we will source an FMCSA-verified carrier that fits the commodity, the timing and the budget. We check authority, insurance and safety record before a truck is ever assigned to your freight. Free quote, no obligation.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM CT | No obligation, no contracts