781 miles · Est. 11.5 hours · Avg $2.50/mile · Gross $1,953
Lane Overview
781
Miles
$2.50
Avg rate/mile
$1,953
Avg gross rate
moderate
Competition
Atlanta to Dallas is the return on one of the South's best bilateral lanes. Atlanta's Southeast distribution hub — anchored by companies like UPS, NCR, and Home Depot's logistics network — generates strong westbound freight including automotive parts, apparel, and consumer goods. Rates run $2.40–$2.60/mile, slightly tighter than the eastbound direction but still solid.
The I-20 corridor through Birmingham and Meridian is smooth driving. Watch for speed enforcement through Meridian, MS — radar traps are common near the truck scales. Tolls are minimal at $10. Your best backhaul strategy is pre-booking Dallas loads before you deliver in Atlanta rather than hunting the load board on arrival — Atlanta has plenty of trucks competing for outbound freight.
Driver Tip
Use our Load Profitability Calculator to check if this lane covers your operating costs before accepting a load.
Trip Costs
Fuel Estimate
$290
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$10
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$1,653
Before your other costs
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Return Freight
Dallas to Atlanta
781 miles · $2.55/mile avg
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
Atlanta to Dallas is the westbound leg of one of the South's best bilateral freight runs. I always tell drivers running this lane: don't treat it like a backhaul. It's not. The freight is real, the demand is consistent, and if you set it up right, you're leaving Atlanta with a load that pays $2.45–$2.55/mile without much fight. The mistake people make is landing in Atlanta empty-handed on a Tuesday afternoon expecting the load board to have something great waiting. It usually does, but the best loads go to carriers who pre-booked them while still inbound.
Atlanta's Southeast distribution complex is massive. Home Depot's HQ drives a constant stream of building materials and hardware westbound. UPS and NCR have significant logistics operations in the Atlanta area, generating outbound parcels and technology equipment. Automotive parts — Atlanta sits within trucking range of several auto assembly plants — head west toward Texas suppliers and manufacturers. Apparel and consumer goods from Atlanta's regional distribution centers round out the load mix. There's rarely a shortage of freight types on this lane.
I-20 west the whole way. Out of Atlanta, the first 30 miles through the western suburbs toward Douglasville are the only real traffic concern — morning rush on I-20 west from the I-285 interchange backs up between 7am and 9am. Once you're through that, the road opens up through Alabama. Birmingham is smooth at most hours except around 5pm near the I-65/I-20 interchange. The Mississippi state line brings the Meridian weigh station — this one is known for speed traps on the approach. Mississippi Highway Patrol works the area around the scales regularly; the posted limit drops to 55mph near the facilities and they enforce it. After Meridian you're into Louisiana territory heading toward Shreveport, then back into Texas on I-20 toward Dallas.
Westbound rates run about $0.05/mile softer than the eastbound direction because Atlanta has more available trucks competing for outbound loads than Dallas does. That said, $2.45–$2.55/mile is achievable for dry-van on mid-week loads. Monday is the worst day to seek loads out of Atlanta — everyone who parked over the weekend is competing simultaneously. Pre-booking while delivering in Atlanta on a Wednesday or Thursday will land you the better-paying loads.
Dallas back to Atlanta is the stronger-paying direction, typically by $0.05–$0.10/mile. Dallas to Atlanta carries consumer electronics, Amazon fulfillment freight, and Walmart distribution loads that pay well consistently. The round-trip pairing makes this one of the most financially efficient bilateral lanes in the South.
Where are the weigh stations to know on the Atlanta to Dallas run?
The Meridian, MS station is the most active — it sits right on the I-20 at the Alabama-Mississippi state line. There's also a Texas scale east of Dallas near Mineola on I-20. Mississippi's Porterville scale near the Louisiana border has shown up periodically.
How do I avoid speed traps through Mississippi on this lane?
The Meridian area is the one to watch. Slow to posted limits well before the weigh station approach. Mississippi Highway Patrol routinely parks near mile marker 150 eastbound and 155 westbound on I-20. Don't assume 70mph is clear through that zone.
Is Atlanta-to-Dallas worth running if I'm loaded with automotive parts from a Georgia plant?
Yes — automotive parts heading to Texas suppliers or Texas assembly plants is one of the better-paying freight types on this lane because it's time-sensitive and shippers pay accordingly.
Dispatch Service
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