239 miles · Est. 3.5 hours · Avg $2.60/mile · Gross $621
Day-Trip Economics
Fuel Estimate
$89
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$5
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$527
Before your other costs
Lane Overview
239
Miles
$2.60
Avg rate/mile
$621
Avg gross rate
competitive
Competition
Dallas to Houston on I-45 is the highest-volume intrastate corridor in Texas — and one of the most competitive in the country. Distribution centers, petrochemical plants, and industrial suppliers generate constant freight between the two largest Texas metros. Rates run $2.45–$2.70/mile but you'll fight for every load because carrier density is enormous. Box trucks and step-decks are well-suited here alongside dry-vans.
I-45 through Corsicana and Huntsville has active weigh stations — both directions get checked. Traffic through the Woodlands/Conroe corridor northbound on Friday afternoons is severe. This lane is best for local Texas carriers who can run multiples per week rather than long-haul operators. Return loads Houston to Dallas (Lane 66) are plentiful with petrochemical and industrial freight heading north, keeping empty miles near zero.
Driver Tip
Short lane, fast turn. Margin on short runs is unforgiving. Use our Load Profitability Calculator to verify this load covers your costs before accepting.
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Return Freight
Houston to Dallas
239 miles · $2.55/mile avg
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
Dallas to Houston on I-45 is the most-run intrastate lane in Texas and probably the most competitive short corridor in the entire South. Every Texas-based carrier knows this lane. That means the freight is always there, but so is everyone else. You need to either run it efficiently — multiple loads per week with a fast turnaround — or have a dedicated account with a shipper who values reliability over the cheapest rate. The carriers who burn out on this lane are the ones who treat it like spot market hunting. The ones who thrive have it structured.
Industrial and consumer goods both move at high volume between these two metros. Dallas distribution centers ship consumer products, electronics, and retail goods south toward Houston's massive port-adjacent market. In the other direction (and at times on the southbound too), petrochemical products, industrial equipment, and oilfield supplies move between the two cities. Step-deck and flatbed operators find excellent work here with fabricated equipment and machinery. Box trucks and smaller straight trucks run this corridor heavily for LTL freight.
I-45 south from Dallas through Corsicana is straightforward. The Corsicana weigh station southbound is one of the most actively staffed in Texas — they're looking for overweight axles and will pull flatbeds for load securement inspections. Huntsville also has scale activity. The real challenge on this lane is traffic north of Houston. The Woodlands and Conroe corridor on I-45 backs up severely on Friday afternoon starting around 3pm — if you have any flexibility, do not attempt to navigate through Conroe/The Woodlands on a Friday after 2pm. Houston metro delivery is typically off I-610, I-10, or I-69 depending on which side of the city you're going to.
Competitive difficulty means rate pressure is real. Target $2.55–$2.65/mile for dry-van, and push for $2.65–$2.75/mile if you're running a step-deck with industrial freight. The best rates come from direct relationships with Dallas-area distribution centers or Houston-area industrial shippers who need reliability more than the absolute lowest cost. Running this lane three times per week at slightly below peak rate will outperform chasing the top rate once a week.
Houston to Dallas is equally heavy with petrochemical, industrial, and consumer goods heading north. Rates match the southbound at $2.50–$2.65/mile. The round trip at 478 miles can genuinely be done in a single long day with an early start, which is what makes this lane attractive to Texas-based operators running it repeatedly.
How active are the weigh stations on I-45 between Dallas and Houston?
Very active. Corsicana northbound and southbound both run regular hours. The Huntsville area also sees enforcement. Texas is strict on axle weights — 34,000 lbs per tandem — and the Dallas-Houston industrial corridor has a lot of heavy equipment moving.
What's the traffic like through Conroe and The Woodlands going into Houston?
During normal weekday mornings (7–9am) and Friday afternoons (3–7pm), that corridor can add 45–60 minutes. Mid-week at mid-day it flows. Avoid it Friday afternoons completely if you can.
Is this lane worth it for a carrier based outside Texas?
Only if you can run both directions and string it into a larger Texas circuit. Driving from out of state to run a $620 load is not efficient. This lane belongs to Texas-based operators who live within striking distance of either Dallas or Houston.
Dispatch Service
TruckLeap dispatches dry van, flatbed and step deck carriers on lanes like this — 6% fee, no contracts.
Our dispatch team finds Dallas to Houston loads daily and negotiates top-of-market rates. Apply free.
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