508 miles · Est. 7.5 hours · Avg $2.40/mile · Gross $1,220
Lane Overview
508
Miles
$2.40
Avg rate/mile
$1,220
Avg gross rate
moderate
Competition
Kansas City to Dallas on I-35 south is the primary heartland corridor connecting Midwest agricultural production to the South's largest distribution market. Grain, food processing output, and agricultural products from Kansas City's massive food industry complex flow south. Consumer goods and general freight fill the balance. Rates at $2.30–$2.50/mile on this 508-mile moderate lane are reliable without being exceptional.
I-35 through Wichita and Oklahoma City is smooth with few surprises. Oklahoma City has a weigh station near Purcell that checks southbound trucks regularly — ensure your weight distribution is correct, especially on reefer loads. Tolls are minimal ($10 through the Kansas Turnpike). The best timing is Tuesday through Thursday departure when Dallas receivers are actively booking loads. Return freight Dallas to Kansas City (slug: dallas-to-kansas-city) brings consumer goods and manufactured goods northbound to heartland distributors.
Driver Tip
Use our Load Profitability Calculator to check if this lane covers your operating costs before accepting a load.
Trip Costs
Fuel Estimate
$188
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$10
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$1,022
Before your other costs
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
Kansas City to Dallas on I-35 is the agricultural heartland to distribution powerhouse run — and it's a lane that understates itself. Kansas City's massive food and agricultural processing complex generates genuine freight volume heading south, and Dallas's insatiable need for consumer goods creates a reliable demand base on the return. Rates are moderate and the lane is moderate in difficulty, which means this isn't a lane that makes headlines. It's a lane that makes a living for the right operator running it consistently.
Agricultural products and food processing output from Kansas City's food industry lead the southbound freight. Kansas City is one of the largest food manufacturing hubs in the country — grain-based products, packaged foods, meat processing output from Cargill, Tyson, and smaller Kansas City-area processors. Reefer loads of temperature-controlled food products move south toward Texas grocery and food service distributors. Consumer goods and manufactured products from the Midwest fill dry-van capacity. Wichita's aviation manufacturing sector occasionally adds industrial freight to the mix.
I-35 south from Kansas City through Emporia, Wichita, and into Oklahoma. The Kansas Turnpike section from the Missouri border south through Wichita runs about $10 in tolls. Wichita is a mid-point fuel and rest stop option. Oklahoma City splits the route — I-35 south through the metro, with the Purcell weigh station on I-35 southbound about 30 miles south of OKC. This station is consistently active during daytime hours and checks weight and documentation. After Purcell, I-35 south through Ardmore and the Red River crossing into Texas, then into the DFW metro. Dallas delivery is typically off I-35E or I-35W depending on which part of the metro you're serving.
Tuesday through Thursday loads are best on this corridor. Kansas City food shippers and Dallas receivers both operate at peak booking activity mid-week. Reefer loads of food products pay $2.45–$2.55/mile on this lane, which is above the dry-van market average. Building direct relationships with Kansas City-area food processing companies — they value carrier reliability for their temperature-controlled freight — will consistently outperform load board spot rates.
Dallas to Kansas City on the return carries consumer goods, retail merchandise, and manufactured products northbound at $2.35–$2.45/mile. The return freight market out of Dallas is consistent because DFW distribution infrastructure generates outbound loads constantly. Pre-book your return before you deliver in Dallas and you'll rarely deal with an empty northbound leg.
What's the Purcell, OK weigh station like?
The Purcell scale on I-35 southbound is about 30 miles south of Oklahoma City. It's actively staffed during daytime hours Tuesday through Saturday. Oklahoma enforces combined weight limits strictly — 80,000 lbs gross, 20,000 lbs single axle, 34,000 lbs tandem. Have your scale tickets ready and ensure weight distribution is compliant before you pass OKC.
How much are the Kansas Turnpike tolls on this run?
Approximately $10 for a 5-axle combination from the Kansas/Missouri state line south to the Oklahoma border. The Kansas Turnpike Authority (K-TAG) transponder reduces rates versus cash. Factor this into your net rate calculation.
What's the best fuel stop strategy from KC to Dallas?
Fill up before departure or at the Kansas City southern suburbs. Wichita has good truck stop options at the I-35/I-235 area — fill up there if you need it. Oklahoma City has competitive pricing at the I-35/I-240 corridor. Texas fuel in the DFW area tends to be competitively priced as well.
Dispatch Service
TruckLeap dispatches dry van and reefer carriers on lanes like this — 6% fee, no contracts.
Our dispatch team finds Kansas City to Dallas loads daily and negotiates top-of-market rates. Apply free.
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