197 miles · Est. 3.0 hours · Avg $2.45/mile · Gross $483
Day-Trip Economics
Fuel Estimate
$73
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$5
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$405
Before your other costs
Lane Overview
197
Miles
$2.45
Avg rate/mile
$483
Avg gross rate
competitive
Competition
San Antonio to Houston on I-10 east is the reverse of one of Texas's most competitive intrastate lanes. Military equipment and supplies from San Antonio's five major military installations — Fort Sam Houston, Randolph, Lackland, Fort Hood nearby — generate unique flatbed demand. Consumer goods and industrial supplies fill dry-van capacity. At $2.35–$2.50/mile for 197 miles, it's a solid day run but competitive because every Texas carrier knows this corridor.
I-10 through Seguin, Luling, and Gonzales is straightforward with minimal traffic outside metro areas. San Antonio's I-410 beltway is the best exit strategy for military base deliveries — know which base you're delivering to and get the access gate procedures confirmed before arrival. Houston's Ship Channel industrial area is the primary destination for many San Antonio petrochemical return loads — budget for the congestion on I-10 east inside Houston's loop. Return Houston to San Antonio (Lane 21) brings petrochemical products westbound consistently.
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 San Antonio
197 miles · $2.50/mile avg
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
San Antonio is a military city first and an industrial city second. Fort Sam Houston, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Randolph Air Force Base, and Camp Bullis combined make Bexar County one of the largest military employment centers in the country, and military installations generate freight — equipment, supplies, contractual goods — that civilian distribution simply doesn't. Pairing that with San Antonio's Toyota manufacturing plant and you get a lane that has more freight variety than its modest 197-mile distance suggests. The catch is that every Texas carrier knows I-10 east as well as they know their own driveway.
Military freight is the differentiator. Government contract loads moving equipment, maintenance supplies, and logistical goods from San Antonio's installations to Houston's procurement infrastructure or Gulf Coast bases generate flatbed demand that pays above the standard dry-van rate. Toyota's San Antonio plant ships automotive parts and components east. Consumer goods from San Antonio's distribution infrastructure supply Houston's suburbs. Industrial supplies move east toward Houston's petrochemical complex — the return direction's petrochemical freight has to come from somewhere, and San Antonio industrial suppliers are part of that chain.
I-10 east from San Antonio through Seguin and Luling to Houston — 197 flat Texas miles with minimal complexity. Seguin at exit 607 is your standard fuel stop at the midpoint if needed. Luling and Gonzales in the middle stretch have minimal services. The weigh station on I-10 eastbound near Schulenburg is active for commercial vehicles — it runs most weekday business hours and is particularly attentive to flatbed loads. Inside Houston's beltway, I-10 east becomes significantly slower during rush hours. The Ship Channel area east of downtown on I-10 is your delivery zone for most industrial freight — budget for congestion on the last 10–15 miles inside the loop.
At $2.35–$2.50/mile, the competitive rating is accurate. Texas intrastate carriers are everywhere on I-10, and they know the lane. Military contract loads and Toyota-adjacent automotive freight earn rate premiums — specialized knowledge about government freight procedures or automotive JIT delivery requirements gives you leverage that standard dry-van spot market doesn't. Standard consumer goods loads are going to sit at the bottom of the rate range because supply of trucks exceeds demand at peak times.
Houston to San Antonio westbound is where the petrochemical sector shows up. Industrial equipment, chemicals in appropriate containers, and oilfield supplies heading toward South Texas operations flow back consistently. Rates westbound run $2.35–$2.55/mile — the return is often slightly stronger than the outbound because fewer carriers are positioning west out of Houston.
What's the access procedure for military base deliveries in San Antonio?
Every installation has its own access control requirements. You'll need a valid government-issued photo ID, the delivery appointment number, vehicle registration, and USDOT number available. Lackland and Fort Sam require advance coordination for non-CAC holders — the contracting shipper typically provides specific instructions. Do not arrive at a gate without pre-coordinating.
How congested is I-10 east inside Houston's Loop 610 during rush hour?
Significantly. The I-10/I-610 interchange (the Katy Freeway/Loop) is one of the busiest in the country. During afternoon rush (3pm–7pm), expect 30–60 minutes of additional time from the beltway to the Ship Channel delivery zones. Arrive before 1pm or after 7pm for dock appointments if at all possible.
Does Toyota San Antonio ship direct to Houston or go through a parts consolidator?
Toyota's Texas logistics run through contracted carriers and their Tier 1 supplier network. Spot access to Toyota direct loads is rare. Their supplier network in the San Antonio area — companies like Denso, Aisin, and Tokai Rika — are more accessible to spot carriers through broker intermediaries.
Dispatch Service
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