How container drayage works in Dallas–Fort Worth
Dallas–Fort Worth has no seaport, so its containers arrive by rail or by truck from Houston, about 240 miles away. BNSF's Alliance terminal north of Fort Worth and Union Pacific's ramps in Wilmer and Mesquite are the main rail hubs.
- Rail ramps
- BNSF Alliance, UP Dallas (Wilmer) and UP Mesquite
- Port drayage
- Houston, about 240 miles
- Warehouses
- AllianceTexas and southern Dallas
- Counties
- Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, Collin, Ellis and Kaufman
More about drayage in Dallas / Fort Worth
BNSF's Alliance Intermodal Facility sits in the AllianceTexas development north of Fort Worth, next to Fort Worth Alliance Airport and surrounded by millions of square feet of warehouses. It handles international containers from the West Coast ports and domestic freight from Chicago and California.
Union Pacific runs the Dallas Intermodal Terminal in Wilmer, south of Dallas, near the I-45 and I-20 corridors, and a second ramp in Mesquite on the east side of the metro. UP brings containers from Southern California, the Pacific Northwest, Houston and Mexico.
Because DFW has no seaport, almost all international containers arrive by rail or by long truck hauls from Houston (about 240 miles). Local drayage carriers deliver them to warehouses across Tarrant, Dallas, Denton, Collin, Ellis and Kaufman counties.
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Rail ramps
Railroads
BNSF · Union Pacific · CPKC · Dallas, Garland & Northeastern
Main highways
I-35E · I-35W · I-30 · I-20 · I-45 · I-635 · SH-121 · President George Bush Turnpike
Container terminals and rail ramps in Dallas / Fort Worth
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Dallas / Fort Worth area.
Rail ramp
BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility
Rail ramp · BNSF
BNSF's main North Texas ramp in the AllianceTexas development north of Fort Worth, next to Alliance Airport.
Dallas Intermodal Terminal (Wilmer)
Rail ramp · Union Pacific
Union Pacific's large ramp in Wilmer, south of Dallas, at the heart of the southern Dallas inland port.
Mesquite Intermodal Terminal
Rail ramp · Union Pacific
Union Pacific ramp on the east side of the Dallas metro.
Warehouse corridors around the Metroplex
Major distribution clusters include AllianceTexas and north Fort Worth along I-35W, the southern Dallas County inland port area around Wilmer, Hutchins and Lancaster along I-45 and I-20, the Great Southwest/DFW Airport area, and growing areas in Denton, Midlothian and Forney.
Retailers, e-commerce companies and manufacturers use DFW to reach much of the US within two days. Warehouses near the ramps keep many drayage moves short.
Crossing the Metroplex, however, can take time. A move from Alliance to the southern Dallas inland port is more than 40 miles and passes through congested highways.
Manufacturing, Mexico and Houston
DFW has a large manufacturing base, including aerospace, automotive (GM's Arlington plant), electronics and food. Many plants import components in containers.
Trade with Mexico flows through DFW by rail and truck, with Union Pacific and CPKC connecting the region to border gateways at Laredo and Eagle Pass. Some importers truck containers from Port Houston instead of using West Coast ports and rail, especially for cargo from Europe or the Gulf.
Weather and road conditions
North Texas summers are hot, and severe storms with hail and tornadoes are common in spring. Ice storms in winter can paralyze roads, as they did during the 2021 freeze. Traffic on I-35E, I-30, I-20, I-635 and the George Bush Turnpike can be heavy. Some toll roads speed travel but add costs. Carriers schedule early or late appointments to avoid peak congestion.
AllianceTexas and the southern Dallas inland port
AllianceTexas, developed by Hillwood north of Fort Worth, combines BNSF's intermodal facility, Fort Worth Alliance Airport and a huge master-planned industrial park. Retailers, automakers, e-commerce companies and logistics providers have built distribution centers there, and many containers travel only a few miles from the BNSF ramp to their final destination.
South of Dallas, the area around Union Pacific's Dallas Intermodal Terminal in Wilmer has been promoted as an inland port, with large warehouses in Wilmer, Hutchins, Lancaster and DeSoto. The proximity to I-45 and I-20 makes it convenient for distribution across Texas.
These two hubs, on opposite sides of the Metroplex, give shippers different options depending on their railroad and customers. Drayage between them is long and can be slowed by traffic, so many companies locate warehouses close to their preferred ramp.
Common lanes out of Dallas / Fort Worth
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
AllianceTexas / north Fort Worth
Warehouses next to BNSF Alliance.
10 mi
Southern Dallas inland port
Wilmer, Hutchins and Lancaster near UP's ramp.
15 mi
DFW Airport / Great Southwest
Distribution near the airport.
25 mi
Oklahoma City
Oklahoma via I-35.
200 mi
Houston
Port Houston via I-45.
240 mi
San Antonio
South Texas via I-35.
275 mi
Booking drayage in Dallas / Fort Worth: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Dallas / Fort Worth. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Name the ramp
Alliance, Wilmer and Mesquite are far apart. Confirm the railroad and ramp.
Price by distance across the Metroplex
A move from Alliance to southern Dallas is much longer than one nearby. Expect zone-based pricing.
Compare Houston and West Coast routings
For some cargo, trucking from Port Houston may be faster or cheaper than rail from California.
Prepare for ice storms
Rare but severe ice storms can shut down roads. Keep contingency plans.
Drayage markets near Dallas / Fort Worth
Many carriers that serve Dallas / Fort Worth also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Dallas / Fort Worth, TX.