Chicago to Houston LTL Freight Rates
Real LTL costs, transit times and carriers for freight picked up in the Chicago metro and delivered in the Houston metro, from 90 shipments.
What LTL shipping costs from Chicago to Houston
These are the all-in rates Armstrong customers actually paid from Chicago to Houston from September 2025 – August 2026, including fuel and any accessorials. The range is the middle 50% of shipments in each weight bracket, so a quarter paid less and a quarter paid more, mostly because of freight class, accessorials and timing.
| Shipment weight | Typical range | Median | Shipments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 500 lb | $345 – $1,460 | $405 | 34 |
| 500–999 lb | $470 – $2,625 | $955 | 13 |
| 1,000–2,499 lb | $375 – $915 | $620 | 15 |
| 2,500–4,999 lb | $605 – $1,130 | $790 | 14 |
Historical rates, rounded to $5, shown for budgeting only. They aren’t a quote: your price depends on exact ZIPs, freight class, pickup date and accessorials. See national pallet shipping costs for comparison.
Transit time and carriers from Chicago to Houston
The median LTL shipment from Chicago to Houston delivered in 3 business days after pickup, and 80% arrived within 3 business days (based on 87 delivered shipments). Standard LTL transit is an estimate, not a promise; if a delivery date matters, ask for a guaranteed service. More on how LTL transit times work.
No single carrier wins every shipment. AAA Cooper Transportation, FedEx Freight and Go To Logistics moved 44% of the freight we arranged from Chicago to Houston; the rest went to Roadrunner and Forward LTL and other national and regional carriers, depending on which one priced each shipment best.
| Carrier | Share of shipments |
|---|---|
| AAA Cooper Transportation | 24% |
| FedEx Freight | 11% |
| Go To Logistics | 9% |
| Roadrunner | 9% |
| Forward LTL | 8% |
What ships from Chicago to Houston
The median shipment weighed 890 lb at a median freight class of 92.5. The most common classes were class 55 (19%), class 100 (14%) and class 175 (12%). Lighter, bulkier freight rates in higher classes and costs more per pound, which is why measuring density before you quote matters.
By type of shipper, the biggest groups were plastics & packaging (35%), chemicals & consumer products (27%), food & beverage (18%) and metals & fabrication (6%), among shipments where the shipper’s industry is known.
About this lane
Illinois is the rail and trucking crossroads of the Midwest. The Chicago area, including the I-55 and I-80 warehouse corridors near Joliet, is one of the densest LTL markets anywhere, with many carrier terminals and strong competition.
Texas is one of the busiest LTL states in the country. Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston are two of the largest freight markets in the U.S., I-35 carries cross-border freight from Laredo, and the Rio Grande Valley brings produce and manufactured goods north from Mexico. Distances inside Texas are long, so an intrastate move can still take two days.
Metro areas here are defined by ZIP code prefix, so Chicago includes surrounding suburbs and industrial areas. Rates between two specific ZIPs can differ from the metro-wide range, which is why a live quote across 50+ carriers is the only way to know your price.
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Get my free rates →Frequently asked questions
How much does LTL shipping cost from Chicago to Houston?
For a 500–999 lb shipment from Chicago to Houston, the middle half of Armstrong customers paid $470 to $2,625 all-in, median $955 (September 2025 – August 2026). Class, accessorials and exact ZIPs move the price; get a quote for your shipment.
How long does LTL freight take from Chicago to Houston?
The median shipment from Chicago to Houston delivered 3 business days after pickup, and 80% arrived within 3 business days.
Which carriers ship LTL from Chicago to Houston?
On freight Armstrong arranged from Chicago to Houston, the most-used carriers were AAA Cooper Transportation, FedEx Freight, Go To Logistics and Roadrunner. The best-priced carrier changes shipment by shipment.
Related
Figures are from LTL freight arranged through the Armstrong Transport Group network, September 2025 – August 2026, for pickups and deliveries within each metro’s ZIP-code area. Price ranges are the middle 50% of all-in paid rates, rounded to $5, for budgeting only. See our data methodology.