LTL Chicago to Houston
Book LTL freight from Chicago to Houston — instant all-in rates from 18 carriers. No fuel surcharge, no liftgate fee, no re-weigh charges.
99.2% damage-free · $100K carrier liability · Live GPS tracking
Median $265/pallet across 9 ZIP samples
Rate varies by where the freight is picked up in Chicago and where it drops off in Houston. Each route below connects a pickup zone to a drop-off zone.
- $2653-day
- $2773-day
- $2703-day
- $2653-day
- $2773-day
- $2703-day
- $2503-dayBest
- $2623-day
- $2553-day
- Downtown
- City center pickup / drop-off
- Warp cross-dock
- Near a Warp LTL cross-dock facility
- Industrial
- Industrial corridor
LTL rates: Chicago to Houston
1 pallet · 500 lbs · class 70 · all rates as of Apr 21, 2026
Daylight
+9 more| Carrier — click row to quote | Rate | Transit | vs Warp LTL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warp LTLWarp Technology's own service · all inclusive | $250All in, surcharge free | 3 days | Lowest |
| AAA COOPER TRANSPORTATION | $348 | 2 days | +$98 |
| DAYLIGHT TRANSPORT | $355 | 2 days | +$105 |
| Ward Trucking | $358 | 4 days | +$108 |
| Forward Air | $430 | 3 days | +$180 |
| CCFS | $441 | 5 days | +$191 |
| STG LTL formerly Frontline Freight | $456 | 9 days | +$206 |
Get your exact rate
Chicago (60601) → Houston (77002)
$315–$400+ in surcharges Warp doesn't charge
Surcharges the carriers above add after delivery on the Chicago to Houston lane. Warp's per-pallet rate is the invoice.
| Fee | Forward Air | AAA Cooper | Daylight Transport | Range | Warp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel surcharge | 26% | 26% | 26% | 26.0% | Included |
| Residential delivery | $90 | $125 est. | $125 est. | $90–$125 | $0 |
| Liftgate | $75 | $110 est. | $110 est. | $75–$110 | $0 |
| Limited access | $100 | $110 est. | $110 est. | $100–$110 | $0 |
| Appointment | $25 est. | $25 est. | $25 est. | $25 | $0 |
| Notification | $25 | $30 est. | $25 est. | $25–$30 | $0 |
| Surcharge stack | $315+ | $400+ | $395+ | $315–$400+ | $0 |
Charges shown for a 1-pallet / 500 lb shipment. Sources: Forward Air Expedited LTL Accessorial Charges (March 2026), AAA Cooper Rules Tariff (amounts not publicly itemized). Charges marked "est." are industry estimates where carrier tariff is not publicly published. Read the full Warp tariff →
Why Shippers Choose Warp on Chicago to Houston
How Warp routes the Chicago to Houston lane
LTL freight from Chicago to Houston
Chicago to Houston is served by 17 carriers in the Warp network. Traditional carrier rates on this lane range from $348 to $456 per pallet with transit times of 2 to 9 days.
Warp prices this lane at $250 per pallet with 3-day transit through the Chicago cross-dock facility. Chicago is the largest inland freight hub in North America.
Seven Class I railroads terminate here, and the highway grid funnels I-80, I-90, I-94, I-55, and I-290 into a dense urban core with some of the most complex dock access conditions in the country.
Houston is the largest city in Texas and the energy capital of the country, which shapes its local LTL market in ways unlike any other major metro.
Energy sector logistics, including oilfield equipment, chemical supply, and industrial components, run alongside a massive consumer goods and retail distribution base.
Carbon footprint of LTL freight from Chicago to Houston
A single pallet moving from Chicago to Houston over 1,082 miles emits approximately 67 kg CO2e via Warp cross-dock LTL — your pallet's 1 of 26 share of a 53ft dry van on the linehaul leg.
The same truck fully loaded emits about 1,742 kg CO2e on this corridor, which is what a dedicated FTL move would cost at the same mileage regardless of how many pallets ride.
Figures use EPA SmartWay emission factors and cover tank-to-wheel fuel combustion at typical payload. For a recurring program at 100 pallets per year on this lane, the attributed LTL emissions are approximately 7 metric tons CO2e.
These numbers are suitable for Scope 3 Category 4 estimation under the GHG Protocol; see the Warp carbon methodology page for assumptions, sources, and what is excluded (pickup and delivery legs, empty-mile variance, well-to-tank upstream fuel, vehicle embodied emissions).
Frequently asked questions
How much does LTL shipping cost from Chicago to Houston?
LTL shipping from Chicago to Houston starts at $250 per pallet all-inclusive. Traditional carriers on this lane range from $348 to $456 before surcharges. Warp includes fuel, liftgate, GPS tracking, and proof of delivery in every rate.
Enter your shipment details on the Warp platform and get an instant rate in seconds.
How does Warp price LTL freight from Chicago to Houston?
Warp prices LTL freight on a per pallet basis. On the Chicago to Houston lane, the rate is $250 per pallet for a standard 500 lb pallet. The rate is all inclusive with no fuel surcharges, no liftgate fees, and no residential delivery charges.
No NMFC codes and no density calculators needed.
What visibility does Warp provide on the Chicago to Houston lane?
Warp provides live GPS tracking on every shipment from Chicago to Houston, including scan events at the Chicago and Houston cross-docks. Transit on this lane is 3 days through 2 cross-dock facilities instead of 3 to 5 terminals.
The Warp driver app delivers proof of delivery photos with electronic signatures on every load. Orbit monitors each shipment in real time, flagging delays before you need to call.
How long does LTL shipping take from Chicago to Houston?
Warp LTL transit from Chicago to Houston is 3 days. Traditional carriers on this lane range from 2 days to 9 days.
Warp transits faster than traditional terminal carriers because freight moves through the Chicago and Houston cross-docks instead of 3 to 5 terminals.
How does Warp cross docking work on the Chicago to Houston corridor?
Freight on the Chicago to Houston lane routes through the Chicago cross-dock near the origin and the Houston cross-dock near the destination.
Warp sorts and transfers freight for Midwest and Northeast store deliveries, vendor consolidation, and manufacturing distribution. Warp sorts and transfers freight for Texas manufacturing, industrial distribution, and regional delivery.
This eliminates the terminal to terminal routing that adds days to traditional LTL.
Can I get an instant LTL quote from Chicago to Houston?
Yes. Warp returns a live all-inclusive rate for Chicago to Houston in seconds. The current 1-pallet rate on this lane is $250 with 17 carriers available for comparison. No callbacks, no waiting for a rep, and no email quotes.
The quote is the invoice with no post-shipment surcharges.
Is Warp cheaper than traditional LTL carriers from Chicago to Houston?
On this lane, Warp is 28% below the cheapest traditional carrier. The Warp rate of $250 per pallet is all inclusive with no fuel surcharges, no liftgate fees, and no residential delivery charges.
Traditional carriers on Chicago to Houston range from $348 to $456 before adding surcharges.
What happens if my freight is damaged on the Chicago to Houston lane?
Every carrier on the Chicago to Houston lane is vetted through Highway before approval. Authority, insurance, safety rating, and operating status are verified automatically.
Freight is handled at the Chicago cross-dock with scan-level tracking at every handoff, reducing damage risk. Carriers carry Carmack Amendment liability up to $100,000 per shipment. Warp maintains a $75,000 FMCSA surety bond.
Additional cargo insurance up to $1,000,000 per shipment is available through Falvey ($0 deductible on LTL under $10K, 0.30% of declared value). Warp files, processes, and resolves claims for you.
What is the carbon footprint of shipping one LTL pallet from Chicago to Houston?
A single pallet moving from Chicago to Houston via Warp cross-dock LTL emits approximately 67 kg CO2e (tank-to-wheel) — your pallet's 1 of 26 share of a 53ft dry van over the 1,082-mile linehaul leg.
Dedicated FTL on the same lane emits approximately 1,742 kg CO2e regardless of how many pallets are on the truck. Figures use EPA SmartWay emission factors and are suitable for GHG Protocol Scope 3 Category 4 estimation.
See the Warp carbon methodology page for sources, assumptions, and what is excluded (pickup and delivery legs, empty-mile variance, well-to-tank upstream fuel, vehicle embodied emissions).
About the Warp freight network
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Warp2026Auto-applied at checkoutClick below to open the Warp customer portal — $50 is auto-applied at checkout on your first Warp shipment via Stripe.
One time per customer. Valid on your first booked Warp shipment only. Expires Apr 10, 2027. Subject to Warp’s standard terms of service.
99.2% damage-free · $100K carrier liability · Live GPS tracking