LTL Houston to Chicago
Book LTL freight from Houston to Chicago — instant all-in rates from 16 carriers. No fuel surcharge, no liftgate fee, no re-weigh charges.
99.2% damage-free · $100K carrier liability · Live GPS tracking
Median $275/pallet across 9 ZIP samples
Rate varies by where the freight is picked up in Houston and where it drops off in Chicago. Each route below connects a pickup zone to a drop-off zone.
- $2753-day
- $2753-day
- $2613-dayBest
- $2873-day
- $2873-day
- $2733-day
- $2803-day
- $2803-day
- $2653-day
- Downtown
- City center pickup / drop-off
- Warp cross-dock
- Near a Warp LTL cross-dock facility
- Industrial
- Industrial corridor
LTL rates: Houston to Chicago
1 pallet · 500 lbs · class 70 · all rates as of Apr 21, 2026
Daylight
+7 more| Carrier — click row to quote | Rate | Transit | vs Warp LTL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warp LTLWarp Technology's own service · all inclusive | $261All in, surcharge free | 3 days | Lowest |
| AAA COOPER TRANSPORTATION | $332 | 2 days | +$71 |
| Forward Air | $355 | 2 days | +$94 |
| DAYLIGHT TRANSPORT | $377 | 3 days | +$116 |
| XPO Logistics | $378 | 3 days | +$117 |
| SOUTHWESTERN MOTOR TRANSPORT INC | $392 | 6 days | +$131 |
| CCFS | $416 | 5 days | +$155 |
Get your exact rate
Houston (77002) → Chicago (60601)
$315–$713+ in surcharges Warp doesn't charge
Surcharges the carriers above add after delivery on the Houston to Chicago lane. Warp's per-pallet rate is the invoice.
| Fee | Forward Air | XPO Logistics | AAA Cooper | Range | Warp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel surcharge | 26% | 27% | 26% | 26.0–27.0% | Included |
| Residential delivery | $90 | $180 | $125 est. | $90–$180 | $0 |
| Liftgate | $75 | $259 | $110 est. | $75–$259 | $0 |
| Limited access | $100 | $180 | $110 est. | $100–$180 | $0 |
| Appointment | $25 est. | $68 | $25 est. | $25–$68 | $0 |
| Notification | $25 | $26 | $30 est. | $25–$30 | $0 |
| Surcharge stack | $315+ | $713+ | $400+ | $315–$713+ | $0 |
Charges shown for a 1-pallet / 500 lb shipment. Sources: Forward Air Expedited LTL Accessorial Charges (March 2026), XPO CNWY 199-AK.1 Tariff (eff. Feb 16, 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 Houston to Chicago
How Warp routes the Houston to Chicago lane
LTL freight from Houston to Chicago
Houston to Chicago is served by 15 carriers in the Warp network. Traditional carrier rates on this lane range from $332 to $416 per pallet with transit times of 2 to 6 days.
Warp prices this lane at $261 per pallet with 3-day transit through the Houston cross-dock facility. 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. 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.
Carbon footprint of LTL freight from Houston to Chicago
A single pallet moving from Houston to Chicago 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 Houston to Chicago?
LTL shipping from Houston to Chicago starts at $261 per pallet all-inclusive. Traditional carriers on this lane range from $332 to $416 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 Houston to Chicago?
Warp prices LTL freight on a per pallet basis. On the Houston to Chicago lane, the rate is $261 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 Houston to Chicago lane?
Warp provides live GPS tracking on every shipment from Houston to Chicago, including scan events at the Houston and Chicago 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 Houston to Chicago?
Warp LTL transit from Houston to Chicago is 3 days. Traditional carriers on this lane range from 2 days to 6 days.
Warp transits faster than traditional terminal carriers because freight moves through the Houston and Chicago cross-docks instead of 3 to 5 terminals.
How does Warp cross docking work on the Houston to Chicago corridor?
Freight on the Houston to Chicago lane routes through the Houston cross-dock near the origin and the Chicago cross-dock near the destination. Warp sorts and transfers freight for Texas manufacturing, industrial distribution, and regional delivery.
Warp sorts and transfers freight for Midwest and Northeast store deliveries, vendor consolidation, and manufacturing distribution. This eliminates the terminal to terminal routing that adds days to traditional LTL.
Can I get an instant LTL quote from Houston to Chicago?
Yes. Warp returns a live all-inclusive rate for Houston to Chicago in seconds. The current 1-pallet rate on this lane is $261 with 15 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 Houston to Chicago?
On this lane, Warp is 21% below the cheapest traditional carrier. The Warp rate of $261 per pallet is all inclusive with no fuel surcharges, no liftgate fees, and no residential delivery charges.
Traditional carriers on Houston to Chicago range from $332 to $416 before adding surcharges.
What happens if my freight is damaged on the Houston to Chicago lane?
Every carrier on the Houston to Chicago lane is vetted through Highway before approval. Authority, insurance, safety rating, and operating status are verified automatically.
Freight is handled at the Houston 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 Houston to Chicago?
A single pallet moving from Houston to Chicago 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