Heavy Equipment Shipping from San Antonio, TX to Dallas, TX

Route Overview: San Antonio to Dallas via I-35

Interstate 35 is the primary heavy haul artery connecting San Antonio and Dallas, covering approximately 275 miles. The route passes through Austin (Mile ~80) and Waco (Mile ~185) before entering the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Transit time for legal loads is typically 4–5 hours under normal conditions; oversize loads should budget additional time for Austin and Dallas metro congestion and permit-mandated travel windows.

Key Corridor Cities and Checkpoints

• Austin, TX (Mile ~80): State capital and major tech/construction hub. I-35 through Austin is one of the most congested stretches in Texas. Oversize loads should plan to pass through Austin outside of 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM windows. The TX-130 toll bypass is often preferred for heavy haul avoiding downtown Austin.
• Georgetown/Round Rock, TX (Mile ~100): North Austin suburbs with significant construction activity. I-35 remains congested through this stretch.
• Waco, TX (Mile ~185): Mid-route city and I-35/US-84 junction. Fuel and staging available. Texas DOT weigh stations are active in this area.
• Hillsboro, TX (Mile ~215): I-35 splits into I-35E (Dallas) and I-35W (Fort Worth) at Hillsboro. Most Dallas deliveries take I-35E; Fort Worth deliveries take I-35W.
• Dallas Metro (Mile ~275): The I-635 LBJ Freeway and I-820 are common bypass routes for heavy haul avoiding downtown Dallas. Deliveries inside the Dallas city limits may require local permits.

Texas Oversize Permit Requirements

Texas is generally more permissive than most states for oversize loads, but permits are still required for loads exceeding 8.5 ft wide, 14 ft tall, or 80,000 lbs GVW. Texas DOT (TxDOT) offers online permit processing with same-day or next-day turnaround for standard oversize dimensions.

Dimension	Legal Limit	Permit Required Over	Escort Required At
Width	8.5 ft	8.5 ft	14 ft (1 escort); 18 ft (2 escorts)
Height	14 ft	14 ft	Varies by route
GVW	80,000 lbs	80,000 lbs	N/A (weight-based)

Note: Texas has a higher legal height limit (14 ft) than the federal standard (13.5 ft), which means some loads that require height permits in other states can move legally in Texas without a height permit.

The Austin Bypass: TX-130 for Heavy Haul

The TX-130 toll road (SH-130) provides a bypass around the Austin metro that is frequently preferred for heavy haul. TX-130 runs from Seguin (south of Austin) to Georgetown (north of Austin), bypassing the congested I-35 corridor through downtown Austin. Key considerations:

• TX-130 is a toll road; carriers must have a TxTag or pay by mail
• TX-130 has a posted speed limit of 85 mph in some sections — the highest in the US — but oversize loads are restricted to lower speeds
• TX-130 adds approximately 20–30 miles to the route but can save 1–2 hours during peak Austin congestion

Common Equipment Shipped on This Lane

• Excavators and dozers from San Antonio construction projects heading to Dallas-area development
• Cranes and aerial lifts for commercial construction in the DFW metroplex
• Oil and gas equipment moving between South Texas operations and Dallas-area service facilities
• Equipment purchased at San Antonio-area auctions heading to North Texas buyers
• Compactors and paving equipment for TxDOT highway projects along I-35

IronHaul Logistics provides full-service heavy haul on the San Antonio-to-Dallas lane with Texas permit procurement, escort coordination, and real-time load tracking. Call (208) 495-2260, email [email protected], or submit our online quote form for a same-day rate.