How Shippers Saved 32% from Illinois to Texas with Shared Truckload
On the Illinois to Texas lane, shippers saved a median of 32% by moving freight via Shared Truckload (STL) instead of paying full truckload (TL) rates on a partially filled trailer. For this analysis, “Illinois” serves as a description for the region including Chicago, Joliet, & Rockford, plus Milwaukee & Madison, WI and Gary, IN. Texas focuses on the Dallas, Fort Worth, and Houston regions.
We’ll share more about how STL delivers lane savings in this article.
The Illinois to Texas lane at a glance
Average shipping distance on the Illinois to Texas lane runs 991 miles for Flock loads. On this lane, the typical Flock shipment is 22 linear feet and pools combine an average of 2.04 shipments into a single Shared Truckload.
The snapshot below summarizes the lane economics.
To expand on average savings, we can break it down by portion of the truck used. Notably, this is also a way that self-serve customers can quote freight in the Flock Freight Platform. Customers can either give Flock their specific dimensions for their STL shipments, or buy a portion of the truck for more flexibility.
Comparing Flock Freight’s Shared Truckload rate against standard truckload, shippers who book ½ of a truck are saving 29% on costs on the Chicago to Dallas lane, specifically.
Example Shared Truckload from Illinois to Texas
Here is a real Shared Truckload that ran on the Illinois to Texas lane.
- Shipper A’s food products utilized 27 feet of the trailer. They saved 32% on costs compared to truckload.
- Shipper B’s beverages utilized 22 feet of the trailer. They saved 28% compared to truckload.
- Both shippers were able to save on costs because their shipments moved together on one truck, instead of separately on two different trucks.
Is shipping STL from Illinois to Texas a good fit for your business?
Shared Truckload on Illinois to Texas tends to be a strong fit if you check these boxes:
- You move partial loads, roughly 10 to 40 linear feet, that don't fill a full 53' trailer.
- Your commodities are compatible with pooling. We’re able to pool most items in retail, food & beverage, technology, household goods, CPG, automotive, building materials, packaging, and other sectors.
- You have a few days of pickup/delivery flexibility to be matched into a pool.
- Your existing options aren’t optimal for your freight profile. For example:
- You pay full TL rates for space you don't use.
- You’re keeping inventory longer than you want to because you’re waiting to fill a full truck yourself.
- You aren’t happy with your partial service.
- You’re creating internal multi-stops, but don’t always have the volume to make that work.
- You're absorbing LTL damage and handling costs.
In general, STL is usually not the best fit if you need a dedicated, exclusive-use trailer, have hazmat or temperature constraints that can't be pooled, or need same-day rush service.
Why STL beats TL on Illinois to Texas
Shared Truckload wins on this lane for more than just "better rates":
- Because many shippers move compatible freight from Illinois to Texas each week with Flock, we can pool loads and price by linear foot, so you only pay for the space you actually occupy.
- Because this corridor has dense, recurring volume, trucks run fuller with fewer empty miles. This efficiency propels the cost savings.
- Because STL keeps freight on one truck end-to-end (no LTL terminals or re-handling), shipments see lower damage and claims than hub-and-spoke LTL, at close to truckload transit.
- Because STL savings compound as the market rises, saving a percentage on a lifting cost base means more dollars in your pocket versus traditional modes.
