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Amarillo, TX

Freight hub guide — rates, shippers, parking, and opportunities for owner-operators in Amarillo.

1,497

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Southwest

Region

Who Operates Out of Amarillo

1,497 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Amarillo. Here is how that base breaks down by fleet size — useful for judging whether you would be competing against owner-operators or against fleets with dedicated freight locked up.

807

Owner-operators (1 truck)

441

Small fleets (2-5)

105

Mid fleets (6-20)

57

Large fleets (20+)

54% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 87 are registered to haul hazardous materials.

Source: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census (active carriers, US physical addresses), retrieved 2026-07-18.

Average Rates Per Mile

Equipment TypeRate / Mile
Dry Van$2.55
Reefer$2.95
Flatbed$3.22

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

I-40I-27US-287US-66 (Historic Route 66)US-87Loop 335

Top Industries

Beef processing & meatpacking
Nuclear weapons (Pantex)
Wind energy
Agriculture (cattle & grain)
Petroleum refining

Major Distribution Centers

Affiliated Foods Distribution (Amarillo)
McLane Company
Walmart DC #6027 (Amarillo)

Top Shippers

T
Tyson Foods
J
JBS USA
P
Pantex (DOE)
X
Xcel Energy
B
Bell Helicopter (Amarillo)

Nearby Ports

Nearest major port accessible via I-40

Truck Stops

Pilot Travel Center (I-40 Exit 75)
Love's #255 (I-40 Exit 62)
TA Amarillo (I-40 Exit 74)
Flying J (I-40 Exit 64)

Challenges

  • Severe Panhandle weather including blizzards and ice causing I-40 closures, extreme wind affecting high-profile trailers, long distances between services on I-40 west of Amarillo, and DOE security requirements for Pantex-related freight.
  • Extreme summer heat can cause tire blowouts and equipment stress
  • Cross-border freight at Laredo and El Paso creates long wait times
  • Oil price volatility affects freight demand in energy-dependent areas

Opportunities

  • Cross-border NAFTA freight through Laredo and El Paso is enormous
  • Texas is the highest freight-generating state in the US
  • Year-round operations with minimal weather disruptions
  • Oil and gas industry creates premium-rate flatbed and hotshot demand

Seasonal Freight Patterns

Cross-border produce peaks January through April. Oil and gas freight follows rig counts year-round. Holiday retail surge runs September through December. Summer heat (June-August) requires attention to tire and equipment maintenance.

Trucking in Amarillo — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Amarillo: Dry Van $2.55, Reefer $2.95, Flatbed $3.22. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.
Truck parking in Amarillo is rated "fair." Popular stops include Pilot Travel Center (I-40 Exit 75), Love's #255 (I-40 Exit 62), TA Amarillo (I-40 Exit 74). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.
Top shippers operating in the Amarillo freight market include Tyson Foods, JBS USA, Pantex (DOE), Xcel Energy, Bell Helicopter (Amarillo). Key industries driving freight demand are beef processing & meatpacking, nuclear weapons (pantex), wind energy.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Amarillo include: Severe Panhandle weather including blizzards and ice causing I-40 closures, extreme wind affecting high-profile trailers, long distances between services on I-40 west of Amarillo, and DOE security requirements for Pantex-related freight.; Extreme summer heat can cause tire blowouts and equipment stress; Cross-border freight at Laredo and El Paso creates long wait times. However, opportunities include cross-border nafta freight through laredo and el paso is enormous.

Nearby Freight Hubs

Other Cities in Texas

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