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Houston, Texas Freight Shipping Quotes
Freight Shipping in Houston
Texas shipped more freight (by monetary value) than any other U.S. state in 2017:
- Inbound freight: $654,087 million
- Domestic freight: $1,561,969 million
- Outbound freight: $708,661 million
Texas also had more outbound van and reefer loads than any other state in 2020, as well as the second most outbound flatbed loads.
Amid all of this freight activity, Houston emerges as a major hub.
Houston is home to:
- The world’s sixth largest port and largest Gulf Coast container port (the Port of Houston), a major source of foreign tonnage and Gulf Coast container traffic
- A foreign trade zone where foreign goods can be stored temporarily or processed without an import duty
- 150 trucking lines and two major railroads that connect the Port of Houston to the rest of the U.S., Mexico, and Canada
- George Bush Intercontinental Airport, the nation’s 11th largest international air cargo gateway
- One of the country’s busiest rail systems, through which over 700,000 rail cars pass every year
All of this activity contributes to Houson’s longer-than-average travel times, which may impact the delivery schedules of freight being carried through the area.
Major Industries and Commercial Activity in Houston
Major industries in Houston include energy, chemicals, aerospace, and financial services, and major organizations in each of these sectors maintain locations in the city:
- Energy: Shell, Chevron, Schlumberger, Halliburton, National Oilwell Varco, NRG Energy, Enterprise Products, Anadarko Petroleum, TOTAL, and ConocoPhillips
- Chemicals: BASF AG, Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., Bayer Corp., ExxonMobil Chemical Co., E. I. du Pont de Nemours Co., and Shell Chemical LP
- Aerospace: NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Airbus, Arch Aerial, Axiom Space, Bristow Group, Cemvita Factory, Cognitive Space, Hylio, InTech Aerospace, Intuitive Machines, Mercury Fuels, Million Air, Oceaneering, and Waypoint 2 Space
- Financial Services: American National Insurance Co., Century Development, and AIG Retirement Services
Houston’s location near the middle of an expansive coastal prairie agricultural region also makes it a major hub for international agribusiness, including the distribution of agricultural products. Peak harvest season occurs from June to July for wheat and from August to December for corn and cotton.
In addition to agricultural products, major goods produced in Houston include:
- Computer software
- Processed foods
- Containers
- Petrochemicals
- Industrial gases
- Steel
- Oil and gas field equipment
- Cement
- Synthetic rubber
How Weather Impacts Freight Shipping in Houston
Storms can influence delivery schedules in any area, including Houston.
Hurricanes are no stranger to Texas: Texas has had the second most major and total hurricanes of any U.S. state since 1851, with August and September being the months in which landfalls are most likely. Houston’s coastal location makes hurricanes especially concerning.
Houston’s wet season occurs from May to October, during which time flooding is possible. Supercell thunderstorms, which in turn cause tornadoes, sometimes occur in the spring, and tropical cyclones are possible during the Atlantic hurricane season.
Freight Carriers in Houston
Truck driving is the most common job in Texas, and over 1,100 trucking companies serve the Houston area alone. This means that you’ll typically have plenty of options when it comes to finding a truck for your freight shipment.
The hard part is often sorting through all of the options and finding the best carrier for your needs.
That’s where Convoy comes in. A digital freight network that includes more than 50,000 trucks serving more than 1,000 facilities in Houston makes it easy for us to connect you with carriers that are vetted every day for safety and reliability, and that are experienced with hauling in the Houston area.