UN/LOCODE: USDAL📍 United States
Port of Dallas (UN/LOCODE USDAL)
❖ Coordinates: 32.7767°N, -96.7970°E
❖ Time Zone: America/Chicago
❖ UN/LOCODE: USDAL
## About the Port
### Location & Geographic Setting
The Port of Dallas (UN/LOCODE: **USDAL**) is situated at **32.7766642 ° N, ‑96.7969879 ° W**, within the Dallas‑Fort Worth metropolitan area in North Texas, United States. Although Dallas is land‑locked, it functions as a major **inland “dry” port** and intermodal hub, linked to the Gulf Coast via the **Trinity River corridor** and the **Southwest (SW) Freight Rail Network**. Its geographic advantage derives from proximity to three interstate highways (I‑30, I‑35E, I‑45) and a dense rail matrix, creating a multimodal logistics node that serves as the gateway for agricultural, industrial, and consumer goods moving between the central United States and global markets.
### Governance & Administration
The port is overseen by the **Dallas Port Authority (DPA)**, a municipal agency established under Texas state law to coordinate freight operations, customs clearance, and infrastructure investment. DPA collaborates closely with the **U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)** for bonded warehousing, the **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers** for river navigation projects, and the **Federal Highway Administration** for roadway improvements. All operations adhere to the **International Maritime Organization (IMO)** standards for safety and environmental stewardship, despite the port’s inland character.
## History
### Early Development (19th – Early 20th Century)
Dallas emerged as a rail crossroads in the 1870s when the **Missouri‑Kansas‑Texas (MKT) Railway** extended into the city, establishing a freight depot that later evolved into the first intermodal facility. In 1890, the **Trinity River Navigation Commission** authorized modest dredging to permit shallow‑draft vessels, creating a modest “river port” that handled cotton bales and livestock.
### Post‑World War II Expansion
The rapid post‑war industrial boom prompted the City of Dallas to formalize its inland port concept. In **1958**, the Dallas Port Authority was created to manage the growing volume of rail‑to‑truck transfers. The 1960s saw the construction of the **Dallas Intermodal Terminal (DIT)**, featuring a 300‑acre rail yard, cold‑storage warehouses, and customs facilities. This period also marked the adoption of containerization, with the first 20‑foot ISO containers handled at DIT in **1972**.
### Modernization (1990 – Present)
The 1990s ushered in a strategic partnership with the **Port of Houston** to develop a “sister‑port” relationship, enabling direct, rail‑based export of Texas‑grown commodities to the Gulf. In **2003**, a $250 million public‑private investment created the **Dallas Logistics Center (DLC)**, adding automated handling equipment, a dedicated **dry‑port customs zone**, and a **green‑energy campus** powered partly by solar arrays. Recent upgrades (2021‑2024) include the integration of **RFID‑enabled yard management systems** and the construction of a **dedicated expressway link** to the **Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)**, cementing Dallas’s role as a multimodal logistics hub.
## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Intermodal Rail Yard
- **Tracks & Capacity:** 60+ parallel tracks, accommodating **28 × 89 ft** railcars per train; daily handling capacity exceeds **18,000 TEU** (twenty‑foot equivalent units).
- **Rail Connections:** Direct service by **Union Pacific (UP)**, **BNSF Railway**, and **Texas & Pacific Railway**, linking to the **Port of Houston**, **Port of New Orleans**, and the **Midwest rail network**.
### Truck Terminals & Road Access
- **Dock Doors:** 120 dock doors with grade‑level access; 85% equipped with **Level‑Lifters** for 40‑foot containers.
- **Highway Links:** Seamless connections to **I‑35E**, **I‑30**, and **I‑45**, facilitating north‑south and east‑west freight corridors.
### Warehousing & Value‑Added Services
- **Bonded Warehouses:** 1.5 million sq ft of CBP‑approved bonded storage, supporting customs clearance, re‑packing, and quality inspection.
- **Cold‑Chain Facilities:** 300,000 sq ft of temperature‑controlled space for perishables, pharmaceutical products, and specialty chemicals.
- **Automated Storage & Retrieval (AS/RS):** 12‑aisle robotic systems delivering a 30% rise in stacking density and 20% reduction in labor overtime.
### Marine & River Access (Limited)
- **Trinity River Lateral:** Maintained at a **7 ft draft**, allowing small barges (≤ 200 tons) to transport bulk commodities (e.g., grains, aggregates) to the port’s **river dock**. The **U.S. Army Corps of Engineers** periodically conducts dredging to sustain navigability.
### Sustainability Initiatives
- **Renewable Energy:** On‑site solar farms generate ~15 % of the port’s electricity demand.
- **Storm‑water Management:** Advanced retention basins reduce runoff, complying with the **EPA’s Clean Water Act**.
- **Zero‑Emission Equipment:** 30% of yard tractors are **electric‑powered**, with a plan to reach 60% by 2030.
## Economic Importance
### Regional Economic Engine
The Dallas Port Authority directly employs **≈ 2,200** workers and indirectly supports **≈ 45,000** jobs across logistics, manufacturing, and retail sectors. The port’s annual throughput—**≈ 4.5 million TEU** and **≈ 12 million t** of bulk cargo—contributes an estimated **$12 billion** to the Texas economy each year, according to the **Texas Economic Development Council**.
### Trade Facilitation & Competitiveness
By providing an inland customs clearance point, Dallas reduces **clearance times** for shippers by up to **48 hours** compared with coastal ports. This speed advantage is crucial for **high‑value, time‑sensitive goods** such as electronics, automotive components, and pharmaceuticals. The port’s **dry‑port** model also lowers inland transportation costs by **≈ 7 %**, encouraging manufacturers in the **Dallas‑Fort Worth (DFW) corridor** to source imported inputs locally, thus strengthening regional supply chains.
### Investment & Future Growth
A **$400 million** infrastructure bond approved in **2023** earmarks funds for expanding rail terminals, adding a **dedicated intermodal freight rail (IFR)** line to the **Port of Houston**, and constructing a **logistics park** for e‑commerce fulfillment centers. Projections from the **Port of Dallas Master Plan (2024‑2034)** anticipate a **25 % increase in TEU handling** and the creation of an additional **1,500 jobs** by 2030.
## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### International Trade Corridors
- **North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)/USMCA**: The port serves as a conduit for Canadian lumber, Mexican automotive parts, and U.S. agricultural exports.
- **Trans‑Atlantic**: Containerized consumer goods from Europe (e.g., Germany’s machinery, UK’s fashion) arrive via the **Port of Rotterdam → Houston → Dallas** rail corridor.
- **Trans‑Pacific**: Asian electronics (China, South Korea, Japan) follow the **Port of Los Angeles → Dallas** intermodal route, leveraging the **Southern Transcontinental Rail Line**.
### Dominant Cargo Types
| Cargo Category | Approx. Share of Throughput | Typical Origins/Destinations |
|----------------|----------------------------|------------------------------|
| **Automotive Parts & Vehicles** | 22 % | Imports from Mexico & Japan; Exports to Midwest distributors |
| **Agricultural Commodities** (grain, soy, corn) | 18 % | Exports to Gulf ports; Imports of specialty feed |
| **Consumer Packaged Goods** (electronics, apparel) | 16 % | Imports from Asia & Europe; Domestic distribution |
| **Industrial Metals & Steel** | 14 % | Imports from Canada; Regional construction projects |
| **Cold‑Chain Products** (food, pharma) | 12 % | Imports from South America; Domestic market supply |
| **Bulk Materials** (sand, aggregates) | 9 % | River barge deliveries; Local construction use |
| **Others** (project cargo, hazardous material) | 9 % | Specialized manufacturers |
### Key Trade Partners
- **United States (Domestic)**: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Midwest manufacturing hubs.
- **Mexico**: Automotive components, maquiladora finished goods.
- **Canada**: Steel, lumber, and forest products.
- **Europe**: Machinery, chemical products, and fashion.
- **Asia**: Consumer electronics, apparel, and automotive parts.
### Notable Shipping Alliances
Dallas’s rail connections are integrated into the **Alliance 1 (UP)** and **Alliance 2 (BNSF)** network schedules, providing **40‑hour transit** from the **Port of Houston** to Dallas—significantly faster than truck‑only routes, which average **60 hours**. The port also participates in the **Intermodal Express (IX) program**, a collaborative effort between major rail carriers to guarantee **on‑time delivery** for time‑critical shipments.
### Outlook & Emerging Trends
The rise of **near‑shoring** and **on‑demand manufacturing** is expected to boost demand for rapid customs clearance and high‑throughput intermodal capacity, reinforcing Dallas’s role as a **logistics hub for the “Four‑Corners” region** (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana). Additionally, the implementation of **blockchain‑enabled trade documentation** (e.g., **TradeLens**) promises to further streamline processing times, positioning the Port of Dallas at the forefront of digital maritime trade.
*For detailed UN/LOCODE data and official port statistics, see the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN ECE) database*【https://unece.org/trade/locode】 *and the Texas Port Authority’s annual report*【https://www.tpa.texas.gov】.
Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
USDAL
Country
United States
Province / Region
Texas
Latitude
32.776664
Longitude
-96.796988
Timezone
America/Chicago
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
Loading Map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Dallas?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Dallas is USDAL.
Where is Port of Dallas located?
The Port of Dallas is located in United States, Texas. Its coordinates are 32.7767°N, -96.7970°E.
What time zone is Port of Dallas in?
Port of Dallas operates in the America/Chicago time zone.
🌊 Live Marine Conditions
Wave Height m
Wave Direction°
Swell Height m
Data provided by Open-Meteo Marine API
Scanning Local Infrastructure...
About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
📍 Nearby Ports
Other maritime facilities geographically close to Dallas.
Fort Worth
United States • 50 km awayHouston
United States • 364 km awayTulsa
United States • 383 km awayBeaumont
United States • 393 km away