Freight Shipping from Baltimore to Wilmington
Ship freight from Baltimore, MD to Wilmington, DE with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $183-$225, LTL from $247-$472. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
85 mi
Drive Time
2 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$183-$225
LTL Rate Est.
$247-$472
Port Drayage Corridor
Baltimore → Wilmington Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
157–181
running this lane
Weekly Loads
89–107
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
59/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$2–$3 one-way passing through MD, DE. 1 typical fuel stop along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Tue, Wed, Thu. Avoid: Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Baltimore to Wilmington Freight Corridor
Baltimore's Port is the nation's top auto import hub, processing over 800,000 vehicles annually through its ro-ro terminals at Dundalk and Fairfield. Tradepoint Atlantic, the redeveloped Sparrows Point steel mill site, has become a 3,300-acre logistics campus attracting Amazon, FedEx, and Under Armour distribution operations. The I-95 corridor gives carriers direct access to the entire Northeast megalopolis.
Wilmington punches far above its size thanks to Delaware's corporate-friendly laws that have attracted over a million business registrations. More practically for freight, the city's chemical heritage (DuPont was founded here in 1802) means the region has deep infrastructure for hazmat transportation, including specialized tank wash facilities, chemical storage terminals, and a carrier base experienced in RCRA and DOT hazmat compliance. The Port of Wilmington is the top banana-importing port in North America.
The Baltimore-to-Wilmington corridor spans 85 miles via I-95. This lane connects port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals freight from the Baltimore market to pharmaceuticals and chemical manufacturing demand in Wilmington. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Baltimore
Baltimore's economy is driven by port logistics, biotech & pharmaceuticals, automotive import/export, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
coal & bulk minerals
automobiles (re-export)
poultry products
medical devices
steel products
spices & seasonings
What Wilmington Receives
Wilmington's pharmaceuticals, chemical manufacturing, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Baltimore.
chemical feedstocks
packaging materials
laboratory equipment
office supplies
consumer goods
raw materials
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Baltimore and Wilmington, these equipment types best serve this corridor.
Dry Van (FTL)
Ideal for palletized consumer goods, electronics, packaged foods, and general merchandise. Enclosed protection from weather and theft.
$183-$225 estimated for this lane
Refrigerated (Reefer)
Required for temperature-sensitive freight including fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Maintains precise temperature control throughout transit.
$225-$285 estimated for this lane
Flatbed
Best for steel, lumber, machinery, building materials, and oversized loads that cannot be palletized or loaded through standard dock doors.
$242-$310 estimated for this lane
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
Cost-effective for shipments under 10,000 lbs or fewer than 10 pallets. Shared trailer space with other shippers reduces cost for smaller loads.
$247-$472 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Baltimore to Wilmington lane (85 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $183-$225 | 2 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $247-$472 | 4-6 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $276-$383 | 1 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Baltimore and Wilmington that drive volume on this lane.
Under Armour
McCormick & Company
Amazon BWI Fulfillment
AstraZeneca
DuPont (now Corteva/IFF)
Chemours
Shipping Tips for Baltimore to Wilmington
Baltimore Seasonal Advisory
Auto import volumes peak in spring as dealers stock for summer selling season. Coal exports through Curtis Bay fluctuate with European energy prices and can spike dramatically during cold winters abroad.
Wilmington Seasonal Advisory
Banana imports through the Port of Wilmington are year-round but peak in summer. Pharmaceutical shipments maintain steady cadence with slight Q4 increases for flu vaccine distribution. Delmarva poultry production peaks ahead of summer grilling season.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 85 miles, a single driver can complete this route within a standard driving window. Expedited same-day service is available for time-critical shipments at a premium.
Book Early for Best Rates
Spot market rates fluctuate daily. Booking 3-5 days in advance typically saves 10-15% compared to same-day or next-day freight requests. For recurring shipments, ask about contract rates.
Logistics Infrastructure
How freight actually flows in and out of Baltimore and Wilmington — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Baltimore, MD
- Metro Population
- 2.8M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-695, I-70
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Baltimore Intermodal (ICTF); Norfolk Southern Bayview Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Baltimore (Helen Delich Bentley, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Sparrows Point/Tradepoint Atlantic, BWI/Linthicum Corridor, White Marsh/I-95 North
“The Port of Baltimore handles more farm and construction equipment than any other U.S. port. Flatbed carriers staging at Dundalk Marine Terminal can often combine a vehicle haul-away with oversize equipment loads, maximizing revenue per trip on the I-95 corridor.”
Destination
Wilmington, DE
- Metro Population
- 715K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.35-$2.70/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-495, SR-1
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Edgemoor Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Wilmington (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Edgemoor/I-495 area, New Castle Airport zone
“Delaware has no sales tax, which makes Wilmington a magnet for e-commerce fulfillment centers shipping to the dense Northeast corridor. Amazon and other retailers can ship to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Jersey from Delaware without collecting state sales tax on qualifying transactions.”
Return Loads from Wilmington
Backhaul from Wilmington to Baltimore requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Wilmington
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Baltimore to Wilmington Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Baltimore to Wilmington?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Baltimore, MD to Wilmington, DE currently range $183-$225 (roughly $2.16-$2.66 per mile over 85 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $247-$472 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently balanced on this corridor, so booking 3-5 days out locks in the best pricing. Request a custom quote for exact rates.
How long does freight take from Baltimore to Wilmington?
Standard FTL transit from Baltimore to Wilmington is approximately 2 hrs by truck over 85 miles, with 1 typical fuel stop along the corridor. LTL shipments add 2-4 business days due to terminal transfers. Expedited service with team drivers can reduce FTL transit by up to 40%.
What equipment do I need for Baltimore to Wilmington freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Baltimore commonly ships coal & bulk minerals, automobiles (re-export), poultry products, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Wilmington commonly receives chemical feedstocks, packaging materials, laboratory equipment. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Wilmington to Baltimore?
Moderate backhaul (scored 59/100 based on Wilmington's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Wilmington to Baltimore requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Wilmington's top outbound commodities — pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, financial documents — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Baltimore to Wilmington?
The Baltimore-to-Wilmington corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Baltimore's top outbound commodities include coal & bulk minerals, automobiles (re-export), poultry products, medical devices, steel products, spices & seasonings. Wilmington's primary inbound freight includes chemical feedstocks, packaging materials, laboratory equipment, office supplies, consumer goods, raw materials. Industries driving this lane include port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals from Baltimore and pharmaceuticals and chemical manufacturing in Wilmington.
When are rates highest on the Baltimore to Wilmington lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable); Mar-Oct (construction season) (+8-14% on flatbed). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Can freight from Baltimore to Wilmington be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 85 miles (2 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Baltimore-to-Wilmington lane in one shift. Same-day delivery requires booking before 9 AM local time at origin and confirming dock availability at destination. Expedited service runs 1 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for Baltimore to Wilmington
We maintain working relationships with 157+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Baltimore–Wilmington corridor. Tell us about your freight and we will match you with one that fits your commodity, timing, and budget. Free quote, no obligation.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM CT | No obligation, no contracts