Freight Shipping from Detroit to Joliet
Ship freight from Detroit, MI to Joliet, IL with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $740-$912, LTL from $389-$692. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
344 mi
Drive Time
6 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$740-$912
LTL Rate Est.
$389-$692
Port Drayage Corridor
Detroit → Joliet Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
165–183
running this lane
Weekly Loads
89–107
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.15–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
63/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$10–$17 one-way passing through MI, IL, OH. 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.
Detroit to Joliet Freight Corridor
Detroit remains the undisputed capital of North American automotive freight. The Big Three automakers and hundreds of tier-1 suppliers generate an enormous volume of JIT parts shipments crisscrossing the Ambassador Bridge to Canadian assembly plants daily. The EV transition is reshaping freight flows, with massive battery plants from GM (Ultium) and Ford drawing new inbound raw materials from lithium and nickel sources.
Joliet and its surrounding Will County communities sit atop the most concentrated intermodal and distribution infrastructure in the Western Hemisphere. The CenterPoint Intermodal Center, spanning over 6,000 acres, combines UP's Global IV facility with over 30 million square feet of distribution space occupied by Walmart, Amazon, IKEA, and dozens of other major shippers. This is where West Coast container imports transition from rail to truck for final-mile delivery across the Midwest and Northeast.
The Detroit-to-Joliet corridor spans 344 miles via I-75, I-94, I-80, I-55. This lane connects automotive manufacturing and autonomous vehicle tech freight from the Detroit market to intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution demand in Joliet. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Detroit
Detroit's economy is driven by automotive manufacturing, autonomous vehicle tech, steel processing, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
finished vehicles
automotive parts & assemblies
steel coils
engines & transmissions
EV batteries
machine tools
What Joliet Receives
Joliet's intermodal logistics, warehousing & distribution, e-commerce fulfillment sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Detroit.
containerized imports (from West Coast)
raw materials
food products
retail merchandise
industrial supplies
automotive components
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Detroit and Joliet, 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.
$740-$912 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.
$980-$1,256 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.
$389-$692 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Detroit to Joliet lane (344 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $740-$912 | 6 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $389-$692 | 8-10 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,118-$1,548 | 4 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Detroit and Joliet that drive volume on this lane.
General Motors
Ford Motor Company
Stellantis (Chrysler)
Walmart (Elwood Mega-DC)
Amazon (CenterPoint)
IKEA Distribution
Shipping Tips for Detroit to Joliet
Detroit Seasonal Advisory
Automotive production follows a predictable cycle with two-week shutdowns in July and late December. Model changeover periods (August-September) create surge demand for tooling and equipment freight as assembly lines are retooled.
Joliet Seasonal Advisory
Q4 holiday freight creates near-gridlock conditions on I-80 and I-55 as intermodal volume peaks. January sees a dramatic drop-off. Spring produce season restocks create a secondary peak in March-April.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 344 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 Detroit and Joliet — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Detroit, MI
- Metro Population
- 4.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.20-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-75, I-94, I-96
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Detroit Intermodal; CSX Livernois Junction
- Port Access
- Ambassador Bridge & Detroit-Windsor Tunnel (Canada border, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Romulus/I-94 Airport Corridor, Warren/Sterling Heights, Woodhaven/Downriver
“The Ambassador Bridge and the new Gordie Howe International Bridge handle over 8,000 trucks daily, making the Detroit-Windsor corridor the busiest commercial land crossing in North America. FAST card-holding drivers command premium rates for cross-border automotive lanes.”
Destination
Joliet, IL
- Metro Population
- 150K city (part of Chicago metro)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, I-55, US-30
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Global IV Intermodal (Joliet); BNSF Logistics Park Chicago (Elwood)
- Warehouse Districts
- CenterPoint Intermodal Center, Elwood/Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery area, Channahon/I-55
“Carriers positioning at the Joliet intermodal yards can often find loads within 30 minutes of arrival. The density of freight here is so high that owner-operators frequently run 3-4 short-haul loads per day to Chicago-area delivery points, earning more than a single long-haul run.”
Return Loads from Joliet
Backhaul from Joliet to Detroit requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Joliet
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
Detroit to Joliet Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Detroit to Joliet?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Detroit, MI to Joliet, IL currently range $740-$912 (roughly $2.15-$2.66 per mile over 344 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $389-$692 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 Detroit to Joliet?
Standard FTL transit from Detroit to Joliet is approximately 6 hrs by truck over 344 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 Detroit to Joliet freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Detroit commonly ships finished vehicles, automotive parts & assemblies, steel coils, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Joliet commonly receives containerized imports (from West Coast), raw materials, food products. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Joliet to Detroit?
Moderate backhaul (scored 63/100 based on Joliet's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Joliet to Detroit requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Joliet's top outbound commodities — redistributed consumer goods, intermodal containers, packaged foods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Detroit to Joliet?
The Detroit-to-Joliet corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Detroit's top outbound commodities include finished vehicles, automotive parts & assemblies, steel coils, engines & transmissions, EV batteries, machine tools. Joliet's primary inbound freight includes containerized imports (from West Coast), raw materials, food products, retail merchandise, industrial supplies, automotive components. Industries driving this lane include automotive manufacturing and autonomous vehicle tech from Detroit and intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution in Joliet.
When are rates highest on the Detroit to Joliet lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to automotive manufacturing and autonomous vehicle tech 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 Detroit to Joliet be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 344 miles (6 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Detroit-to-Joliet 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 5 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for Detroit to Joliet
We maintain working relationships with 165+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Detroit–Joliet 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