Freight Shipping from Joliet to Newark

943 miles17 hrs transitRates in 15 Minutes

Ship freight from Joliet, IL to Newark, NJ with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,027-$2,499, LTL from $719-$1,202. No hidden fees, no re-bills.

Distance

943 mi

Drive Time

17 hrs

FTL Rate Est.

$2,027-$2,499

LTL Rate Est.

$719-$1,202

Joliet to Newark Freight Corridor

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.

Newark is the epicenter of East Coast container freight, with Port Newark-Elizabeth handling 8+ million TEUs annually as the busiest port on the Atlantic seaboard. The drayage market from the port terminals to regional distribution centers is one of the highest-volume, most competitive trucking segments in the nation. Newark Liberty Airport adds significant air cargo volume, making this one of the densest multimodal freight zones in the world.

The Joliet-to-Newark corridor spans 943 miles via I-80, I-55, I-95/NJ Turnpike, I-78. This lane connects intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution freight from the Joliet market to port logistics & drayage and air cargo demand in Newark. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.

What Ships from Joliet

Joliet's economy is driven by intermodal logistics, warehousing & distribution, e-commerce fulfillment, generating consistent outbound freight demand.

redistributed consumer goods

intermodal containers

packaged foods

building materials

automotive parts

e-commerce parcels

What Newark Receives

Newark's port logistics & drayage, air cargo, pharmaceuticals sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Joliet.

imported containers (all categories)

consumer electronics

apparel & textiles

furniture

automotive parts

food imports

Recommended Equipment

Based on the commodities moving between Joliet and Newark, 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.

$2,027-$2,499 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.

$2,688-$3,442 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.

$719-$1,202 estimated for this lane

Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode

Estimated rates for the Joliet to Newark lane (943 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.

ModeRate EstimateTransit
FTL (Full Truckload)$2,027-$2,49917 hrs
LTL (Less Than Truckload)$719-$1,20219-21 days
Expedited / Hot Shot$3,065-$4,24411 hrs
Intermodal (Rail + Truck)$1,273-$1,74520-22 days

Major Shippers on This Corridor

Key freight generators in both Joliet and Newark that drive volume on this lane.

Walmart (Elwood Mega-DC)

Amazon (CenterPoint)

IKEA Distribution

Maersk (Port Newark)

Amazon EWR Fulfillment

Anheuser-Busch Newark

Shipping Tips for Joliet to Newark

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.

Newark Seasonal Advisory

Import volumes peak August through October as retailers stock for the holiday season, creating severe chassis shortages and 3-5 day terminal wait times. Post-Lunar New Year (February-March) brings a second surge as Asian factories resume production.

Overnight Transit

This 943-mile route typically requires one overnight stop for a solo driver. Schedule pickup before noon for next-day delivery in most cases.

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.

Joliet to Newark Freight FAQs

How much does it cost to ship freight from Joliet to Newark?

Full truckload (FTL) rates from Joliet, IL to Newark, NJ currently range from $2,027-$2,499 for a standard dry van load over the 943-mile route. LTL shipments typically cost $719-$1,202 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Request a custom quote for exact pricing based on your specific shipment details.

How long does freight take from Joliet to Newark?

Standard FTL transit from Joliet to Newark is approximately 17 hrs by truck over 943 miles. LTL shipments add 2-4 business days due to terminal transfers. Expedited service with team drivers can reduce FTL transit by up to 40%. Intermodal rail-truck service takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.

What equipment do I need for Joliet to Newark freight?

Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Joliet commonly ships redistributed consumer goods, intermodal containers, packaged foods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Newark commonly receives imported containers (all categories), consumer electronics, apparel & textiles. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.

Is there good backhaul from Newark to Joliet?

Yes. Newark is a strong outbound market shipping containerized exports, pharmaceuticals, refined petroleum. Carriers returning from Newark to Joliet can pick up backhaul loads, which often means competitive rates on the Joliet-to-Newark lane since carriers factor in round-trip economics.

What commodities move from Joliet to Newark?

The Joliet-to-Newark corridor handles a diverse freight mix. Joliet's top outbound commodities include redistributed consumer goods, intermodal containers, packaged foods, building materials, automotive parts, e-commerce parcels. Newark's primary inbound freight includes imported containers (all categories), consumer electronics, apparel & textiles, furniture, automotive parts, food imports. Industries driving this lane include intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution from Joliet and port logistics & drayage and air cargo in Newark.

Get Exact Rates for Joliet to Newark

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