Freight Shipping from Joliet to Newark
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
Fresh Food Lane
Joliet → Newark Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
131–148
running this lane
Weekly Loads
83–96
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
79/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$44–$73 one-way passing through IL, NJ, OH. 2 typical fuel stops 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.
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.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,027-$2,499 | 17 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $719-$1,202 | 19-21 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $3,065-$4,244 | 11 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,273-$1,745 | 20-22 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.
Logistics Infrastructure
How freight actually flows in and out of Joliet and Newark — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
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.”
Destination
Newark, NJ
- Metro Population
- 2.0M metro (Newark-Union)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.60-$3.10/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95/NJ Turnpike, I-78, I-280
- Rail / Intermodal
- Port Newark Container Terminal; ExpressRail Elizabeth Intermodal
- Port Access
- Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Elizabeth/Port District, Kearny/Meadowlands, Linden/I-95 South
“Port Newark drayage is a specialized market where chassis availability, terminal turn times, and demurrage/detention charges can make or break profitability. Experienced port truckers who understand terminal gate procedures and chassis pool logistics consistently outperform general freight carriers attempting to enter this market.”
Return Loads from Newark
Newark generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Joliet is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Newark
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
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 $2,027-$2,499 (roughly $2.16-$2.67 per mile over 943 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $719-$1,202 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 Joliet to Newark?
Standard FTL transit from Joliet to Newark is approximately 17 hrs by truck over 943 miles, with 2 typical fuel stops 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%. Intermodal rail-truck service via UP Global IV Intermodal (Joliet) to Port Newark Container Terminal 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?
Strong backhaul (scored 79/100 based on Newark's outbound commodity mix). Newark generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Joliet is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Newark's top outbound commodities — containerized exports, pharmaceuticals, refined petroleum — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Joliet to Newark?
The Joliet-to-Newark corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. 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.
What tolls should I expect on the Joliet to Newark route?
Expect roughly $44-$73 in tolls round-trip passing through IL, NJ, OH. Most rate quotes either include tolls in the line-haul or bill them as a separate pass-through — ask your dispatcher to confirm which model applies to your lane.
When are rates highest on the Joliet to Newark lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution 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.
Get Exact Rates for Joliet to Newark
We maintain working relationships with 131+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Joliet–Newark 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