Freight Shipping from Joliet to Savannah
Ship freight from Joliet, IL to Savannah, GA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,118-$2,610, LTL from $742-$1,237. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
985 mi
Drive Time
18 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,118-$2,610
LTL Rate Est.
$742-$1,237
Port Drayage Corridor
Joliet → Savannah Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
135–157
running this lane
Weekly Loads
40–58
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.18–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
90/100
Excellent
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$16–$27 one-way passing through IL, GA, TN, KY, VA, OH, NC. 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 Savannah 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.
The Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal is the largest single-operator container terminal in North America, and it has reshaped Southeast freight flows over the past decade. Georgia Ports Authority's $3 billion investment in the Mason Mega Rail terminal allows double-stacked trains to reach Midwestern markets in under 48 hours, pulling volume away from East Coast competitors. For a metro of just 400K people, Savannah moves a staggering amount of freight — container volumes rivaling ports in metros 10 times its size.
The Joliet-to-Savannah corridor spans 985 miles via I-80, I-55, I-16, I-95. This lane connects intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution freight from the Joliet market to port operations and logistics & warehousing demand in Savannah. 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 Savannah Receives
Savannah's port operations, logistics & warehousing, manufacturing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Joliet.
containerized imports
automobiles
machinery
raw materials
chemicals
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Joliet and Savannah, 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.
$2,118-$2,610 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.
$2,807-$3,595 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$3,103-$4,186 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.
$742-$1,237 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Joliet to Savannah lane (985 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,118-$2,610 | 18 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $742-$1,237 | 20-22 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $3,201-$4,433 | 12 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,330-$1,822 | 21-23 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Joliet and Savannah that drive volume on this lane.
Walmart (Elwood Mega-DC)
Amazon (CenterPoint)
IKEA Distribution
Georgia Ports Authority
Gulfstream Aerospace
International Paper
Shipping Tips for Joliet to Savannah
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.
Savannah Seasonal Advisory
Import peak season (August-November) for holiday retail. Kaolin clay shipments from middle Georgia mines run year-round. Paper mill production is steady but dips slightly during summer maintenance shutdowns.
Overnight Transit
This 985-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 Savannah — 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
Savannah, GA
- Metro Population
- 404K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-16, I-95, US-80
- Rail / Intermodal
- NS Savannah Intermodal (Mason Mega Rail); CSX Savannah Terminal
- Port Access
- Port of Savannah/Garden City Terminal (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- West Chatham/I-16, Pooler/I-95, Garden City Terminal area
“Savannah's port is the "relief valve" for East Coast shippers frustrated with congestion at New York/New Jersey and Charleston. During port disruptions elsewhere, Savannah volumes spike 20-30%, creating sudden carrier demand that pushes spot rates well above contract levels.”
Return Loads from Savannah
Savannah is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Joliet typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Savannah
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 Savannah Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Joliet to Savannah?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Joliet, IL to Savannah, GA currently range $2,118-$2,610 (roughly $2.18-$2.66 per mile over 985 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $742-$1,237 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 Savannah?
Standard FTL transit from Joliet to Savannah is approximately 18 hrs by truck over 985 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 NS Savannah Intermodal (Mason Mega Rail) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Joliet to Savannah 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. Savannah commonly receives containerized imports, automobiles, machinery. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Savannah to Joliet?
Excellent backhaul (scored 90/100 based on Savannah's outbound commodity mix). Savannah is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Joliet typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate. Savannah's top outbound commodities — containerized imports (redistributed), paper & pulp products, kaolin clay — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Joliet to Savannah?
The Joliet-to-Savannah corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Joliet's top outbound commodities include redistributed consumer goods, intermodal containers, packaged foods, building materials, automotive parts, e-commerce parcels. Savannah's primary inbound freight includes containerized imports, automobiles, machinery, raw materials, chemicals, retail merchandise. Industries driving this lane include intermodal logistics and warehousing & distribution from Joliet and port operations and logistics & warehousing in Savannah.
When are rates highest on the Joliet to Savannah 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 Savannah
We maintain working relationships with 135+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Joliet–Savannah 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