Freight Shipping from Philadelphia to Baltimore
Ship freight from Philadelphia, PA to Baltimore, MD with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $249-$307, LTL from $264-$499. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
116 mi
Drive Time
2 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$249-$307
LTL Rate Est.
$264-$499
Fresh Food Lane
Philadelphia → Baltimore Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
195–220
running this lane
Weekly Loads
229–242
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
68/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$6–$9 one-way passing through PA, MD. 1 typical fuel stop along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Tue, Wed, Thu. Avoid: Sun, Mon AM, Fri PM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Philadelphia to Baltimore Freight Corridor
Philadelphia commands the Delaware River waterfront with PhilaPort, the fastest-growing port on the East Coast and the nation's top import point for fresh fruit, cocoa beans, and forest products. The metro's pharmaceutical corridor — stretching from the Navy Yard to the western suburbs — houses major operations from GSK, AstraZeneca, and dozens of biotech firms generating high-value temperature-controlled freight. The I-95/I-76/New Jersey Turnpike interchange makes Philadelphia the Northeast's critical freight chokepoint.
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.
The Philadelphia-to-Baltimore corridor spans 116 miles via I-95. This lane connects pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining freight from the Philadelphia market to port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals demand in Baltimore. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Philadelphia
Philadelphia's economy is driven by pharmaceuticals & biotech, petroleum refining, food processing, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
refined petroleum
pharmaceuticals
processed foods
chemicals
medical devices
containerized exports
What Baltimore Receives
Baltimore's port logistics, biotech & pharmaceuticals, automotive import/export sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Philadelphia.
imported vehicles
containerized goods
farm equipment
crude sugar
gypsum
roll-on/roll-off cargo
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Philadelphia and Baltimore, 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.
$249-$307 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.
$307-$389 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$365-$493 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.
$264-$499 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Philadelphia to Baltimore lane (116 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $249-$307 | 2 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $264-$499 | 4-6 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $377-$522 | 1 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Philadelphia and Baltimore that drive volume on this lane.
Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES)
Comcast (HQ)
Campbell Soup (Camden)
Under Armour
McCormick & Company
Amazon BWI Fulfillment
Shipping Tips for Philadelphia to Baltimore
Philadelphia Seasonal Advisory
Fresh fruit imports peak January through April (Chilean fruit season). Pharmaceutical shipments maintain steady year-round volume with slight spikes during flu vaccine distribution (August-October). Holiday retail import surge hits September through November.
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.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 116 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 Philadelphia and Baltimore — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Philadelphia, PA
- Metro Population
- 6.2M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-76, I-476
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Philadelphia Terminal; CSX Greenwich Yard; PhilaPort Packer Avenue Marine Terminal
- Port Access
- PhilaPort — Port of Philadelphia (Delaware River, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Northeast Philadelphia/I-95 Corridor, King of Prussia/I-76 West, South Jersey/I-295 (Camden-Gloucester)
“PhilaPort's concentration in perishable imports creates a natural reefer freight ecosystem — carriers delivering produce from Central and South America can backhaul pharmaceuticals and processed foods northbound on I-95 or westbound on I-76, maintaining cold chain both ways.”
Destination
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.”
Return Loads from Baltimore
Baltimore generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Philadelphia is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Baltimore
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Philadelphia to Baltimore Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Philadelphia to Baltimore?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Philadelphia, PA to Baltimore, MD currently range $249-$307 (roughly $2.17-$2.65 per mile over 116 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $264-$499 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently tight 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 Philadelphia to Baltimore?
Standard FTL transit from Philadelphia to Baltimore is approximately 2 hrs by truck over 116 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 Philadelphia to Baltimore freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Philadelphia commonly ships refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Baltimore commonly receives imported vehicles, containerized goods, farm equipment. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Baltimore to Philadelphia?
Strong backhaul (scored 68/100 based on Baltimore's outbound commodity mix). Baltimore generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Philadelphia is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Baltimore's top outbound commodities — coal & bulk minerals, automobiles (re-export), poultry products — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Philadelphia to Baltimore?
The Philadelphia-to-Baltimore corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Fresh Food Lane. Philadelphia's top outbound commodities include refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, chemicals, medical devices, containerized exports. Baltimore's primary inbound freight includes imported vehicles, containerized goods, farm equipment, crude sugar, gypsum, roll-on/roll-off cargo. Industries driving this lane include pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining from Philadelphia and port logistics and biotech & pharmaceuticals in Baltimore.
When are rates highest on the Philadelphia to Baltimore lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining cycles. Key periods: Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Mon AM, Fri PM pickups when possible.
Can freight from Philadelphia to Baltimore be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 116 miles (2 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Philadelphia-to-Baltimore 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 2 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for Philadelphia to Baltimore
We maintain working relationships with 195+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Philadelphia–Baltimore 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