Freight Shipping from Philadelphia to Elizabeth
Ship freight from Philadelphia, PA to Elizabeth, NJ with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $196-$241, LTL from $250-$477. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
91 mi
Drive Time
2 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$196-$241
LTL Rate Est.
$250-$477
Port Drayage Corridor
Philadelphia → Elizabeth Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
154–174
running this lane
Weekly Loads
89–110
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.15–$2.67
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
$6–$10 one-way passing through PA, NJ. 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.
Philadelphia to Elizabeth 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.
Elizabeth is home to the largest container terminal complex in the Port of New York and New Jersey, processing millions of TEUs annually across the APM and Maersk terminals. The ExpressRail on-dock intermodal facility allows containers to move directly from ship to rail without a truck drayage move. Phillips 66's Bayway Refinery adds petroleum freight volume, while IKEA's massive distribution center serves the entire Northeast.
The Philadelphia-to-Elizabeth corridor spans 91 miles via I-95, I-76, NJ Turnpike, I-278 (Goethals Bridge). This lane connects pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining freight from the Philadelphia market to container port operations and intermodal logistics demand in Elizabeth. 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 Elizabeth Receives
Elizabeth's container port operations, intermodal logistics, petroleum refining sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Philadelphia.
imported containers
crude oil
consumer electronics
apparel
furniture & home goods
automotive parts
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Philadelphia and Elizabeth, 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.
$196-$241 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.
$241-$305 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$287-$387 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.
$250-$477 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Philadelphia to Elizabeth lane (91 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $196-$241 | 2 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $250-$477 | 4-6 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $296-$410 | 1 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Philadelphia and Elizabeth that drive volume on this lane.
Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES)
Comcast (HQ)
Campbell Soup (Camden)
APM Terminals (Elizabeth)
IKEA Elizabeth DC
Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery
Shipping Tips for Philadelphia to Elizabeth
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.
Elizabeth Seasonal Advisory
Peak import season (August-October) can extend vessel wait times to 5-7 days at anchor, cascading into terminal congestion and chassis shortages that ripple through the entire regional freight market.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 91 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 Elizabeth — 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
Elizabeth, NJ
- Metro Population
- 137K city (Union County 575K)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.55-$3.00/mi
- Key Highways
- NJ Turnpike, I-278 (Goethals Bridge), US-1/9
- Rail / Intermodal
- ExpressRail Elizabeth; APM Elizabeth Marine Terminal
- Port Access
- Elizabeth Marine Terminal (Port of NY/NJ, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Elizabeth Port District, Linden/Tremley Point
“Elizabeth's port terminals operate 24/7 with gate reservations becoming increasingly mandatory. Carriers who invest in port-specific technology (terminal appointment systems, chassis tracking apps) gain a significant efficiency advantage over those navigating the system manually.”
Return Loads from Elizabeth
Backhaul from Elizabeth to Philadelphia requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Elizabeth
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Philadelphia to Elizabeth Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Philadelphia to Elizabeth?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Philadelphia, PA to Elizabeth, NJ currently range $196-$241 (roughly $2.15-$2.67 per mile over 91 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $250-$477 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 Philadelphia to Elizabeth?
Standard FTL transit from Philadelphia to Elizabeth is approximately 2 hrs by truck over 91 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 Elizabeth freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Philadelphia commonly ships refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Elizabeth commonly receives imported containers, crude oil, consumer electronics. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Elizabeth to Philadelphia?
Moderate backhaul (scored 63/100 based on Elizabeth's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Elizabeth to Philadelphia requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Elizabeth's top outbound commodities — re-exported containers, refined petroleum, chemicals — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Philadelphia to Elizabeth?
The Philadelphia-to-Elizabeth corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. Philadelphia's top outbound commodities include refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, chemicals, medical devices, containerized exports. Elizabeth's primary inbound freight includes imported containers, crude oil, consumer electronics, apparel, furniture & home goods, automotive parts. Industries driving this lane include pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining from Philadelphia and container port operations and intermodal logistics in Elizabeth.
When are rates highest on the Philadelphia to Elizabeth lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Can freight from Philadelphia to Elizabeth be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 91 miles (2 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Philadelphia-to-Elizabeth 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 1 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for Philadelphia to Elizabeth
We maintain working relationships with 154+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Philadelphia–Elizabeth 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