Freight Shipping from Philadelphia to Hartford
Ship freight from Philadelphia, PA to Hartford, CT with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $505-$623, LTL from $329-$600. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
235 mi
Drive Time
4 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$505-$623
LTL Rate Est.
$329-$600
Industrial Freight Lane
Philadelphia → Hartford Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
158–182
running this lane
Weekly Loads
192–205
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
58/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$13–$21 one-way passing through PA, CT. 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 Hartford 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.
Hartford is the jet engine capital of the world. Pratt & Whitney's sprawling East Hartford campus and its network of Connecticut suppliers produce engines for military and commercial aircraft, generating some of the highest-value freight per load anywhere in the US. A single jet engine shipment can be worth $15-30 million, requiring specialized air-ride trailers, armed escorts, and real-time GPS monitoring. The dense cluster of precision manufacturers along the I-91 corridor makes this region uniquely important to national defense.
The Philadelphia-to-Hartford corridor spans 235 miles via I-95, I-76, I-91, I-84. This lane connects pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining freight from the Philadelphia market to insurance and aerospace manufacturing demand in Hartford. 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 Hartford Receives
Hartford's insurance, aerospace manufacturing, defense sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Philadelphia.
aerospace raw materials (titanium, nickel alloys)
electronic components
industrial chemicals
office equipment
consumer goods
construction materials
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Philadelphia and Hartford, 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.
$505-$623 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.
$623-$787 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.
$670-$858 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$740-$999 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Philadelphia to Hartford lane (235 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $505-$623 | 4 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $329-$600 | 6-8 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $764-$1,058 | 3 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Philadelphia and Hartford that drive volume on this lane.
Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES)
Comcast (HQ)
Campbell Soup (Camden)
Pratt & Whitney (RTX)
Collins Aerospace
Stanley Black & Decker
Shipping Tips for Philadelphia to Hartford
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.
Hartford Seasonal Advisory
Aerospace manufacturing maintains steady year-round production. Defense contract deliveries spike around fiscal year-end (September). Heating oil deliveries add seasonal tanker demand from October through March.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 235 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 Hartford — 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
Hartford, CT
- Metro Population
- 1.2M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.40-$2.75/mi
- Key Highways
- I-91, I-84, I-291
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX West Springfield (MA) Terminal
- Warehouse Districts
- Windsor/I-91 Corridor, East Hartford/Silver Lane
“Aerospace freight from Hartford often moves on "white glove" contracts with strict vibration, temperature, and security requirements. Carriers entering this market need ISO 9001 compliance and sometimes ITAR registration, but the premium rates (often 40-60% above market) reward the investment.”
Return Loads from Hartford
Backhaul from Hartford to Philadelphia requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Hartford
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Philadelphia to Hartford Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Philadelphia to Hartford?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Philadelphia, PA to Hartford, CT currently range $505-$623 (roughly $2.17-$2.67 per mile over 235 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $329-$600 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 Hartford?
Standard FTL transit from Philadelphia to Hartford is approximately 4 hrs by truck over 235 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 Hartford freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Philadelphia commonly ships refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Hartford commonly receives aerospace raw materials (titanium, nickel alloys), electronic components, industrial chemicals. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Hartford to Philadelphia?
Moderate backhaul (scored 58/100 based on Hartford's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Hartford to Philadelphia requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Hartford's top outbound commodities — jet engines, helicopter components, insurance documents (specialized) — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Philadelphia to Hartford?
The Philadelphia-to-Hartford corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Philadelphia's top outbound commodities include refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, chemicals, medical devices, containerized exports. Hartford's primary inbound freight includes aerospace raw materials (titanium, nickel alloys), electronic components, industrial chemicals, office equipment, consumer goods, construction materials. Industries driving this lane include pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining from Philadelphia and insurance and aerospace manufacturing in Hartford.
When are rates highest on the Philadelphia to Hartford 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); 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.
Can freight from Philadelphia to Hartford be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 235 miles (4 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Philadelphia-to-Hartford 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 4 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for Philadelphia to Hartford
We maintain working relationships with 158+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Philadelphia–Hartford 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