Freight Shipping from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
Ship freight from Philadelphia, PA to Pittsburgh, PA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $718-$885, LTL from $384-$684. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
334 mi
Drive Time
6 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$718-$885
LTL Rate Est.
$384-$684
Industrial Freight Lane
Philadelphia → Pittsburgh Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
152–170
running this lane
Weekly Loads
188–208
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
74/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$24–$40 one-way passing through PA. 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 Pittsburgh 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.
Pittsburgh has reinvented itself from bulk steel to high-tech manufacturing, but freight still flows heavy from this river city. U.S. Steel and PPG Industries maintain headquarters here, and the three-river confluence creates the nation's second-busiest inland port by tonnage. The emerging autonomous vehicle corridor — Aurora, Argo AI, and Carnegie Mellon's robotics spinoffs — adds a new class of high-value, specialized freight moving between testing facilities and manufacturing partners.
The Philadelphia-to-Pittsburgh corridor spans 334 miles via I-76. This lane connects pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining freight from the Philadelphia market to advanced manufacturing and robotics & ai demand in Pittsburgh. 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 Pittsburgh Receives
Pittsburgh's advanced manufacturing, robotics & ai, healthcare sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Philadelphia.
raw metals
electronic components
coal
natural gas equipment
consumer goods
medical supplies
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, 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.
$718-$885 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.
$885-$1,119 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.
$952-$1,219 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$1,052-$1,420 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Philadelphia to Pittsburgh lane (334 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $718-$885 | 6 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $384-$684 | 8-10 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,086-$1,503 | 4 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh that drive volume on this lane.
Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES)
Comcast (HQ)
Campbell Soup (Camden)
U.S. Steel (HQ)
PPG Industries (HQ)
UPMC Health System
Shipping Tips for Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
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.
Pittsburgh Seasonal Advisory
Construction season (April-November) drives the strongest demand for steel and building materials freight. Natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region generates year-round oilfield equipment moves, with spikes when new wells are permitted.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 334 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 Pittsburgh — 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
Pittsburgh, PA
- Metro Population
- 2.4M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-76, I-79, I-376
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Pitcairn Intermodal; CSX McKees Rocks Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Pittsburgh (Ohio/Allegheny/Monongahela Rivers, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Findlay Township/I-376 Airport Corridor, Cranberry Township/I-79 North, Monroeville/I-76 East
“Pittsburgh's river system handles 30+ million tons of barge freight annually, primarily coal, aggregates, and chemicals. Carriers who serve the transloading facilities along the Mon Valley can access heavy-haul loads that are impossible to source from traditional load boards.”
Return Loads from Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Philadelphia is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Pittsburgh
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 Pittsburgh Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Philadelphia, PA to Pittsburgh, PA currently range $718-$885 (roughly $2.16-$2.65 per mile over 334 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $384-$684 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 Pittsburgh?
Standard FTL transit from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh is approximately 6 hrs by truck over 334 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 Pittsburgh freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Philadelphia commonly ships refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Pittsburgh commonly receives raw metals, electronic components, coal. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia?
Strong backhaul (scored 74/100 based on Pittsburgh's outbound commodity mix). Pittsburgh generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Philadelphia is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Pittsburgh's top outbound commodities — specialty steel, industrial equipment, medical devices — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh?
The Philadelphia-to-Pittsburgh 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. Pittsburgh's primary inbound freight includes raw metals, electronic components, coal, natural gas equipment, consumer goods, medical supplies. Industries driving this lane include pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining from Philadelphia and advanced manufacturing and robotics & AI in Pittsburgh.
When are rates highest on the Philadelphia to Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh be delivered same-day?
Yes. At 334 miles (6 hrs driving), a single driver can complete the Philadelphia-to-Pittsburgh 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 5 hours with priority handling.
Get Exact Rates for Philadelphia to Pittsburgh
We maintain working relationships with 152+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Philadelphia–Pittsburgh 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