Freight Shipping from Wilmington to Jacksonville
Ship freight from Wilmington, DE to Jacksonville, FL with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,058-$2,536, LTL from $726-$1,213. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
957 mi
Drive Time
17 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,058-$2,536
LTL Rate Est.
$726-$1,213
Industrial Freight Lane
Wilmington → Jacksonville Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
130–154
running this lane
Weekly Loads
82–99
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
68/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$16–$27 one-way passing through DE, FL, TN, VA, OH, SC, 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.
Wilmington to Jacksonville Freight Corridor
Wilmington punches far above its size thanks to Delaware's corporate-friendly laws that have attracted over a million business registrations. More practically for freight, the city's chemical heritage (DuPont was founded here in 1802) means the region has deep infrastructure for hazmat transportation, including specialized tank wash facilities, chemical storage terminals, and a carrier base experienced in RCRA and DOT hazmat compliance. The Port of Wilmington is the top banana-importing port in North America.
Jacksonville is where the Southeast's freight arteries converge. As CSX's headquarters city and the junction of I-95 and I-10, Jax controls rail and truck freight flows between the entire Eastern Seaboard and the Gulf Coast. JAXPORT is the #1 vehicle-import port in the US, processing over 700,000 vehicles annually that Southeast Toyota and other distributors truck to dealerships across the Southeast. The city's geographic position makes it the ideal repositioning hub for carriers running Florida's north-south lanes.
The Wilmington-to-Jacksonville corridor spans 957 miles via I-95. This lane connects pharmaceuticals and chemical manufacturing freight from the Wilmington market to logistics & distribution and automotive import processing demand in Jacksonville. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Wilmington
Wilmington's economy is driven by pharmaceuticals, chemical manufacturing, financial services, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
pharmaceuticals
specialty chemicals
financial documents
poultry (Delmarva)
nylon & polymers
automotive coatings
What Jacksonville Receives
Jacksonville's logistics & distribution, automotive import processing, financial services sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Wilmington.
automobiles (import)
consumer goods
construction materials
containerized cargo
military supplies
food products
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Wilmington and Jacksonville, 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.
$2,058-$2,536 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.
$2,536-$3,206 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.
$2,727-$3,493 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$3,015-$4,067 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Wilmington to Jacksonville lane (957 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,058-$2,536 | 17 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $726-$1,213 | 19-21 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $3,110-$4,307 | 12 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,292-$1,770 | 20-22 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Wilmington and Jacksonville that drive volume on this lane.
AstraZeneca
DuPont (now Corteva/IFF)
Chemours
CSX Transportation (HQ)
Southeast Toyota Distributors
Johnson & Johnson Vision
Shipping Tips for Wilmington to Jacksonville
Wilmington Seasonal Advisory
Banana imports through the Port of Wilmington are year-round but peak in summer. Pharmaceutical shipments maintain steady cadence with slight Q4 increases for flu vaccine distribution. Delmarva poultry production peaks ahead of summer grilling season.
Jacksonville Seasonal Advisory
Vehicle import volume peaks in spring (new model year distribution) and fall. Hurricane season can temporarily disrupt port operations. Snowbird migration (October-November) drives a surge in household goods shipments headed to Central and South Florida.
Overnight Transit
This 957-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 Wilmington and Jacksonville — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Wilmington, DE
- Metro Population
- 715K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.35-$2.70/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-495, SR-1
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Edgemoor Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Wilmington (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Edgemoor/I-495 area, New Castle Airport zone
“Delaware has no sales tax, which makes Wilmington a magnet for e-commerce fulfillment centers shipping to the dense Northeast corridor. Amazon and other retailers can ship to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and New Jersey from Delaware without collecting state sales tax on qualifying transactions.”
Destination
Jacksonville, FL
- Metro Population
- 1.6M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-10, I-295
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area); NS Jacksonville Terminal
- Port Access
- JAXPORT (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Westside/I-10 Corridor, Northside/JAXPORT area, Imeson Industrial Park
“Jacksonville is the re-positioning capital of Florida freight. Carriers dropping loads in Miami or Tampa routinely deadhead to Jax to grab northbound I-95 loads rather than searching for scarce outbound freight in South Florida.”
Return Loads from Jacksonville
Jacksonville generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Wilmington is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Jacksonville
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
Wilmington to Jacksonville Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Wilmington to Jacksonville?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Wilmington, DE to Jacksonville, FL currently range $2,058-$2,536 (roughly $2.17-$2.66 per mile over 957 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $726-$1,213 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 Wilmington to Jacksonville?
Standard FTL transit from Wilmington to Jacksonville is approximately 17 hrs by truck over 957 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 Norfolk Southern Edgemoor Yard to CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Wilmington to Jacksonville freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Wilmington commonly ships pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, financial documents, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Jacksonville commonly receives automobiles (import), consumer goods, construction materials. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Jacksonville to Wilmington?
Strong backhaul (scored 68/100 based on Jacksonville's outbound commodity mix). Jacksonville generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Wilmington is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Jacksonville's top outbound commodities — imported vehicles, paper & pulp products, containerized goods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Wilmington to Jacksonville?
The Wilmington-to-Jacksonville corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Wilmington's top outbound commodities include pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, financial documents, poultry (Delmarva), nylon & polymers, automotive coatings. Jacksonville's primary inbound freight includes automobiles (import), consumer goods, construction materials, containerized cargo, military supplies, food products. Industries driving this lane include pharmaceuticals and chemical manufacturing from Wilmington and logistics & distribution and automotive import processing in Jacksonville.
When are rates highest on the Wilmington to Jacksonville lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to pharmaceuticals and chemical manufacturing 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 Wilmington to Jacksonville
We maintain working relationships with 130+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Wilmington–Jacksonville 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