Freight Shipping from Wilmington to Savannah
Ship freight from Wilmington, DE to Savannah, GA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,714-$2,112, LTL from $638-$1,077. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
797 mi
Drive Time
14 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,714-$2,112
LTL Rate Est.
$638-$1,077
Consumer Goods Corridor
Wilmington → Savannah Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
133–155
running this lane
Weekly Loads
35–53
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
66/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$14–$23 one-way passing through DE, GA, VA, OH, 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 Savannah 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.
The Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal is the largest single-operator container terminal in North America, and it has reshaped Southeast freight flows over the past decade. Georgia Ports Authority's $3 billion investment in the Mason Mega Rail terminal allows double-stacked trains to reach Midwestern markets in under 48 hours, pulling volume away from East Coast competitors. For a metro of just 400K people, Savannah moves a staggering amount of freight — container volumes rivaling ports in metros 10 times its size.
The Wilmington-to-Savannah corridor spans 797 miles via I-95. This lane connects pharmaceuticals and chemical manufacturing freight from the Wilmington market to port operations and logistics & warehousing demand in Savannah. 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 Savannah Receives
Savannah's port operations, logistics & warehousing, manufacturing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Wilmington.
containerized imports
automobiles
machinery
raw materials
chemicals
retail merchandise
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Wilmington and Savannah, 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.
$1,714-$2,112 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.
$2,112-$2,670 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.
$2,271-$2,909 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,511-$3,387 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Wilmington to Savannah lane (797 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,714-$2,112 | 14 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $638-$1,077 | 16-18 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,590-$3,587 | 10 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,076-$1,474 | 17-19 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Wilmington and Savannah that drive volume on this lane.
AstraZeneca
DuPont (now Corteva/IFF)
Chemours
Georgia Ports Authority
Gulfstream Aerospace
International Paper
Shipping Tips for Wilmington to Savannah
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.
Savannah Seasonal Advisory
Import peak season (August-November) for holiday retail. Kaolin clay shipments from middle Georgia mines run year-round. Paper mill production is steady but dips slightly during summer maintenance shutdowns.
Overnight Transit
This 797-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 Savannah — 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
Savannah, GA
- Metro Population
- 404K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-16, I-95, US-80
- Rail / Intermodal
- NS Savannah Intermodal (Mason Mega Rail); CSX Savannah Terminal
- Port Access
- Port of Savannah/Garden City Terminal (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- West Chatham/I-16, Pooler/I-95, Garden City Terminal area
“Savannah's port is the "relief valve" for East Coast shippers frustrated with congestion at New York/New Jersey and Charleston. During port disruptions elsewhere, Savannah volumes spike 20-30%, creating sudden carrier demand that pushes spot rates well above contract levels.”
Return Loads from Savannah
Backhaul from Savannah to Wilmington requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Savannah
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Wilmington to Savannah Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Wilmington to Savannah?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Wilmington, DE to Savannah, GA currently range $1,714-$2,112 (roughly $2.16-$2.67 per mile over 797 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $638-$1,077 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 Savannah?
Standard FTL transit from Wilmington to Savannah is approximately 14 hrs by truck over 797 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 NS Savannah Intermodal (Mason Mega Rail) takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Wilmington to Savannah freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Wilmington commonly ships pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, financial documents, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Savannah commonly receives containerized imports, automobiles, machinery. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Savannah to Wilmington?
Moderate backhaul (scored 66/100 based on Savannah's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Savannah to Wilmington requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Savannah's top outbound commodities — containerized imports (redistributed), paper & pulp products, kaolin clay — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Wilmington to Savannah?
The Wilmington-to-Savannah corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. Wilmington's top outbound commodities include pharmaceuticals, specialty chemicals, financial documents, poultry (Delmarva), nylon & polymers, automotive coatings. Savannah's primary inbound freight includes containerized imports, automobiles, machinery, raw materials, chemicals, retail merchandise. Industries driving this lane include pharmaceuticals and chemical manufacturing from Wilmington and port operations and logistics & warehousing in Savannah.
When are rates highest on the Wilmington to Savannah 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). 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 Savannah
We maintain working relationships with 133+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Wilmington–Savannah 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