Chicago to Philadelphia Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Chicago, IL to Philadelphia, PA (760 miles). Connects Chicago's intermodal reach to Philadelphia's port and pharma corridor via I-80.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Chicago to Philadelphia?
Chicago to Philadelphia is a 760-mile lane paying about $1,710 - $2,014 per load, near $2.25 - $2.65 a mile. Freight is mostly pharmaceuticals, port/import cargo and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 760 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,710 - $2,014
- Rate per mile
- $2.25 - $2.65
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 30-35%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and Philadelphia's port volume. See our dispatch fee structure.
Chicago to Philadelphia
Chicago to Philadelphia is a 760-mile, 1-to-2-day run east, mostly on I-80 to I-76. The Port of Philadelphia closed 2025 at a record 889,268 TEU, up 6% year over year, and leads the East Coast in refrigerated container share, with 64% of containerized imports moving as reefer cargo, making it the preferred gateway for perishable imports like fruit, meat, dairy and frozen goods.
Origin
Chicago, IL
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Distance
760 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,710 - $2,014
Rate per Mile
$2.25 - $2.65
760-mile lane, typically a 1-2 day run on I-80 to I-76
The Port of Philadelphia closed 2025 at a record 889,268 TEU
Philadelphia leads the East Coast in refrigerated container share at 64%
Chicago to Philadelphia: route facts a driver should know
PhilaPort just posted a record year for container volume
PhilaPort handled a record 889,268 TEUs in 2025, up 6% from the year before, with total cargo of 7.3 million metric tons. Refrigerated containers made up 43% of that tonnage — a real reefer-freight signal for this port.
Source: PhilaPort, 2025 cargo volume announcement. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
PhilaPort bought its own rail yard from Norfolk Southern
In 2025, PhilaPort paid Norfolk Southern $90 million to acquire the Mustin Yard, a fully developed intermodal rail-transfer facility, to speed up rail loading and unloading for port businesses.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, PhilaPort rail yard acquisition. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Chicago to Philadelphia?
About $751.82 this week. The lane is 760 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 117 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.43 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 760 mi
- Diesel needed
- 117 gal
- Price used
- $6.43/gal
- Fuel cost
- $751.82
Common Freight Types
Pharmaceuticals, port/import cargo and consumer goods fill the trailers heading east.
- Pharmaceuticals
- Port/Import Cargo
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Chicago to Philadelphia lane difficult?
The length requires careful HOS planning
Understanding and preparing for this challenge helps optimize your operations and maximize profitability on this lane.
Pennsylvania mountain stretches on I-80 can see winter weather
Pennsylvania mountain stretches on I-80 can see winter weather.
Philadelphia's port-area traffic can add time to a pickup
Philadelphia's port-area traffic can add time to a pickup.
What freight moves on the Chicago to Philadelphia lane?
What travels between Chicago and Philadelphia, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Pharmaceuticals
- •Port/Import Cargo
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Port of Philadelphia drayage and transload freight
- •Pharmaceuticals
- •Import cargo
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Pharmaceuticals (steady)
- •Port/import cargo (tied to port volume)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
When is the Chicago to Philadelphia lane busiest?
Steady pharmaceutical and reefer-import freight softens the usual retail seasonality here.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady pharmaceutical freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and port import volume both climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
A real factor given Philadelphia's reefer-heavy import mix, though it runs year-round rather than seasonally.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady pharmaceutical freight
- •Port import surges
Hurricane Risk?
Real at the Philadelphia end. Check Atlantic storm forecasts from June through November.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, backed by PhilaPort's growing container volume, with produce and reefer freight adding extra demand depending on the season.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Chicago to Philadelphia lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical pharmaceutical and reefer port freight tend to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fixed Philadelphia delivery during peak Atlantic storm season without a weather contingency.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Chicago to Philadelphia
- •
PhilaPort's reefer volume, 43% of its tonnage, makes this lane worth checking for produce and cold-chain freight.
- •
The new Mustin Yard rail acquisition could open up more rail-linked freight here going forward.
- •
This is a long haul at 760 miles, so plan for a full two-day trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Chicago to Philadelphia lane?
Philadelphia's record port volume keeps a westbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the westbound load:
- •Philadelphia, PA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Philadelphia
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 30-35%
Port of Philadelphia drayage and pharmaceutical freight both give you options beyond straight retail backhauls.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •PhilaPort's import volume and regional distribution activity support solid westbound backhaul freight toward Chicago's intermodal network.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
PhilaPort's record container growth means drayage backhauls are worth checking near the port.
- •
Chicago's rail convergence gives you strong backhaul options once you're back.
- •
Ask about reefer freight specifically, since it's such a large share of what moves through PhilaPort.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Chicago to Philadelphia lane?
Three notes before this Mid-Atlantic run.
Plan your rest stops before you leave Chicago on a run this long.
Check I-80 winter conditions through Pennsylvania's mountains.
Confirm reefer temperature requirements before hauling perishable port freight.
PhilaPort's reefer share, 43% of its tonnage, makes this a good lane to ask about for cold-chain freight specifically.
Chicago to Philadelphia Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Philadelphia, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $1,710 - $2,014 per load, or $2.25 - $2.65 a mile, across 760 miles.
It closed 2025 at a record 889,268 TEU, up 6% year over year, and leads the East Coast in refrigerated container share at 64% of imports.
It can, at the Philadelphia end. Check Atlantic storm forecasts from June through November.
Reasonably, given the port's record 2025 volume and steady pharmaceutical freight in the region.
Other Illinois freight lanes we dispatch
- Chicago to Minneapolis
- Chicago to Atlanta
- Chicago to Detroit
- Chicago to St. Louis
- Chicago to Indianapolis
- Chicago to New York
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
Read the case studyNeed help running Chicago, IL to Philadelphia, PA consistently?
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