New York to Philadelphia Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting New York, NY to Philadelphia, PA (95 miles). Short, high-frequency Northeast corridor connecting NYC's port complex to Philadelphia's pharma/port freight.
What do truck dispatch rates run from New York to Philadelphia?
New York to Philadelphia is a 95-mile lane paying about $256 - $294 per load, near $2.70 - $3.10 a mile. Freight is mostly retail distribution, pharmaceuticals and import cargo.
- Distance
- 95 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $256 - $294
- Rate per mile
- $2.70 - $3.10
- Transit time
- Same day / 2 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for a short, high-rate-per-mile lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
New York to Philadelphia
New York to Philadelphia is a short, 95-mile run southwest on I-95, about 1.5 hours of driving. Philadelphia is home to one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing clusters in the country, and the Port of Philadelphia closed 2025 at a record 889,268 TEU, leading the East Coast in refrigerated container share at 64% of imports.
Origin
New York, NY
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Distance
95 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 2 hrs
Average Rate
$256 - $294
Rate per Mile
$2.70 - $3.10
95-mile lane, about 1.5 hours on I-95
Philadelphia hosts one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing clusters in the country
The Port of Philadelphia closed 2025 at a record 889,268 TEU
New York 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.
Source: PhilaPort, 2025 cargo volume announcement. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
The Port of NY/NJ is the busiest East Coast container gateway
The Port of New York and New Jersey handled 8.7 million TEUs in 2024, up 11% from the year before and its third-busiest year ever, with Port Newark-Elizabeth the busiest container terminal complex on the East Coast.
Source: North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, citing Port Authority data. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for New York to Philadelphia?
About $95.12 this week. The lane is 95 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 15 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.51 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 this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 95 mi
- Diesel needed
- 15 gal
- Price used
- $6.51/gal
- Fuel cost
- $95.12
Common Freight Types
Retail distribution, pharmaceuticals and import cargo fill the trailers heading southwest.
- Pharmaceuticals
- Port/Import Cargo
- Consumer Goods
What makes the New York to Philadelphia lane difficult?
A short, competitive lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range
A short, competitive lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range.
I-95 through this corridor carries heavy commuter traffic most of the day
I-95 through this corridor carries heavy commuter traffic most of the day.
Pharmaceutical freight often has strict chain-of-custody and temperature documentation requirements
Pharmaceutical freight often has strict chain-of-custody and temperature documentation requirements.
What freight moves on the New York to Philadelphia lane?
What travels between New York and Philadelphia, and why pharma freight matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Pharmaceuticals
- •Port/Import Cargo
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Pharmaceutical and biotech freight
- •Port of Philadelphia import cargo
- •Retail distribution
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Pharmaceuticals (steady)
- •Retail distribution (holiday surge)
- •Import cargo (tied to port volume)
When is the New York to Philadelphia lane busiest?
Steady pharmaceutical freight softens the usual retail seasonality on this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady pharmaceutical freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Retail distribution and port import volume both climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady pharmaceutical freight year-round
- •Port import surges
Hurricane Risk?
Real at both ends. Check Atlantic storm forecasts from June through November.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, backed by both ports' growing container volume.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the New York to Philadelphia lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need documentation.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day to 1-2 days out is typical for this short, fast-turning lane.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical pharmaceutical freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight window through this corridor during weekday rush hour.
Rate Negotiation Tips for New York to Philadelphia
- •
At just 95 miles, this is one of the shortest lanes we track, so more than one load a day is realistic.
- •
PhilaPort's reefer volume, 43% of its tonnage, makes this lane worth checking for produce and cold-chain freight.
- •
Port-linked freight on both ends keeps this corridor busy.
How do I find a backhaul load on the New York to Philadelphia lane?
This short lane pairs well with a same-day return load.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Philadelphia, PA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Philadelphia
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
Philadelphia's record 2025 port volume and pharmaceutical cluster both give real backhaul options.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •This is one of the highest-frequency, lowest deadhead-risk lanes in the Northeast. A huge volume of freight moves both ways between two of the largest East Coast metro markets.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
PhilaPort's record container growth means drayage backhauls are worth checking near the port.
- •
New Jersey's dense warehouse corridor keeps freight flowing on the New York end too.
- •
This lane is short enough that more than one load a day is realistic.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the New York to Philadelphia lane?
Four notes before this short corridor run.
This short lane pairs well with a same-day return load; line one up before you leave New York.
Avoid I-95 through this corridor during weekday rush hours if you can.
Confirm temperature and documentation requirements before hauling pharmaceutical freight.
Build extra time into a port-area Philadelphia pickup.
PhilaPort's reefer share, 43% of its tonnage, makes this a good lane to ask about for cold-chain freight specifically.
New York to Philadelphia Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Philadelphia's pharma cluster, and the port.
The lane data shows about $256 - $294 per load, or $2.70 - $3.10 a mile, across 95 miles.
It hosts one of the largest pharmaceutical manufacturing clusters in the country.
It closed 2025 at a record 889,268 TEU.
Reasonably, given the port's record volume and the region's pharmaceutical freight base.
Other New York freight lanes we dispatch
- New York to Boston
- New York to Richmond
- New York to Washington
- New York to Buffalo
- New York to Chicago
- New York to Baltimore
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.
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