Shipping less-than-truckload (LTL) freight to or from New Jersey? Rates depend on your specific route, freight class, and how close your pickup or delivery point is to the nearest LTL terminal. New Jersey is one of the most important freight states in the country, anchored by the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal — here’s what actually affects your rate.
LTL trucking regulations in New Jersey
Standard interstate trucking limits apply in New Jersey: 80,000 lbs gross vehicle weight, 53 feet trailer length, 8.5 feet width, and 13.5 feet height. Most LTL shipments fall well within these limits — this mainly matters if your freight is unusually large or heavy.
Loads that exceed the standard limits need an oversize/overweight permit through NJDOT’s SUPERLOAD online permitting system. One thing worth knowing: NJDOT only issues permits for state routes — the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway south of Exit 105, and the Atlantic City Expressway are run by separate authorities and require their own permits. Exact current requirements and applications are available directly from NJDOT:
What affects your New Jersey LTL rate
- Freight class — density, handling, and liability determine your NMFC class, the single biggest factor in your rate. See our freight class guide.
- Distance — New Jersey sits in one of the densest carrier networks in the country, so both short regional moves and long cross-country lanes are well served.
- Terminal proximity — pickup or delivery points near Newark, Elizabeth, or Jersey City typically see the most carrier options and fastest transit; more rural addresses in southern New Jersey see fewer options.
- Accessorials — liftgate, residential, or inside delivery add to the base rate, same as anywhere else.
Did you know?From 5 real New Jersey lanes and 24 quotes
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4 carriers had the lowest quote
Four different carriers won five New Jersey lanes
XPO had the lowest quote on two lanes. ABF Freight, Central Transport, and Warp each had the lowest quote on one lane. Across the lowest quotes on every lane, 11 different carriers appeared.
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$190 from lowest to fifth-lowest
Same shipment, quotes $190 apart
For 1,190 lb from Staten Island, NY to Paramus, NJ, the lowest quote was $472 and the fifth-lowest was $661, a 40% gap. On Newark, NJ to North East, MD, all five quotes landed within $34 of each other.
Weather and transit reliability
New Jersey winters bring occasional snow and nor’easters, mainly December through March, which can affect pickup windows and add a day to transit during major storms. New Jersey’s dense carrier network and multiple redundant highway routes generally keep transit reliable outside of storm periods.
Sample New Jersey LTL rates by route
Real quotes pulled from our platform for six different New Jersey lanes — same process, different carriers each time. Rates shift with capacity and fuel costs, so treat these as a snapshot rather than a guarantee for your shipment; get an instant quote for your exact route.
Real quotes by route
Snapshot taken over recent weeks — carriers and pricing change daily.
| Carrier | Service | Transit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dohrn | Standard | 2 days | $349.70 |
| FedEx Freight Economy | Standard | 5 days | $359.12 |
| Central Transport | Standard | 4 days | $363.80 |
| TForce Freight | STD | 3 days | $373.87 |
| XPO | Standard | 2 days | $394.12 |
| Carrier | Service | Transit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| XPO | STD | 3 days | $527.74 |
| STG Logistics | Standard | 7 days | $529.64 |
| Roadrunner Freight | Standard | 3 days | $631.44 |
| R+L Carriers | Standard | 3 days | $651.96 |
| ABF Freight | Standard | 3 days | $659.48 |
| Carrier | Service | Transit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| XPO | Standard | 2 days | $339.68 |
| Roadrunner Freight | Standard Service | 3 days | $352.68 |
| TForce Freight | STD | 2 days | $390.26 |
| R+L Carriers | STD | 2 days | $394.73 |
| Carrier | Service | Transit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Transport | Standard | 1 day | $250.61 |
| Ward Transport & Logistics | Standard | 1 day | $296.11 |
| TForce Freight | STD | 1 day | $315.34 |
| JP Express | Standard | 1 day | $315.99 |
| ABF Freight | Standard | 2 days | $325.41 |
| Carrier | Service | Transit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warp | STD | 1 day | $471.51 |
| JP Express | Standard | 1 day | $490.79 |
| TForce Freight | STD | 2 days | $584.59 |
| Central Transport | Standard | 1 day | $642.34 |
| R+L Carriers | STD | 1 day | $661.21 |
| Carrier | Service | Transit | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABF Freight | Standard | 2 days | $315.27 |
| Ward Transport & Logistics | Standard | 2 days | $323.91 |
| A. Duie Pyle | STD | 1 day | $342.33 |
| R+L Carriers | STD | 1 day | $347.87 |
| XPO | STD | 1 day | $349.64 |
Major shipping hubs in New Jersey
New Jersey’s carrier terminal network is concentrated around its northern metro areas, which generally means faster pickup windows and more carrier options the closer you are to one of these:
- Newark — New Jersey’s largest city and the state’s primary freight gateway, home to Newark Liberty International Airport and the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal.
- Elizabeth — directly adjacent to Newark and part of the same port complex, one of the busiest freight corridors on the East Coast.
- Jersey City — across the Hudson from Manhattan, benefiting from the region’s dense carrier network.
- Trenton — the state capital, centrally located along the I-95/NJ Turnpike corridor.
Highway corridors serving New Jersey
New Jersey freight moves through one of the busiest highway networks in the country: I-95 (the New Jersey Turnpike), running between Newark Liberty International Airport and Port Newark south through Elizabeth and beyond; I-78, which becomes the Newark Bay Extension and passes directly by the Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal; and I-80, intersecting I-95 in Teaneck and providing east-west access across the northern part of the state. The Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal itself is the second-largest seaport in the nation, making New Jersey a genuine national freight gateway, not just a regional one.
What New Jersey shippers move
New Jersey’s freight mix reflects its status as a national logistics hub. Pharmaceuticals and life sciences are a defining industry — the state is home to 13 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies, including Johnson & Johnson and Merck, generating steady LTL volume in packaged pharmaceuticals, lab equipment, and temperature-sensitive freight. Logistics and warehousing are just as significant: major distribution centers for companies like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Williams-Sonoma move retail and e-commerce freight through the state daily. Manufacturing adds another 245,000+ jobs and over $37 billion to the state’s output, generating steady industrial and consumer goods freight.
Get a New Jersey LTL quote
Compare live rates from vetted carriers serving New Jersey.
Get an LTL quote →New Jersey LTL freight: frequently asked questions
How much does LTL shipping cost to or from New Jersey?
It depends on your route, freight class, weight, and accessorials. Real New Jersey lanes in our data ranged from about $251 for a short in-state move (Newark to Trenton) up to $661 for a long-haul cross-country lane — New Jersey’s dense carrier network keeps regional and Northeast Corridor rates especially competitive. Get an instant quote for your exact shipment.
Do oversized LTL shipments need a permit in New Jersey?
Only if your load exceeds the standard interstate limits (80,000 lbs, 53 feet long, 8.5 feet wide, 13.5 feet tall). Oversize/overweight permits for state routes are issued through NJDOT’s SUPERLOAD system — the NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Atlantic City Expressway each require separate permits from their own authorities.
Why is New Jersey such an important freight state?
The Port Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal is the second-largest seaport in the nation, and New Jersey’s dense highway network (I-95, I-78, I-80) and proximity to New York City make it a national logistics gateway, not just a regional one.
Which carriers serve New Jersey?
Most major national LTL carriers serve New Jersey, with the strongest coverage around Newark, Elizabeth, and Jersey City — availability and pricing vary by exact route.
Is LTL service the same everywhere in New Jersey?
No. Northern New Jersey, especially around Newark and the port complex, has the strongest carrier coverage. Southern New Jersey generally sees fewer carrier options and longer transit times.