Skip to main content

Trucking in New Jersey

Owner-operator guide for New Jersey (NJ) — rates, freight volume, regulations, top shippers, and everything you need to run profitable lanes through the Trenton state.

Quick Stats

Freight Volume

very high

O-O Friendly

4/10

Fuel Tax

52.9 c/gal

Parking

critical shortage

Average Rates Per Mile

EquipmentRate/Mile
Dry Van$2.65
Reefer$3.00
Flatbed$3.20

Key Highways

I-95NJ TurnpikeGarden State ParkwayI-78I-80I-287

These corridors connect New Jersey's major freight cities: Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Edison, Camden. Knowing these routes is essential for planning efficient loads in and out of the state.

Top Industries

1Port logistics
2Pharmaceuticals
3Food processing
4Chemical manufacturing
5E-commerce

Top Shippers

Port Newark-Elizabeth

Amazon (10+ FCs)

Johnson & Johnson

Campbell Soup

Trucking Regulations

  • Toll costs MASSIVE — budget $200-400/week
  • Jughandle turns — GPS essential
  • Truck parking nonexistent near port
  • Port drayage lucrative but congestion brutal

Toll Roads & Winter Conditions

Toll Information

NJ Turnpike $30-60/trip; GW Bridge $16+ crossing

Winter Conditions

Moderate winters; congestion is the real challenge

Frequently Asked Questions About Trucking in New Jersey

In New Jersey, dry van rates average $2.65/mile, reefer rates average $3.00/mile, and flatbed rates average $3.20/mile. Actual rates vary by lane, season, and load specifics.
New Jersey scores 4/10 on our owner-operator friendliness scale. The state has very high freight volume with critical shortage truck parking availability. Key industries driving freight include Port logistics, Pharmaceuticals, Food processing.
Key trucking regulations in New Jersey include: Toll costs MASSIVE — budget $200-400/week. Jughandle turns — GPS essential. Truck parking nonexistent near port. Port drayage lucrative but congestion brutal. The state fuel tax rate is 52.9 cents per gallon.
The major freight highways in New Jersey are I-95, NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, I-78, I-80, I-287. These corridors connect the state's key freight cities: Newark, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Edison, Camden. NJ Turnpike $30-60/trip; GW Bridge $16+ crossing.