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Bloomington, IN

Freight hub guide — rates, shippers, parking, and opportunities for owner-operators in Bloomington.

545

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Midwest

Region

Who Operates Out of Bloomington

545 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Bloomington. Here is how that base breaks down by fleet size — useful for judging whether you would be competing against owner-operators or against fleets with dedicated freight locked up.

267

Owner-operators (1 truck)

195

Small fleets (2-5)

51

Mid fleets (6-20)

17

Large fleets (20+)

49% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 28 are registered to haul hazardous materials.

Source: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census (active carriers, US physical addresses), retrieved 2026-07-18.

Average Rates Per Mile

Equipment TypeRate / Mile
Dry Van$2.41
Reefer$2.78
Flatbed$2.99

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

I-494I-35WMN-77MN-5US-169

Top Industries

Retail
Air cargo
Corporate headquarters
Healthcare
Tourism

Major Distribution Centers

Mall of America supply logistics
FedEx Ground MSP hub
UPS MSP facility
Amazon MSP1

Top Shippers

M
Mall of America tenants
T
Toro Company
H
HealthPartners
D
Donaldson Company
F
FedEx/UPS MSP hubs

Nearby Ports

Nearest major port accessible via I-494

Truck Stops

Holiday (I-494 & Lyndale Ave)
SA (I-35W & 98th St)

Challenges

  • I-494 congestion during rush hours, MSP airport area truck restrictions, and Mall of America event traffic on weekends and holidays.
  • Winter weather creates hazardous driving conditions November through March
  • Spring flooding can close river-adjacent highways
  • High competition from large carrier fleets based in the region

Opportunities

  • Central location provides access to loads heading in every direction
  • Massive intermodal and rail hub infrastructure in Chicago area
  • Strong agricultural freight during harvest season
  • Lower cost of living and operating costs improve net margins

Seasonal Freight Patterns

Harvest season (August-November) generates enormous grain and produce volume. Holiday retail peaks September through December. Winter weather (November-March) causes delays but also rate spikes. Spring flooding can disrupt river-adjacent routes.

Trucking in Bloomington — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Bloomington: Dry Van $2.41, Reefer $2.78, Flatbed $2.99. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.
Truck parking in Bloomington is rated "fair." Popular stops include Holiday (I-494 & Lyndale Ave), SA (I-35W & 98th St). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.
Top shippers operating in the Bloomington freight market include Mall of America tenants, Toro Company, HealthPartners, Donaldson Company, FedEx/UPS MSP hubs. Key industries driving freight demand are retail, air cargo, corporate headquarters.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Bloomington include: I-494 congestion during rush hours, MSP airport area truck restrictions, and Mall of America event traffic on weekends and holidays.; Winter weather creates hazardous driving conditions November through March; Spring flooding can close river-adjacent highways. However, opportunities include central location provides access to loads heading in every direction.

Nearby Freight Hubs

Other Cities in Indiana

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