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Cambridge, MA

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

86

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Northeast

Region

Who Operates Out of Cambridge

86 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Cambridge. 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.

42

Owner-operators (1 truck)

23

Small fleets (2-5)

10

Mid fleets (6-20)

4

Large fleets (20+)

49% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 10 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$2.86
Reefer$3.27
Flatbed$3.46

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

MA-2US-3Memorial Drive (no trucks)I-93 nearbyI-90 nearby

Top Industries

Biotechnology/Pharma
Higher Education
Technology/Software
Healthcare

Major Distribution Centers

No major DCs in Cambridge — served from regional facilities

Top Shippers

M
Moderna
P
Pfizer
N
Novartis
H
Harvard University
M
MIT

Nearby Ports

Nearest major port accessible via MA-2

Truck Stops

None in city — nearest Pilot on I-93 north
TA Sturbridge (I-90)

Challenges

  • Extremely narrow streets, aggressive traffic enforcement, very limited truck parking, low bridges throughout, and Memorial Drive/Storrow Drive truck bans.
  • Most deliveries require straight trucks.
  • Parking tickets are common and expensive.

Opportunities

  • Highest population density in the US creates constant consumer freight demand
  • Port-driven import freight from major East Coast ports
  • Short-haul distances allow multiple loads per day
  • Premium rates for carriers who can navigate tight urban deliveries

Seasonal Freight Patterns

Produce season runs May through October. Holiday retail surge peaks September through December. Winter nor'easters (December-March) cause significant delays and rate spikes. Spring construction season brings flatbed demand from April onward.

Trucking in Cambridge — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Cambridge: Dry Van $2.86, Reefer $3.27, Flatbed $3.46. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.
Truck parking in Cambridge is rated "fair." Popular stops include None in city — nearest Pilot on I-93 north, TA Sturbridge (I-90). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.
Top shippers operating in the Cambridge freight market include Moderna, Pfizer, Novartis, Harvard University, MIT. Key industries driving freight demand are biotechnology/pharma, higher education, technology/software.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Cambridge include: Extremely narrow streets, aggressive traffic enforcement, very limited truck parking, low bridges throughout, and Memorial Drive/Storrow Drive truck bans.; Most deliveries require straight trucks.; Parking tickets are common and expensive.. However, opportunities include highest population density in the us creates constant consumer freight demand.

Nearby Freight Hubs

Other Cities in Massachusetts

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Our dispatch team books loads, negotiates rates, and handles the paperwork so you can keep your wheels turning in and out of Cambridge.