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Clifton, NJ

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

665

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Northeast

Region

Who Operates Out of Clifton

665 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Clifton. 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.

380

Owner-operators (1 truck)

169

Small fleets (2-5)

44

Mid fleets (6-20)

18

Large fleets (20+)

57% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 44 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$2.85
Reefer$3.26
Flatbed$3.45

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

NJ-3US-46NJ-21I-80 (nearby)Garden State Parkway (no trucks)

Top Industries

Pharmaceutical packaging
Food distribution
Warehousing
Healthcare
Retail

Major Distribution Centers

FedEx Ground Wayne (nearby)
Various LTL cross-docks along Route 3

Top Shippers

B
Balchem Corporation
K
Kforce staffing distribution
M
Multiple LTL carriers

Nearby Ports

Nearest major port accessible via NJ-3

Truck Stops

Pilot Travel Center Totowa (I-80)
Love's Travel Stop Wharton (I-80)

Challenges

  • Route 3 congestion heading toward Lincoln Tunnel, Garden State Parkway truck ban forcing trucks to Route 46 and Route 3, narrow streets in older neighborhoods, and residential encroachment into formerly industrial areas.
  • Heavy toll costs on turnpikes and bridges cut into margins
  • Dense traffic congestion in metro areas creates delivery delays
  • Strict urban delivery windows and limited truck access zones

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 Clifton — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Clifton: Dry Van $2.85, Reefer $3.26, Flatbed $3.45. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.
Truck parking in Clifton is rated "fair." Popular stops include Pilot Travel Center Totowa (I-80), Love's Travel Stop Wharton (I-80). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.
Top shippers operating in the Clifton freight market include Balchem Corporation, Kforce staffing distribution, Multiple LTL carriers. Key industries driving freight demand are pharmaceutical packaging, food distribution, warehousing.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Clifton include: Route 3 congestion heading toward Lincoln Tunnel, Garden State Parkway truck ban forcing trucks to Route 46 and Route 3, narrow streets in older neighborhoods, and residential encroachment into formerly industrial areas.; Heavy toll costs on turnpikes and bridges cut into margins; Dense traffic congestion in metro areas creates delivery delays. However, opportunities include highest population density in the us creates constant consumer freight demand.

Nearby Freight Hubs

Other Cities in New Jersey

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