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Dover, NH

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

73

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Northeast

Region

Who Operates Out of Dover

73 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Dover. 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.

23

Owner-operators (1 truck)

35

Small fleets (2-5)

6

Mid fleets (6-20)

2

Large fleets (20+)

32% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 14 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$2.80
Reefer$3.21
Flatbed$3.39

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

DE-1US-13US-113DE-8US-13 Alt

Top Industries

Military/Defense
State Government
Food Processing
Consumer Products Manufacturing

Major Distribution Centers

Dover AFB supply depot
Kraft Heinz distribution
Dollar General DC (nearby Cheswold)

Top Shippers

D
Dover Air Force Base
K
Kraft Heinz
P
Procter & Gamble
S
State of Delaware
P
Playtex

Nearby Ports

Nearest major port accessible via DE-1

Truck Stops

Love's #589 (DE-1 at US-13)
Royal Farms (US-13)

Challenges

  • Dover AFB security protocols create delivery delays.
  • DE-1 toll costs add up for frequent runs.
  • Summer beach traffic on DE-1 and US-113 creates seasonal congestion.
  • Limited truck services compared to I-95 corridor.

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 Dover — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Dover: Dry Van $2.80, Reefer $3.21, Flatbed $3.39. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.
Truck parking in Dover is rated "fair." Popular stops include Love's #589 (DE-1 at US-13), Royal Farms (US-13). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.
Top shippers operating in the Dover freight market include Dover Air Force Base, Kraft Heinz, Procter & Gamble, State of Delaware, Playtex. Key industries driving freight demand are military/defense, state government, food processing.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Dover include: Dover AFB security protocols create delivery delays.; DE-1 toll costs add up for frequent runs.; Summer beach traffic on DE-1 and US-113 creates seasonal congestion.. However, opportunities include highest population density in the us creates constant consumer freight demand.

Nearby Freight Hubs

Other Cities in New Hampshire

Running freight in Dover? Get dispatched.

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