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Hammond, IN

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

334

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Midwest

Region

Who Operates Out of Hammond

334 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Hammond. 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.

155

Owner-operators (1 truck)

78

Small fleets (2-5)

31

Mid fleets (6-20)

26

Large fleets (20+)

46% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 42 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$2.48
Reefer$2.85
Flatbed$3.06

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

I-80/I-94 (Borman Expressway)I-90 (Indiana Toll Road)I-65US-41US-20

Top Industries

Steel production
Petroleum refining
Intermodal logistics
Chemical processing
Heavy manufacturing

Major Distribution Centers

Walmart Hammond DC
Amazon MDW2 Monee IL (nearby)
CSX 59th Street intermodal yard (nearby Chicago)

Top Shippers

C
Cleveland-Cliffs (ArcelorMittal)
B
BP Whiting Refinery
U
US Steel Gary Works
C
Cargill
P
Praxair

Nearby Ports

Nearest major port accessible via I-80/I-94 (Borman Expressway)

Truck Stops

Pilot Travel Center (I-80/94 Exit 3 Hammond)
Flying J (I-65 Exit 253 Merrillville)
Love's Travel Stop (I-65 Exit 247 Crown Point)

Challenges

  • Borman Expressway (I-80/94) is one of the most congested freight corridors in the US, steel mill and refinery traffic creating heavy industrial truck volumes, frequent construction and lane closures, air quality concerns in the Calumet industrial corridor, and tight urban roads near industrial facilities.
  • 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 Hammond — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Hammond: Dry Van $2.48, Reefer $2.85, Flatbed $3.06. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.
Truck parking in Hammond is rated "fair." Popular stops include Pilot Travel Center (I-80/94 Exit 3 Hammond), Flying J (I-65 Exit 253 Merrillville), Love's Travel Stop (I-65 Exit 247 Crown Point). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.
Top shippers operating in the Hammond freight market include Cleveland-Cliffs (ArcelorMittal), BP Whiting Refinery, US Steel Gary Works, Cargill, Praxair. Key industries driving freight demand are steel production, petroleum refining, intermodal logistics.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Hammond include: Borman Expressway (I-80/94) is one of the most congested freight corridors in the US, steel mill and refinery traffic creating heavy industrial truck volumes, frequent construction and lane closures, air quality concerns in the Calumet industrial corridor, and tight urban roads near industrial facilities.; 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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Our dispatch team books loads, negotiates rates, and handles the paperwork so you can keep your wheels turning in and out of Hammond.