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Palm Bay, FL

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

652

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Southeast

Region

Who Operates Out of Palm Bay

652 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Palm Bay. 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.

437

Owner-operators (1 truck)

138

Small fleets (2-5)

11

Mid fleets (6-20)

2

Large fleets (20+)

67% 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$2.40
Reefer$2.83
Flatbed$2.95

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

I-95US-1Palm Bay RoadBabcock StreetSR-192 (toward Kissimmee)

Top Industries

Aerospace & defense
Electronics manufacturing
Healthcare
Space launch operations
Construction

Major Distribution Centers

Walmart DC #6099 (Cocoa)
Amazon MLB delivery station
Space Coast Health distribution

Top Shippers

L
L3Harris Technologies
N
Northrop Grumman
D
DRS Defense Solutions
H
Health First

Nearby Ports

Nearest major port accessible via I-95

Truck Stops

Pilot Travel Center (I-95 Exit 173, Melbourne)
Love's (I-95 Exit 180)
Sunoco truck fuel (US-1 & Palm Bay Rd)

Challenges

  • Specialized permitting for oversized aerospace loads, Kennedy Space Center launch-day road closures on SR-528 and US-1, limited truck services between Melbourne and Vero Beach on I-95, and hurricane vulnerability on the barrier island routes.
  • Hurricane season (June-November) poses risk to operations and cargo
  • Summer heat and humidity require attention to temperature-sensitive freight
  • Rapid population growth increases congestion on key corridors

Opportunities

  • Rapidly growing population drives sustained freight demand
  • Automotive manufacturing belt creates steady parts and finished vehicle freight
  • Port of Savannah and Port of Charleston generate strong import volumes
  • Year-round operations without severe winter weather interruptions

Seasonal Freight Patterns

Florida produce season (October-May) drives strong northbound reefer demand. Hurricane season (June-November) creates both risks and emergency freight surges. Holiday retail peaks September through December. Year-round construction keeps flatbed demand steady.

Trucking in Palm Bay — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Palm Bay: Dry Van $2.40, Reefer $2.83, Flatbed $2.95. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.
Truck parking in Palm Bay is rated "fair." Popular stops include Pilot Travel Center (I-95 Exit 173, Melbourne), Love's (I-95 Exit 180), Sunoco truck fuel (US-1 & Palm Bay Rd). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.
Top shippers operating in the Palm Bay freight market include L3Harris Technologies, Northrop Grumman, DRS Defense Solutions, Health First. Key industries driving freight demand are aerospace & defense, electronics manufacturing, healthcare.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Palm Bay include: Specialized permitting for oversized aerospace loads, Kennedy Space Center launch-day road closures on SR-528 and US-1, limited truck services between Melbourne and Vero Beach on I-95, and hurricane vulnerability on the barrier island routes.; Hurricane season (June-November) poses risk to operations and cargo; Summer heat and humidity require attention to temperature-sensitive freight. However, opportunities include rapidly growing population drives sustained freight demand.

Nearby Freight Hubs

Other Cities in Florida

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