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Southfield, MI

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

636

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Midwest

Region

Who Operates Out of Southfield

636 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Southfield. 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.

347

Owner-operators (1 truck)

154

Small fleets (2-5)

31

Mid fleets (6-20)

10

Large fleets (20+)

55% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 41 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$2.77
Flatbed$2.98

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

I-696M-39 (Southfield Freeway)M-10 (Lodge Freeway)US-24 (Telegraph Road)8 Mile RoadNorthwestern Highway

Top Industries

Automotive supplier headquarters
Financial services
Professional services
Healthcare
Information technology

Major Distribution Centers

Tenneco aftermarket DC (Southfield)
Denso logistics hub
UPS regional facility (nearby)
BorgWarner parts distribution center

Top Shippers

B
BorgWarner
T
Tenneco (Federal-Mogul)
D
Denso North America
L
Lear Corporation (nearby)
C
Credit Acceptance

Nearby Ports

Nearest major port accessible via I-696

Truck Stops

Pilot Travel Center (I-96 Exit 155 Wixom/Novi)
Love's #597 (I-94 Exit 194 Belleville)
Shell Truck Stop (I-696 & Telegraph Road)

Challenges

  • Complex loading dock access at office towers requiring advance coordination, heavy congestion on M-39/I-696 interchange during commute hours, corporate security and scheduling requirements for building access, residential neighborhood truck restrictions adjacent to commercial corridors, and limited truck staging areas in the dense suburban office environment.
  • 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 Southfield — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Southfield: Dry Van $2.40, Reefer $2.77, Flatbed $2.98. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.
Truck parking in Southfield is rated "fair." Popular stops include Pilot Travel Center (I-96 Exit 155 Wixom/Novi), Love's #597 (I-94 Exit 194 Belleville), Shell Truck Stop (I-696 & Telegraph Road). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.
Top shippers operating in the Southfield freight market include BorgWarner, Tenneco (Federal-Mogul), Denso North America, Lear Corporation (nearby), Credit Acceptance. Key industries driving freight demand are automotive supplier headquarters, financial services, professional services.
The biggest challenges for truckers in Southfield include: Complex loading dock access at office towers requiring advance coordination, heavy congestion on M-39/I-696 interchange during commute hours, corporate security and scheduling requirements for building access, residential neighborhood truck restrictions adjacent to commercial corridors, and limited truck staging areas in the dense suburban office environment.; 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

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