Hartford to Portland Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Hartford, CT to Portland, ME (220 miles). Connects Hartford to Maine via I-84/I-95, serving New England's northern reach.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Hartford to Portland?
Hartford to Portland is a 220-mile lane paying about $561 - $649 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port-connected freight and frozen-seafood/cold-storage freight.
- Distance
- 220 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $561 - $649
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- Transit time
- Same day / 4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and reflect the port's expected container growth. See our dispatch fee structure.
Hartford to Portland
Hartford to Portland is a 220-mile, roughly 4-hour run northeast, connecting Connecticut's insurance capital to Maine's main cargo port. The Port of Portland handles approximately 22 million tons of cargo annually and expects container shipping to grow 10% in the coming fiscal year, adding nearly $1 million in operating income as a new cold-storage facility comes online.
Origin
Hartford, CT
Destination
Portland, ME
Distance
220 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 4 hrs
Average Rate
$561 - $649
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
220-mile lane, about 4 hours northeast
The Port of Portland, Maine handles approximately 22 million tons of cargo annually
The port expects container shipping to grow 10% in its next fiscal year, aided by a new cold-storage facility
Hartford to Portland: route facts a driver should know
The Port of Portland expects container growth of 10%
The Port of Portland handles approximately 22 million tons of cargo annually and expects container shipping to grow 10 percent in its coming fiscal year.
Source: Port of Portland overview. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A medium lane: plan for a real HOS break
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 220-mile lane runs about 4 hours, so plan your break into the schedule if running it in one push.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Hartford to Portland?
About $218.98 this week. The lane is 220 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 34 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.47 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 220 mi
- Diesel needed
- 34 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $218.98
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, port-connected freight and frozen-seafood/cold-storage freight fill the trailers heading northeast.
- Consumer Goods
- Seafood
- Manufacturing Equipment
What makes the Hartford to Portland lane difficult?
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Winter weather in New England can affect road conditions from November through March
Winter weather in New England can affect road conditions from November through March.
Frozen-seafood and cold-storage freight requires strict temperature control
Frozen-seafood and cold-storage freight requires strict temperature control.
What freight moves on the Hartford to Portland lane?
What travels between Hartford and Portland, ME, and why the port's growth outlook matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Seafood
- •Manufacturing Equipment
Secondary Commodities
- •Port import/export-connected freight (Port of Portland)
- •Frozen-seafood/cold-storage-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday import surge)
- •Port-connected freight (steady, growing)
- •Frozen-seafood/cold-storage freight (steady)
When is the Hartford to Portland lane busiest?
Import timing and steady cold-storage freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays as import volume normalizes.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Import-connected freight climbs ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane, though frozen-seafood imports run on their own steady cycle.
- •Q4 holiday import season
- •Steady port-connected freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Port-connected freight into Portland runs steady year-round given the port's growth outlook, with a Q4 import climb ahead of the holidays.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Hartford to Portland lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need reefer capacity.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical cold-storage and port import-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking New England road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Hartford to Portland
- •
Ask about port-connected freight given the Port of Portland's expected 10% container growth.
- •
This lane runs about 4 hours, so plan a break if you're driving it in one push.
- •
Confirm reefer temperature requirements before hauling frozen-seafood or cold-storage-connected freight.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Hartford to Portland lane?
The Port of Portland's growth outlook makes a southwestbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Portland, ME
- •Regional distribution hubs near Portland
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With container shipping expected to grow 10% in the coming fiscal year, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Portland's seafood and L.L. Bean distribution freight offers solid backhaul volume heading south, especially for reefer-equipped carriers
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
The Port of Portland's growth outlook makes it a genuinely good market for a booked return load.
- •
Cold-storage and seafood-connected freight give this lane real variety beyond general port cargo.
- •
With about 4 hours of driving each way, a same-day or next-day round trip is realistic.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Hartford to Portland lane?
Three notes before this Maine port corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check New England winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Confirm reefer temperature requirements before hauling frozen-seafood or cold-storage-connected freight.
Before you book Hartford to Portland, confirm reefer temperature requirements if your freight is frozen-seafood or cold-storage-connected.
Hartford to Portland Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Portland's growth, and cold-storage freight.
The lane data shows about $561 - $649 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 220 miles.
Approximately 22 million tons annually, with container shipping expected to grow 10% in the coming fiscal year.
About 4 hours for the 220 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's growth outlook and new cold-storage facility.
Other Connecticut freight lanes we dispatch
- Hartford to New York
- Hartford to Richmond
- Hartford to Boston
- Hartford to Providence
- Hartford to Philadelphia
- Hartford to Springfield
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
Read the case studyNeed help running Hartford, CT to Portland, ME consistently?
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