Hartford to Providence Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Hartford, CT to Providence, RI (76 miles). Connects Hartford to Rhode Island via I-84/I-395.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Hartford to Providence?
Hartford to Providence is a 76-mile lane paying about $201 - $232 per load, near $2.65 - $3.05 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, petroleum/bulk-cargo freight and construction-material freight.
- Distance
- 76 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $201 - $232
- Rate per mile
- $2.65 - $3.05
- Transit time
- Same day / 2 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for a short, high-rate-per-mile lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Hartford to Providence
Hartford to Providence is a 76-mile, roughly 1.5-hour run southeast, connecting Connecticut's insurance capital to one of New England's busiest working deepwater ports. The Port of Providence handles petroleum, construction aggregate and bulk cargo for Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, and T.F. Green International Airport is planning a $100 million cargo terminal set to break ground in September 2026.
Origin
Hartford, CT
Destination
Providence, RI
Distance
76 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 2 hrs
Average Rate
$201 - $232
Rate per Mile
$2.65 - $3.05
76-mile lane, about 1.5 hours southeast
The Port of Providence is one of New England's busiest working deepwater ports for petroleum and bulk cargo
T.F. Green International Airport plans a $100 million cargo terminal, breaking ground in September 2026
Hartford to Providence: route facts a driver should know
Bradley International Airport is developing into a Northeast cargo hub
Bradley International Airport, 15 miles north of Hartford, is developing into a Northeast cargo hub, with Multi-Mode Logistics recently investing $4 million near the airport to build an 80,000-square-foot warehouse.
Source: MetroHartford Alliance, key industries overview. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A very short lane: you won't need the 30-minute break
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 76-mile lane runs about 1.5 hours, so most drivers can finish it without a required break.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Hartford to Providence?
About $75.65 this week. The lane is 76 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 12 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
- 76 mi
- Diesel needed
- 12 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $75.65
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, petroleum/bulk-cargo freight and construction-material freight fill the trailers heading southeast.
- Consumer Goods
- Manufacturing Equipment
- Retail Distribution
What makes the Hartford to Providence lane difficult?
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Bulk and petroleum-connected freight can require specialized equipment
Bulk and petroleum-connected freight can require specialized equipment.
Providence does not handle significant container traffic, which limits certain freight types
Providence does not handle significant container traffic, which limits certain freight types.
What freight moves on the Hartford to Providence lane?
What travels between Hartford and Providence, and why the working-port status matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Manufacturing Equipment
- •Retail Distribution
Secondary Commodities
- •Petroleum/bulk-cargo-connected freight (Port of Providence)
- •Construction-material-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Petroleum/bulk freight (steady)
- •Construction-material freight (summer season)
When is the Hartford to Providence lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady petroleum-connected freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady petroleum-connected freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and heating-oil-connected freight both climb ahead of winter.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Steady petroleum and bulk-cargo freight year-round
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Summer construction season
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Distribution and air-cargo-connected freight run steady year-round on this short New England corridor lane.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Hartford to Providence lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need special equipment.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day to 1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical petroleum and bulk-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful assuming container-connected freight will route through Providence; confirm it isn't routed via NY/NJ or Boston instead.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Hartford to Providence
- •
Ask brokers about freight connecting to Bradley International Airport's growing cargo operations.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day return given the roughly 1.5-hour drive.
- •
Central Connecticut's tight 4.4% industrial vacancy rate has pushed rents up, a sign of real, growing demand.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Hartford to Providence lane?
Providence's working-port role makes a northwestbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Providence, RI
- •Regional distribution hubs near Providence
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With a new $100 million cargo terminal planned at T.F. Green, there is real backhaul variety ahead.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Providence port freight and Jewelry District manufacturing shipments regularly move back toward the Hartford/Springfield distribution corridor
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Providence's working-port status and steady petroleum and bulk-cargo demand give this lane real backhaul options.
- •
With about 1.5 hours of driving each way, a same-day round trip is realistic.
- •
Ask about Bradley Airport-connected freight for the return trip too.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Hartford to Providence lane?
Three notes before this working-port corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Confirm specialized equipment before hauling petroleum or bulk-connected freight.
Note that container freight for Rhode Island typically routes through NY/NJ or Boston instead.
Before you book Hartford to Providence, ask whether your freight connects to Bradley International Airport's growing cargo operations.
Hartford to Providence Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Providence, and T.F. Green's cargo terminal.
The lane data shows about $201 - $232 per load, or $2.65 - $3.05 a mile, across 76 miles.
It's a working port focused on petroleum products, construction aggregate and bulk cargo, not significant container traffic.
About 1.5 hours for the 76 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's steady petroleum and bulk-cargo volume.
Other Connecticut freight lanes we dispatch
- Hartford to Philadelphia
- Hartford to Boston
- Hartford to Springfield
- Hartford to Albany
- Hartford to Groton
- Hartford to Stratford
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 Providence, RI consistently?
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