Portland to Bath Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Portland, ME to Bath, ME (35 miles). A very short corridor serving Bath Iron Works' Navy destroyer construction facility.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Portland to Bath?
Portland to Bath is a 35-mile lane paying about $98 - $116 per load, near $2.80 - $3.30 a mile. Freight is mostly shipbuilding-connected freight, defense-supplier freight and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 35 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $98 - $116
- Rate per mile
- $2.80 - $3.30
- Transit time
- Same day / 45 min
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this short defense-manufacturing corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Portland to Bath
Portland to Bath is a short, 35-mile run northeast on I-295 and Route 1, connecting Maine's main cargo port to a $2.5 billion shipbuilding economic driver. Bath Iron Works, a General Dynamics subsidiary since 1995, was authorized to build a DDG-51 destroyer in 2025 and received more than $200 million combined for shipyard infrastructure and research and development.
Origin
Portland, ME
Destination
Bath, ME
Distance
35 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 45 min
Average Rate
$98 - $116
Rate per Mile
$2.80 - $3.30
35-mile lane, a short run on I-295 and Route 1
Bath Iron Works was authorized to build a DDG-51 destroyer in 2025
Bath Iron Works received more than $200 million combined for shipyard infrastructure and R&D
Portland to Bath: route facts a driver should know
Bath Iron Works moves 600-ton ship sections by truck and rail transfer
Bath Iron Works, a major US Navy shipbuilder, fabricates large steel ship sections, some weighing up to 600 tons, at its Structural Fabrication Facility before moving them to the main shipyard by crane and hydraulic rail transfer for final assembly into destroyers.
Source: General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, manufacturing overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Bath Iron Works just won a new destroyer contract
Bath Iron Works was awarded a new US Navy destroyer contract in July 2025 and laid the keel for its newest ship in May 2025, part of an active production line building Arleigh Burke-class destroyers worth roughly $2.5 billion a year to Maine's economy.
Source: Portland Press Herald, Bath Iron Works destroyer contract coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Portland to Bath?
About $34.84 this week. The lane is 35 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 5 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
- 35 mi
- Diesel needed
- 5 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $34.84
Common Freight Types
Shipbuilding-connected freight, defense-supplier freight and consumer goods fill the trailers heading northeast.
- Defense/Naval Equipment
- Industrial Equipment
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Portland to Bath lane difficult?
A very short lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range
A very short lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range.
Shipbuilding-component freight can require specialized handling and security clearances
Shipbuilding-component freight can require specialized handling and security clearances.
Competition from the region's carrier base can pressure rates
Competition from the region's carrier base can pressure rates.
What freight moves on the Portland to Bath lane?
What travels between Portland and Bath, and why Bath Iron Works matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Defense/Naval Equipment
- •Industrial Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Shipbuilding-connected freight (Bath Iron Works)
- •Defense-supplier-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Shipbuilding-connected freight (steady)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Defense-supplier freight (steady)
When is the Portland to Bath lane busiest?
Steady shipbuilding-connected freight shapes this lane more than any retail calendar.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
Little seasonal dip; Bath Iron Works's shipbuilding schedule runs on a steady, year-round basis.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb modestly from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not applicable; this lane runs on shipbuilding and defense manufacturing.
- •Steady shipbuilding-connected freight year-round
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Summer freight demand
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, tracking Bath Iron Works's consistent destroyer production schedule.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Portland to Bath lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need security clearance.
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, security-cleared Bath Iron Works-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to shipbuilding-component freight without confirming security clearance and handling credentials.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Portland to Bath
- •
At just 35 miles, this is one of the shortest lanes we track, so more than one load a day is realistic.
- •
Shipbuilding component freight is worth asking about, since Bath Iron Works manages 90,000-plus individual parts across its supply chain.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Portland to Bath lane?
Bath Iron Works's massive shipbuilding operation makes a return load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Bath, ME
- •Regional distribution hubs near Bath
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
With 6,001-6,500 employees and more than $200 million in recent federal investment, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •A very short corridor. Defense freight may need security clearance.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Bath Iron Works's active destroyer production gives you real, steady backhaul options for specialized freight.
- •
Portland's own port and seafood freight base keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough to plan more than one trip a day.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Portland to Bath lane?
Three notes before this defense-manufacturing run.
This lane pairs well with multiple turns in a single day.
Confirm security clearance and handling requirements before hauling Bath Iron Works-connected freight.
Check current market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Bath Iron Works runs its own supplier logistics routing guide, and non-compliant freight can get back-charged. If you haul for BIW suppliers, follow their routing rules closely.
Portland to Bath Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Bath Iron Works, and security clearance.
The lane data shows about $98 - $116 per load, or $2.80 - $3.30 a mile, across 35 miles.
A General Dynamics shipyard subsidiary since 1995, authorized to build a DDG-51 destroyer in 2025 and a $2.5 billion economic driver for Maine.
Under an hour for the 35 miles.
Reasonably, given Bath Iron Works's massive shipbuilding operation and 6,000-plus employees.
Other Maine freight lanes we dispatch
- Portland to Augusta
- Portland to Baltimore
- Portland to Concord
- Portland to Fredericton
- Portland to Washington
- Portland to Boston
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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