Portland to Burlington Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Portland, ME to Burlington, VT (190 miles). Connects Portland to Vermont's dairy/cross-border freight base via US-2.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Portland to Burlington?
Portland to Burlington is a 190-mile lane paying about $475 - $561 per load, near $2.50 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, cross-border-connected freight and frozen-seafood-connected freight.
- Distance
- 190 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $475 - $560
- Rate per mile
- $2.50 - $2.95
- Transit time
- Same day / 3.5-4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 25-30%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and winter weather. See our dispatch fee structure.
Portland to Burlington
Portland to Burlington is a 190-mile, roughly 3.5-hour run west on I-95 and I-89, connecting Maine's main cargo port to Vermont's largest city and a key gateway for US-Canada freight. Old Dominion Freight Line's Burlington service center connects shippers to Montreal and Quebec, positioning this corridor as a cross-border link.
Origin
Portland, ME
Destination
Burlington, VT
Distance
190 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3.5-4 hrs
Average Rate
$475 - $560
Rate per Mile
$2.50 - $2.95
190-mile lane, about 3.5 hours on I-95 and I-89
Burlington serves as a key gateway for freight traveling between the US and Canada
Old Dominion Freight Line's Burlington service center connects shippers to Montreal and Quebec
Portland to Burlington: route facts a driver should know
GlobalFoundries just announced a $16 billion investment near Burlington
GlobalFoundries announced a $16 billion plan in June 2025 to expand US semiconductor manufacturing, with a portion funding gallium nitride chip development at its Essex Junction plant near Burlington.
Source: Vermont Business Magazine, GlobalFoundries investment coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Portland's port is bucking the national container decline
Portland, Maine's only container terminal, handles about 45,000 TEUs a year, with volume more than doubling over the past five years.
Source: Transport Topics, Maine port container growth coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Portland to Burlington?
About $189.12 this week. The lane is 190 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 29 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
- 190 mi
- Diesel needed
- 29 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $189.12
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, cross-border-connected freight and frozen-seafood-connected freight fill the trailers heading west.
- Consumer Goods
- Dairy Products
- Seafood
What makes the Portland to Burlington 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 across northern New England can affect road conditions from November through March
Winter weather across northern New England can affect road conditions from November through March.
Cross-border-connected freight can require additional documentation
Cross-border-connected freight can require additional documentation.
What freight moves on the Portland to Burlington lane?
What travels between Portland and Burlington, and why the US-Canada gateway role matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Dairy Products
- •Seafood
Secondary Commodities
- •Cross-border-connected freight (Montreal, Quebec)
- •Frozen-seafood-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Cross-border-connected freight (steady)
- •Frozen-seafood freight (steady)
When is the Portland to Burlington lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady cross-border freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays and during winter weather.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady cross-border-connected freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather across northern New England is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Portland to Burlington lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need documentation.
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 cross-border-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Portland to Burlington
- •
At 190 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
- •
Semiconductor component freight is worth asking about given the growing chip plant near Burlington.
- •
Port-linked freight out of Portland is worth checking on this end too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Portland to Burlington lane?
Burlington's US-Canada gateway role makes an eastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Burlington, VT
- •Regional distribution hubs near Burlington
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
With connections to Montreal and Quebec, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Moderate backhaul via the connector route.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
The Burlington-area semiconductor buildout gives you real backhaul options for specialized freight.
- •
Portland's own port and seafood freight base keeps eastbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane crosses New England's two smallest but genuinely active freight markets.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Portland to Burlington lane?
Three notes before this cross-border-gateway run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check northern New England winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Confirm documentation requirements before hauling cross-border-connected freight.
Vermont's dairy industry, worth $5.4 billion a year, keeps steady freight moving alongside the growing chip plant near Burlington.
Portland to Burlington Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Burlington's Canada gateway role, and winter weather.
The lane data shows about $475 - $561 per load, or $2.50 - $2.95 a mile, across 190 miles.
It serves as a key gateway for freight traveling between the US and Canada, with connections to Montreal and Quebec.
About 3.5 hours for the 190 miles.
Reasonably, given the city's role as a US-Canada freight gateway.
Other Maine freight lanes we dispatch
- Portland to Baltimore
- Portland to Philadelphia
- Portland to Bath
- Portland to Augusta
- Portland to Concord
- Portland to Fredericton
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 Portland, ME to Burlington, VT consistently?
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