Portland to Concord Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Portland, ME to Concord, NH (90 miles). Connects Portland to New Hampshire's capital via I-95/I-93.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Portland to Concord?
Portland to Concord is a 90-mile lane paying about $243 - $284 per load, near $2.70 - $3.15 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, regional-staging freight and frozen-seafood-connected freight.
- Distance
- 90 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $243 - $284
- Rate per mile
- $2.70 - $3.15
- Transit time
- Same day / 1.5-2 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for a short, well-traveled New England lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Portland to Concord
Portland to Concord is a 90-mile, roughly 1.5-hour run southwest, connecting Maine's main cargo port to New Hampshire's state capital, a key regional staging point on I-89 and I-93. Vermont and Canada freight often stages through Concord via I-89 toward White River Junction, Burlington and Montreal, positioning this lane inside a broader regional freight-routing pattern.
Origin
Portland, ME
Destination
Concord, NH
Distance
90 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 1.5-2 hrs
Average Rate
$243 - $284
Rate per Mile
$2.70 - $3.15
90-mile lane, about 1.5 hours southwest
Concord sits at the intersection of I-89 and I-93, major New England freight routes
Vermont and Canada freight often stages through Concord via I-89 toward Burlington and Montreal
Portland to Concord: route facts a driver should know
Concord sits at the I-93/I-89 interchange
New Hampshire's state capital sits just north of the I-93/I-89 interchange in the town of Bow, giving Concord direct freight access to northern and southern New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont.
Source: Wikipedia, Interstate 89. 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 Concord?
About $89.58 this week. The lane is 90 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 14 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
- 90 mi
- Diesel needed
- 14 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $89.58
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, regional-staging freight and frozen-seafood-connected freight fill the trailers heading southwest.
- Consumer Goods
- Seafood
- Government Freight
What makes the Portland to Concord 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.
Winter weather in New Hampshire's White Mountains can affect connecting routes
Winter weather in New Hampshire's White Mountains can affect connecting routes.
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 Concord lane?
What travels between Portland and Concord, and why the I-89/I-93 routing pattern matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Seafood
- •Government Freight
Secondary Commodities
- •Regional-staging-connected freight (Vermont/Canada routing)
- •Frozen-seafood-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Regional-staging freight (steady)
- •Frozen-seafood freight (steady)
When is the Portland to Concord lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady regional-staging freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady regional-staging freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb modestly from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady regional-staging freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
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 Concord lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather check.
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 regional-staging freight can pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a slow-season load in a market this competitive without checking current rates.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Portland to Concord
- •
At 90 miles, this is a short, quick run.
- •
Concord's multi-state interstate junction makes this a useful staging point for freight heading further into New England.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Portland to Concord lane?
Concord's position as a regional staging point makes a northeastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Concord, NH
- •Regional distribution hubs near Concord
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With Vermont and Canada freight often staging through Concord, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Reliable regional corridor.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Concord's I-93/I-89 interchange gives you backhaul options heading in several directions.
- •
Portland's own port and seafood freight base keeps eastbound 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 Concord lane?
Three notes before this regional-staging corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check White Mountains winter conditions if your freight continues north or west from Concord.
Check current market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Concord's interstate junction at Bow is a genuinely useful freight staging point for runs heading deeper into New England.
Portland to Concord Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Concord's regional routing role, and winter weather.
The lane data shows about $243 - $284 per load, or $2.70 - $3.15 a mile, across 90 miles.
It sits at the intersection of I-89 and I-93, and Vermont and Canada freight often stages through Concord via I-89 toward Burlington and Montreal.
About 1.5 hours for the 90 miles.
Reasonably, given the city's role as a regional freight staging point.
Other Maine freight lanes we dispatch
- Portland to Fredericton
- Portland to Augusta
- Portland to Washington
- Portland to Boston
- Portland to Manchester
- Portland to New York
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 Concord, NH consistently?
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