Portland to New York Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Portland, ME to New York, NY (320 miles). The Northeast's largest consumer market, reached via I-95. One of the longest hauls on this list.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Portland to New York?
Portland to New York is a 320-mile lane paying about $784 - $928 per load, near $2.45 - $2.90 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port-connected freight and frozen-seafood-connected freight.
- Distance
- 320 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $784 - $928
- Rate per mile
- $2.45 - $2.90
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 30-35%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices over this long Northeast corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Portland to New York
Portland to New York is a 320-mile, roughly 5.5-hour run southwest on I-95, connecting Maine's main cargo port to the busiest port complex on the East Coast. The Port of New York and New Jersey handles the largest container volume on the East Coast, keeping steady reload freight flowing on this corridor.
Origin
Portland, ME
Destination
New York, NY
Distance
320 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$784 - $928
Rate per Mile
$2.45 - $2.90
320-mile lane, about 5.5 hours on I-95
The Port of New York and New Jersey handles the largest container volume on the East Coast
The Port of Portland handles approximately 22 million tons of cargo annually
Portland to New York: route facts a driver should know
The Port of NY/NJ is the busiest East Coast container gateway
The Port of New York and New Jersey handled 8.7 million TEUs in 2024, up 11% from the year before and its third-busiest year ever.
Source: North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, citing Port Authority data. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Maine's lobster industry topped $460 million in 2025
Maine harvesters landed 78.8 million pounds of lobster in 2025, worth $461.4 million, driving steady reefer and live-seafood freight demand toward major East Coast markets like New York.
Source: News Center Maine, citing Maine Department of Marine Resources data. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Portland to New York?
About $319.46 this week. The lane is 320 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 49 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.49 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 the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 320 mi
- Diesel needed
- 49 gal
- Price used
- $6.49/gal
- Fuel cost
- $319.46
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, port-connected freight and frozen-seafood-connected freight fill the trailers heading southwest.
- Lobster & Seafood
- Consumer Goods
- Retail Distribution
What makes the Portland to New York lane difficult?
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning.
I-95 through Boston, Providence and Connecticut can see heavy, unpredictable congestion
I-95 through Boston, Providence and Connecticut can see heavy, unpredictable congestion.
Frozen-seafood freight requires strict temperature control
Frozen-seafood freight requires strict temperature control.
What freight moves on the Portland to New York lane?
What travels between Portland and New York, and why the Port of NY/NJ matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Lobster & Seafood
- •Consumer Goods
- •Retail Distribution
Secondary Commodities
- •Port import-connected freight (Port of NY/NJ)
- •Frozen-seafood-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Port-connected freight (steady)
- •Frozen-seafood freight (steady)
When is the Portland to New York lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady port-connected 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 and consumer-goods freight both climb sharply ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday import and retail season
- •Steady port-connected freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, with lobster season from August through November driving extra reefer freight demand.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Portland to New York lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a congestion buffer.
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 port import-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight New York-area delivery window without a congestion buffer.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Portland to New York
- •
This is a long haul at 320 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Live seafood and lobster freight is worth asking about, especially during peak harvest season from August through November.
- •
Port-linked freight out of NY/NJ is worth checking on this end too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Portland to New York lane?
The Port of New York and New Jersey's massive volume makes a northeastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •New York, NY
- •Regional distribution hubs near New York
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 30-35%
With the East Coast's largest port complex at the destination, backhaul options are strong.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Pre-book backhaul because of the distance and Maine's built-in imbalance.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
New Jersey's dense warehouse corridor gives you strong backhaul odds heading north.
- •
Maine's lobster and seafood industry keeps southbound reefer freight flowing too.
- •
NYC-area traffic is heavy nearly all day. Build that into your delivery window.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Portland to New York lane?
Three notes before this long Northeast corridor run.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this 5.5-hour run.
Build in significant extra time for I-95 congestion through multiple metro areas.
Confirm reefer temperature requirements before hauling frozen-seafood-connected freight.
If you haul reefer, Maine's lobster season is worth building a seasonal relationship around for this lane.
Portland to New York Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of NY/NJ, and congestion.
The lane data shows about $784 - $928 per load, or $2.45 - $2.90 a mile, across 320 miles.
It handles the largest container volume on the East Coast, keeping this lane's backhaul freight steady.
About 5.5 hours for the 320 miles.
Yes, generally, given the port complex's massive import volume.
Other Maine freight lanes we dispatch
- Portland to Providence
- Portland to Manchester
- Portland to Hartford
- Portland to Bangor
- Portland to Montreal
- Portland to Philadelphia
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.
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