Portland to Providence Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Portland, ME to Providence, RI (155 miles). Connects Portland to Rhode Island via I-95.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Portland to Providence?
Portland to Providence is a 155-mile lane paying about $395 - $465 per load, near $2.55 - $3.00 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, petroleum/bulk-cargo freight and frozen-seafood-connected freight.
- Distance
- 155 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $395 - $465
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $3.00
- Transit time
- Same day / 3 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this New England port-to-port corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Portland to Providence
Portland to Providence is a 155-mile, roughly 2.5-hour run southwest on I-95, connecting Maine's main cargo port 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.
Origin
Portland, ME
Destination
Providence, RI
Distance
155 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3 hrs
Average Rate
$395 - $465
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $3.00
155-mile lane, about 2.5 hours on I-95
The Port of Providence is one of New England's busiest working deepwater ports for petroleum and bulk cargo
The Port of Portland handles approximately 22 million tons of cargo annually
Portland to Providence: route facts a driver should know
ProvPort handles cargo at the convergence of Narragansett Bay
ProvPort, Rhode Island's main cargo terminal, covers over 135 acres with seven active piers and rail connections into major US and Canadian networks, handling coal, salt, LPG, and petroleum products.
Source: ProvPort, terminal overview. 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 Providence?
About $154.28 this week. The lane is 155 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 24 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
- 155 mi
- Diesel needed
- 24 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $154.28
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, petroleum/bulk-cargo freight and frozen-seafood-connected freight fill the trailers heading southwest.
- Consumer Goods
- Seafood
- Manufacturing Equipment
What makes the Portland 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 Portland to Providence lane?
What travels between Portland and Providence, and why the working-port status matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Seafood
- •Manufacturing Equipment
Secondary Commodities
- •Petroleum/bulk-cargo-connected freight (Port of Providence)
- •Frozen-seafood-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Petroleum/bulk freight (steady)
- •Frozen-seafood freight (steady)
When is the Portland 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
This lane runs steady year-round, with a seasonal bump in reefer freight during Maine's lobster harvest.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Portland to Providence lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need special equipment.
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 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 Portland to Providence
- •
At 155 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
- •
Port-linked bulk freight, coal, salt, and petroleum, is worth asking about given ProvPort's cargo mix.
- •
Live seafood freight is another option worth checking on the Portland end.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Portland to Providence lane?
Providence's working-port role makes a northeastbound 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: 20-25%
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:
- •Seafood freight on both ends supports moderate backhaul.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo base gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Portland's own port and seafood freight base keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane connects two genuinely active New England ports.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Portland 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.
ProvPort's petroleum and bulk cargo make this a solid lane for tanker and bulk-freight carriers.
Portland to Providence Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Providence, and container-freight routing.
The lane data shows about $395 - $465 per load, or $2.55 - $3.00 a mile, across 155 miles.
It's a working port focused on petroleum products, construction aggregate and bulk cargo, not significant container traffic.
About 2.5 hours for the 155 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's steady petroleum and bulk-cargo volume.
Other Maine freight lanes we dispatch
- Portland to Hartford
- Portland to New York
- Portland to Bangor
- Portland to Montreal
- Portland to Philadelphia
- Portland to Burlington
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 Providence, RI consistently?
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