Boston to Portland Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Boston, MA to Portland, ME (105 miles). Connects Boston to Maine via I-95, serving New England's northern reach.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Boston to Portland?
Boston to Portland is a 105-mile lane paying about $284 - $326 per load, near $2.70 - $3.10 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port-connected freight and frozen-seafood/cold-storage freight.
- Distance
- 105 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $284 - $326
- Rate per mile
- $2.70 - $3.10
- Transit time
- Same day / 2 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and reflect the port's expected container growth. See our dispatch fee structure.
Boston to Portland
Boston to Portland is a 105-mile, roughly 2-hour run northeast on I-95, connecting Massachusetts's biotech hub to Maine's main cargo port. The Port of Portland handles approximately 22 million tons of cargo annually and expects container shipping to grow 10% in the coming fiscal year as a new cold-storage facility comes online.
Origin
Boston, MA
Destination
Portland, ME
Distance
105 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 2 hrs
Average Rate
$284 - $326
Rate per Mile
$2.70 - $3.10
105-mile lane, about 2 hours on I-95
The Port of Portland, Maine handles approximately 22 million tons of cargo annually
The port expects container shipping to grow 10% in its next fiscal year, aided by a new cold-storage facility
Boston to Portland: route facts a driver should know
Portland's port is bucking the national container decline
Portland, Maine's only container terminal handles about 45,000 TEUs a year, and container volume there has more than doubled over the past five years even as many larger US ports have seen declines.
Source: Transport Topics, Maine port container growth coverage. 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, part of a commercial fishing industry that topped $600 million statewide, driving steady reefer and live-seafood freight demand.
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 Boston to Portland?
About $104.52 this week. The lane is 105 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 16 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
- 105 mi
- Diesel needed
- 16 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $104.52
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, port-connected freight and frozen-seafood/cold-storage freight fill the trailers heading northeast.
- Consumer Goods
- Seafood
- Manufacturing Equipment
What makes the Boston to Portland 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 England can affect road conditions from November through March
Winter weather in New England can affect road conditions from November through March.
Frozen-seafood and cold-storage freight requires strict temperature control
Frozen-seafood and cold-storage freight requires strict temperature control.
What freight moves on the Boston to Portland lane?
What travels between Boston and Portland, ME, and why the port's growth outlook matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Seafood
- •Manufacturing Equipment
Secondary Commodities
- •Port import/export-connected freight (Port of Portland)
- •Frozen-seafood/cold-storage-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday import surge)
- •Port-connected freight (steady, growing)
- •Frozen-seafood/cold-storage freight (steady)
When is the Boston to Portland lane busiest?
Import timing and steady cold-storage 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 freight climbs ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane, though frozen-seafood imports run on their own steady cycle.
- •Q4 holiday import 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 Boston to Portland lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need reefer capacity.
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 cold-storage and port import-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery without checking New England road conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Boston to Portland
- •
At 105 miles, this is a short, quick run.
- •
Live seafood and lobster freight is worth asking about, especially during peak harvest season from August through November.
- •
Port-linked freight tied to Portland's growing container terminal is another option.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Boston to Portland lane?
The Port of Portland's growth outlook makes a southwestbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Portland, ME
- •Regional distribution hubs near Portland
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With container shipping expected to grow 10% in the coming fiscal year, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Portland's seafood export freight heading toward Boston-area distribution and processing gives you decent backhaul volume, especially with reefer equipment.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Maine's lobster and seafood industry gives you real backhaul options for reefer freight.
- •
Boston's biotech and port freight base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Boston to Portland lane?
Three notes before this Maine port corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check New England winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Confirm reefer temperature requirements before hauling frozen-seafood or cold-storage-connected freight.
If you haul reefer, Maine's lobster season (August through November) is worth building a seasonal relationship around.
Boston to Portland Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Portland's growth, and cold-storage freight.
The lane data shows about $284 - $326 per load, or $2.70 - $3.10 a mile, across 105 miles.
Approximately 22 million tons annually, with container shipping expected to grow 10% in the coming fiscal year.
About 2 hours for the 105 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's growth outlook and new cold-storage facility.
Other Massachusetts freight lanes we dispatch
- Boston to Springfield
- Boston to Albany
- Boston to Chicago
- Boston to Baltimore
- Boston to Charlotte
- Boston to New Haven
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 Boston, MA to Portland, ME consistently?
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