Boston to Providence Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Boston, MA to Providence, RI (50 miles). Very short, high-frequency corridor connecting Boston to Rhode Island via I-95.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Boston to Providence?
Boston to Providence is a 50-mile lane paying about $140 - $160 per load, near $2.80 - $3.20 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, petroleum/bulk-cargo freight and construction-material freight.
- Distance
- 50 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $140 - $160
- Rate per mile
- $2.80 - $3.20
- Transit time
- Same day / 1 hr
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for a short, high-rate-per-mile lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Boston to Providence
Boston to Providence is a very short, 50-mile run southwest on I-95, connecting Massachusetts's biotech hub 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, and T.F. Green International Airport is planning a $100 million cargo terminal set to break ground in September 2026.
Origin
Boston, MA
Destination
Providence, RI
Distance
50 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 1 hr
Average Rate
$140 - $160
Rate per Mile
$2.80 - $3.20
50-mile lane, a short run on I-95
The Port of Providence is one of New England's busiest working deepwater ports for petroleum and bulk cargo
T.F. Green International Airport plans a $100 million cargo terminal, breaking ground in September 2026
Boston 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.
Boston's biotech corridor is one of the densest in the country
Boston's biotech and life-sciences industry is widely described as the country's densest cluster, generating steady demand for temperature-controlled and clinical-trial logistics freight.
Source: Colliers, Greater Boston Life Sciences Report. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Boston to Providence?
About $49.77 this week. The lane is 50 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 8 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
- 50 mi
- Diesel needed
- 8 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $49.77
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, petroleum/bulk-cargo freight and construction-material freight fill the trailers heading southwest.
- Consumer Goods
- Retail Distribution
- Manufacturing Equipment
What makes the Boston to Providence lane difficult?
A very short lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range
A very short lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter 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 Boston to Providence lane?
What travels between Boston and Providence, and why the working-port status matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Retail Distribution
- •Manufacturing Equipment
Secondary Commodities
- •Petroleum/bulk-cargo-connected freight (Port of Providence)
- •Construction-material-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Petroleum/bulk freight (steady)
- •Construction-material freight (summer season)
When is the Boston 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, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Boston to Providence lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need special equipment.
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 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 Boston to Providence
- •
At just 50 miles, this is one of the shortest lanes we track, so more than one load a day is realistic.
- •
Port-linked bulk freight, coal, salt, and petroleum, is worth asking about given ProvPort's cargo mix.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Boston 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: 10-15%
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:
- •The tight Boston-Providence corridor has enough regional freight density that empty backhauls are uncommon.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo base gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Boston's biotech and port freight base keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough to plan more than one trip a day.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Boston to Providence lane?
Three notes before this working-port corridor run.
This lane pairs well with multiple turns in a single day.
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.
Boston to Providence Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Providence, and T.F. Green's cargo terminal.
The lane data shows about $140 - $160 per load, or $2.80 - $3.20 a mile, across 50 miles.
It's a working port focused on petroleum products, construction aggregate and bulk cargo, not significant container traffic.
Under an hour for the 50 miles on I-95.
Reasonably, given the port's steady petroleum and bulk-cargo volume.
Other Massachusetts freight lanes we dispatch
- Boston to Philadelphia
- Boston to Hartford
- Boston to Washington
- Boston to Albany
- Boston to Portland
- Boston to Springfield
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 Providence, RI consistently?
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