Manchester to Portsmouth Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Manchester, NH to Portsmouth, NH (45 miles). Connects Manchester to the Seacoast region and Pease International Tradeport via Route 101.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Manchester to Portsmouth?
Manchester to Portsmouth is a 45-mile lane paying about $126 - $146 per load, near $2.80 - $3.25 a mile. Freight is mostly naval-shipyard-connected freight, air-cargo-connected freight and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 45 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $126 - $146
- Rate per mile
- $2.80 - $3.25
- Transit time
- Same day / 45 min
- Deadhead risk
- 10-15%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this short defense-manufacturing corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Manchester to Portsmouth
Manchester to Portsmouth is a 45-mile, roughly 1-hour run east on I-93 and Route 101, connecting New Hampshire's biggest air-cargo market to a shipyard undergoing a $1.87 billion, seven-year dry dock expansion. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, on Seavey Island bordering Portsmouth, overhauls and modernizes the Navy's Los Angeles and Virginia-class attack submarine fleet, and solicited trucking services for an August 2025-June 2026 period.
Origin
Manchester, NH
Destination
Portsmouth, NH
Distance
45 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 45 min
Average Rate
$126 - $146
Rate per Mile
$2.80 - $3.25
45-mile lane, about 1 hour on I-93 and Route 101
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is undergoing a $1.87 billion, seven-year dry dock expansion
The shipyard overhauls and modernizes the Navy's Los Angeles and Virginia-class submarine fleet
Manchester to Portsmouth: route facts a driver should know
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is undergoing a $1.8 billion expansion
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, the Navy's oldest continuously operating shipyard, overhauls nuclear attack submarines and employs more than 7,000 civilians. A $1.8 billion dry-dock expansion is underway, and the yard needs to hire roughly 550 workers a year to keep up with demand.
Source: Mainebiz, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard hiring coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Pease International Tradeport has its own cargo runway and Foreign Trade Zone
Pease International Tradeport, a former Air Force base redeveloped into a 3,000-acre business park, includes a Foreign Trade Zone, an 11,300-foot runway for air cargo, and full Customs and Federal Inspection Service facilities.
Source: Pease Development Authority. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Manchester to Portsmouth?
About $44.79 this week. The lane is 45 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 7 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
- 45 mi
- Diesel needed
- 7 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $44.79
Common Freight Types
Naval-shipyard-connected freight, air-cargo-connected freight and consumer goods fill the trailers heading east.
- Consumer Goods
- Aerospace/Defense
- Distribution
What makes the Manchester to Portsmouth 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.
Naval-shipyard freight can require security clearance and specialized handling
Naval-shipyard freight can require security clearance and specialized handling.
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 Manchester to Portsmouth lane?
What travels between Manchester and Portsmouth, and why the naval shipyard's expansion matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Aerospace/Defense
- •Distribution
Secondary Commodities
- •Naval-shipyard-connected freight (Portsmouth Naval Shipyard)
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (Manchester)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Naval-shipyard-connected freight (steady, growing)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (steady)
When is the Manchester to Portsmouth lane busiest?
Steady naval-shipyard-connected freight shapes this lane more than any retail calendar.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
Little seasonal dip; the shipyard's submarine maintenance schedule runs on a steady, year-round basis.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb modestly from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not applicable; this lane runs on naval-shipyard and defense manufacturing.
- •Steady naval-shipyard-connected freight year-round
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Summer freight demand
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, tracking Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's consistent submarine-overhaul workload.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Manchester to Portsmouth lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need security clearance.
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, security-cleared shipyard-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to shipyard-connected freight without confirming security clearance and handling credentials.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Manchester to Portsmouth
- •
At 45 miles, this is a short, quick run.
- •
Shipbuilding and submarine-overhaul component freight is worth asking about given Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's active expansion.
- •
Air-cargo-linked freight tied to Pease International Tradeport is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Manchester to Portsmouth lane?
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's massive expansion makes a return load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Portsmouth, NH
- •Regional distribution hubs near Portsmouth
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
With a $1.87 billion dry dock expansion underway, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Portsmouth-to-Portland is a natural northbound reload. Boston is the stronger southbound market. Manchester gives the easiest local recovery.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's growing workforce needs give you real backhaul options for specialized freight.
- •
Manchester's manufacturing base keeps westbound loads flowing too.
- •
Check freight tied to Pease's Foreign Trade Zone status for international-linked backhauls.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Manchester to Portsmouth lane?
Three notes before this defense-manufacturing run.
This lane pairs well with multiple turns in a single day.
Confirm security clearance and handling requirements before hauling shipyard-connected freight.
Check current market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard's dry-dock expansion is a genuinely growing freight source. It's worth building a relationship with contractors there through at least the next several years.
Manchester to Portsmouth Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and security clearance.
The lane data shows about $126 - $146 per load, or $2.80 - $3.25 a mile, across 45 miles.
It overhauls and modernizes the Navy's Los Angeles and Virginia-class attack submarine fleet, undergoing a $1.87 billion, seven-year dry dock expansion.
About 1 hour for the 45 miles.
Reasonably, given the shipyard's massive ongoing expansion and steady submarine-maintenance schedule.
Other New Hampshire freight lanes we dispatch
- Manchester to North Conway
- Manchester to Concord
- Manchester to Charlotte
- Manchester to Boston
- Manchester to Portland
- Manchester to Providence
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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