Manchester to Providence Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Manchester, NH to Providence, RI (100 miles). Connects Manchester to Rhode Island via I-93/I-95.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Manchester to Providence?
Manchester to Providence is a 100-mile lane paying about $265 - $310 per load, near $2.65 - $3.10 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, petroleum/bulk-cargo freight and air-cargo-connected freight.
- Distance
- 100 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $265 - $310
- Rate per mile
- $2.65 - $3.10
- Transit time
- Same day / 2 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
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.
Manchester to Providence
Manchester to Providence is a 100-mile, roughly 2-hour run south on I-93 and I-95, connecting New Hampshire's biggest air-cargo market 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
Manchester, NH
Destination
Providence, RI
Distance
100 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 2 hrs
Average Rate
$265 - $310
Rate per Mile
$2.65 - $3.10
100-mile lane, about 2 hours on I-93 and I-95
The Port of Providence is one of New England's busiest working deepwater ports for petroleum and bulk cargo
Manchester's air-cargo hub status gives this lane strong origin-side freight
Manchester 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.
DEKA Research anchors Manchester's historic Millyard
DEKA Research & Development is headquartered in Manchester's historic Amoskeag Millyard buildings and employs over 1,000 engineers, technicians, and support staff.
Source: Wikipedia, DEKA (company). Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Manchester to Providence?
About $99.54 this week. The lane is 100 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 15 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
- 100 mi
- Diesel needed
- 15 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $99.54
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, petroleum/bulk-cargo freight and air-cargo-connected freight fill the trailers heading south.
- Consumer Goods
- Manufacturing Equipment
- Automotive Imports
What makes the Manchester 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 Manchester to Providence lane?
What travels between Manchester and Providence, and why the working-port status matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Manufacturing Equipment
- •Automotive Imports
Secondary Commodities
- •Petroleum/bulk-cargo-connected freight (Port of Providence)
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (Manchester)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Petroleum/bulk freight (steady)
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (steady)
When is the Manchester 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 Manchester 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 Manchester to Providence
- •
At 100 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.
- •
Manufacturing freight out of Manchester is worth checking on this end too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Manchester to Providence lane?
Providence's working-port role makes a northbound 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: 15-20%
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:
- •Reload from Providence toward Worcester/Boston for a northbound triangle, or use I-95 south for Connecticut and New York. Hartford freight can provide a cleaner westbound reposition than returning empty to Manchester.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo base gives you real backhaul options.
- •
Manchester's manufacturing base keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough for a same-day or next-day backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Manchester 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.
Manchester to Providence Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Providence, and container-freight routing.
The lane data shows about $265 - $310 per load, or $2.65 - $3.10 a mile, across 100 miles.
It's a working port focused on petroleum products, construction aggregate and bulk cargo, not significant container traffic.
About 2 hours for the 100 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's steady petroleum and bulk-cargo volume.
Other New Hampshire freight lanes we dispatch
- Manchester to Hartford
- Manchester to Portland
- Manchester to New York
- Manchester to Burlington
- Manchester to Albany
- Manchester 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 Manchester, NH to Providence, RI consistently?
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