Providence to Hartford Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Providence, RI to Hartford, CT (75 miles). Connects Providence to Hartford's aerospace/insurance corridor via I-95/I-84.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Providence to Hartford?
Providence to Hartford is a 75-mile lane paying about $210 - $244 per load, near $2.80 - $3.25 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, air-cargo-connected freight and insurance/finance-distribution freight.
- Distance
- 75 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $202 - $236
- Rate per mile
- $2.70 - $3.15
- Transit time
- Same day / 1.5 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this New England air-cargo corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Providence to Hartford
Providence to Hartford is a 75-mile, roughly 1.5-hour run west on I-95 and I-84, connecting Rhode Island's biggest freight gateway to Connecticut's insurance capital. Bradley International Airport, 15 miles north of Hartford, is developing into a Northeast cargo hub, keeping steady demand flowing on this corridor.
Origin
Providence, RI
Destination
Hartford, CT
Distance
75 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 1.5 hrs
Average Rate
$202 - $236
Rate per Mile
$2.70 - $3.15
75-mile lane, about 1.5 hours on I-95 and I-84
Bradley International Airport, 15 miles north of Hartford, is developing into a Northeast cargo hub
A short, well-traveled New England corridor
Providence to Hartford: route facts a driver should know
Pratt & Whitney just won a $1.3 billion engine contract
Pratt & Whitney, headquartered in East Hartford, was awarded a $1.3 billion contract in October 2024 for F135 fighter jet engine upgrades, employing roughly 11,000 people on the program.
Source: CT Mirror, Pratt & Whitney F135 contract coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
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.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Providence to Hartford?
About $74.65 this week. The lane is 75 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 12 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
- 75 mi
- Diesel needed
- 12 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $74.65
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, air-cargo-connected freight and insurance/finance-distribution freight fill the trailers heading west.
- Aerospace Components
- Pharmaceuticals
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Providence to Hartford 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.
I-84 through central Connecticut can see periodic congestion
I-84 through central Connecticut can see periodic congestion.
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 Providence to Hartford lane?
What travels between Providence and Hartford, and why Bradley Airport's growth matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Aerospace Components
- •Pharmaceuticals
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (Bradley International)
- •Consumer goods
- •Insurance/finance-distribution-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (steady, growing)
- •Insurance/finance-distribution freight (steady)
When is the Providence to Hartford lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady air-cargo freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady air-cargo-connected freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady cargo-hub-connected freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, tracking Pratt & Whitney's consistent aerospace production.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Providence to Hartford lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a market check.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Same-day booking is typical for this short, fast-turning lane.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical air-cargo-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a slow-season load in a competitive corridor without checking current rates.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Providence to Hartford
- •
At 75 miles, this is a short, quick run.
- •
Aerospace component freight is worth asking about given Pratt & Whitney's massive East Hartford presence.
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo is worth checking on the Providence side too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Providence to Hartford lane?
Bradley International's growing cargo role makes an eastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Hartford, CT
- •Regional distribution hubs near Hartford
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
With Bradley International developing into a Northeast cargo hub, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Hartford's insurance and manufacturing sector creates steady reload freight back toward Providence and the Rhode Island port
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Pratt & Whitney's aerospace manufacturing gives you real backhaul options for specialized freight.
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo base keeps eastbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough for a same-day or next-day backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Providence to Hartford lane?
Three notes before this New England air-cargo run.
This lane pairs well with multiple turns in a single day.
Build in a buffer for periodic I-84 congestion through central Connecticut.
Check current market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Hartford's I-84/I-91 interchange, nicknamed the Mixmaster, carries far more traffic than it was built for. Build extra time into deliveries through the city.
Providence to Hartford Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Bradley Airport's growth, and market conditions.
The lane data shows about $210 - $244 per load, or $2.80 - $3.25 a mile, across 75 miles.
It's developing into a Northeast cargo hub, sitting 15 miles north of Hartford.
About 1.5 hours for the 75 miles.
Reasonably, given Bradley International's growing cargo-hub role.
Other Rhode Island freight lanes we dispatch
- Providence to New Haven
- Providence to New York
- Providence to Worcester
- Providence to Philadelphia
- Providence to Washington
- Providence to Baltimore
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 Providence, RI to Hartford, CT consistently?
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