Providence to Portland Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Providence, RI to Portland, ME (155 miles). Connects Providence to Maine via I-95, serving New England's northern reach.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Providence to Portland?
Providence to Portland is a 155-mile lane paying about $411 - $481 per load, near $2.65 - $3.10 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port-connected freight and cold-storage-connected freight.
- Distance
- 155 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $403 - $473
- Rate per mile
- $2.60 - $3.05
- Transit time
- Same day / 3 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
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.
Providence to Portland
Providence to Portland is a 155-mile, roughly 2.5-hour run northeast on I-95, connecting Rhode Island's biggest freight gateway 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.
Origin
Providence, RI
Destination
Portland, ME
Distance
155 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3 hrs
Average Rate
$403 - $473
Rate per Mile
$2.60 - $3.05
155-mile lane, about 2.5 hours on I-95
The Port of Portland handles approximately 22 million tons of cargo annually
The port expects container shipping to grow 10% in its next fiscal year
Providence 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, with volume more than doubling 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.
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 Portland?
About $154.28 this week. The lane is 155 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 24 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
- 155 mi
- Diesel needed
- 24 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $154.28
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, port-connected freight and cold-storage-connected freight fill the trailers heading northeast.
- Consumer Goods
- Seafood
- Manufacturing Equipment
What makes the Providence 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 Providence to Portland lane?
What travels between Providence and Portland, 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)
- •Consumer goods
- •Cold-storage-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday import surge)
- •Port-connected freight (steady, growing)
- •Cold-storage/seafood-connected freight (steady)
When is the Providence 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 a seasonal bump in reefer freight during Maine's lobster harvest.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Providence to Portland lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need reefer capacity.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
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 Providence to Portland
- •
This is a long haul at 175 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Port-linked freight and live seafood are worth asking about on the Portland end.
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo is worth checking on the Providence side too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Providence to Portland lane?
The Port of Portland's growth outlook makes a southbound 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: 20-25%
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 and L.L. Bean freight offers solid backhaul volume for reefer-equipped carriers heading south
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Portland's port and seafood freight base gives you real backhaul options.
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Providence to Portland lane?
Three notes before this Maine port corridor run.
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.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
If you haul reefer, Maine's lobster season (August through November) is worth building a seasonal relationship around.
Providence to Portland Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Portland's growth, and cold-storage freight.
The lane data shows about $411 - $481 per load, or $2.65 - $3.10 a mile, across 155 miles.
Approximately 22 million tons annually, with container shipping expected to grow 10% in the coming fiscal year.
About 2.5 hours for the 155 miles.
Reasonably, given the port's growth outlook.
Other Rhode Island freight lanes we dispatch
- Providence to Albany
- Providence to Baltimore
- Providence to Springfield
- Providence to Newport
- Providence to Groton
- Providence to Richmond
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 Portland, ME consistently?
Running Providence to Portland often? Ask about a free custom growth plan.