Providence to Worcester Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Providence, RI to Worcester, MA (45 miles). Connects Providence to Central Massachusetts via I-95/I-146.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Providence to Worcester?
Providence to Worcester is a 45-mile lane paying about $131 - $151 per load, near $2.90 - $3.35 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, manufacturing/logistics-connected freight and distribution-connected freight.
- Distance
- 45 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $124 - $144
- Rate per mile
- $2.75 - $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 very short, high-rate-per-mile lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Providence to Worcester
Providence to Worcester is a very short, 45-mile run north on I-95 and I-146, connecting Rhode Island's biggest freight gateway to a strategic New England logistics hub. Worcester sits at the crossroads of I-90 and I-290 between Boston and the rest of the Northeast, serving manufacturing, agriculture and logistics freight for the region.
Origin
Providence, RI
Destination
Worcester, MA
Distance
45 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 1 hr
Average Rate
$124 - $144
Rate per Mile
$2.75 - $3.20
45-mile lane, a short run on I-95 and I-146
Worcester sits at the crossroads of I-90 and I-290, a strategic New England logistics hub
Central location between Boston and other major Northeast markets
Providence to Worcester: route facts a driver should know
Worcester is home to the largest biotech manufacturing campus in New England
Worcester hosts a growing biotech and biomanufacturing corridor anchored by companies like AbbVie and UMass Chan Medical School, with the city investing heavily in life-science real estate to attract manufacturers priced out of Boston and Cambridge.
Source: Worcester Business Journal, biotech corridor 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 Worcester?
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
Consumer goods, manufacturing/logistics-connected freight and distribution-connected freight fill the trailers heading north.
- Consumer Goods
- Manufacturing Equipment
- Retail Distribution
What makes the Providence to Worcester 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.
Competition from the dense Northeast carrier base can pressure rates
Competition from the dense Northeast carrier base can pressure rates.
Winter weather can occasionally affect road conditions
Winter weather can occasionally affect road conditions.
What freight moves on the Providence to Worcester lane?
What travels between Providence and Worcester, and why the crossroads location matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Manufacturing Equipment
- •Retail Distribution
Secondary Commodities
- •Manufacturing/logistics-connected freight (Worcester)
- •Consumer goods
- •Distribution-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Manufacturing-connected freight (steady)
- •Distribution-connected freight (steady)
When is the Providence to Worcester lane busiest?
Steady manufacturing and logistics freight shape this lane more than any single retail season.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady manufacturing/logistics freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb modestly from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady manufacturing/logistics freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
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 Providence to Worcester 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 logistics-connected freight can pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a slow-season load in a market this competitive without checking current rates.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Providence to Worcester
- •
At 45 miles, this is one of the shortest lanes we track, so more than one load a day is realistic.
- •
Biotech and life-science freight is worth asking about given Worcester's growing biomanufacturing corridor.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Providence to Worcester lane?
Worcester's crossroads position makes a southbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Worcester, MA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Worcester
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
With established 3PL and distribution operations, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Worcester's distribution and biotech freight reloads well back toward Providence and the wider Rhode Island market
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Worcester's biotech corridor gives you real backhaul options for specialized freight.
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough to plan more than one trip a day.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Providence to Worcester lane?
Three notes before this New England logistics-hub run.
This lane pairs well with multiple turns in a single day.
Check current market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Check winter road conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Worcester's biotech growth is pulling manufacturers priced out of Boston and Cambridge. Worth building a relationship with shippers there.
Providence to Worcester Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Worcester's logistics-hub role, and market conditions.
The lane data shows about $131 - $151 per load, or $2.90 - $3.35 a mile, across 45 miles.
It sits at the crossroads of I-90 and I-290, offering central connectivity between Boston and other Northeast markets.
About 1 hour for the 45 miles.
Reasonably, given the city's role as a strategic New England logistics hub.
Other Rhode Island freight lanes we dispatch
- Providence to Philadelphia
- Providence to New Haven
- Providence to Washington
- Providence to Baltimore
- Providence to Portland
- Providence to Albany
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 Worcester, MA consistently?
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