Burlington to Philadelphia Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Burlington, VT to Philadelphia, PA (400 miles). Philadelphia's pharma corridor and port connect via I-87/I-95.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Burlington to Philadelphia?
Burlington to Philadelphia is a 400-mile lane paying about $960 - $1,140 per load, near $2.40 - $2.85 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, pharmaceutical-connected freight and dairy/specialty-food freight.
- Distance
- 400 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $920 - $1,100
- Rate per mile
- $2.30 - $2.75
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 25-30%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for this long Vermont-to-Mid-Atlantic corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Burlington to Philadelphia
Burlington to Philadelphia is a 400-mile, multi-hour run south, connecting Vermont's biggest freight gateway to one of the Mid-Atlantic's major port and pharmaceutical-distribution centers. Philadelphia's port and refinery-adjacent industrial base keeps steady southbound freight demand flowing on this corridor.
Origin
Burlington, VT
Destination
Philadelphia, PA
Distance
400 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$920 - $1,100
Rate per Mile
$2.30 - $2.75
400-mile lane, a multi-hour run south
Philadelphia anchors a major Mid-Atlantic port and pharmaceutical-distribution base
A long, well-traveled Vermont-to-Mid-Atlantic corridor
Burlington to Philadelphia: route facts a driver should know
PhilaPort just posted a record year for container volume
PhilaPort handled a record 889,268 TEUs in 2025, up 6% from the year before, with refrigerated containers making up 43% of that tonnage.
Source: PhilaPort, 2025 cargo volume announcement. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Burlington's economy centers on the University of Vermont
The University of Vermont, founded in 1791, dominates Burlington's economy and footprint, with about 12,000 students in a city of roughly 45,000 residents.
Source: CNN Travel, Burlington, Vermont city coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Burlington to Philadelphia?
About $399.32 this week. The lane is 400 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 62 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.49 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 the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 400 mi
- Diesel needed
- 62 gal
- Price used
- $6.49/gal
- Fuel cost
- $399.32
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, pharmaceutical-connected freight and dairy/specialty-food freight fill the trailers heading south.
- Consumer Goods
- Dairy Products
- Manufacturing Equipment
What makes the Burlington to Philadelphia lane difficult?
The length requires careful hours-of-service planning
The length requires careful hours-of-service planning.
I-87 and I-95 through the New York metro area can see heavy, unpredictable congestion
I-87 and I-95 through the New York metro area can see heavy, unpredictable congestion.
Pharmaceutical-connected freight can require specific handling or temperature control
Pharmaceutical-connected freight can require specific handling or temperature control.
What freight moves on the Burlington to Philadelphia lane?
What travels between Burlington and Philadelphia, and why the pharmaceutical-distribution base matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Dairy Products
- •Manufacturing Equipment
Secondary Commodities
- •Pharmaceutical-distribution-connected freight
- •Dairy/specialty-food-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Pharmaceutical-connected freight (steady)
- •Dairy/specialty-food freight (steady)
When is the Burlington to Philadelphia lane busiest?
Retail timing and Vermont's maple-syrup season both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady pharmaceutical-distribution freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Maple syrup production runs late winter into early spring, adding a distinct Vermont freight category.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady pharmaceutical-distribution freight year-round
- •Fall foliage tourist season
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, backed by PhilaPort's growing container volume.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Burlington to Philadelphia lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need special handling.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical pharmaceutical-distribution freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight delivery window through the New York metro without a congestion buffer.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Burlington to Philadelphia
- •
This is a long haul at 435 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
PhilaPort's reefer volume, 43% of its tonnage, makes this lane worth checking for produce and cold-chain freight.
- •
University-linked freight out of Burlington is another option here.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Burlington to Philadelphia lane?
Philadelphia's port and pharmaceutical base make a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Philadelphia, PA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Philadelphia
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
With a major port and pharmaceutical-distribution base, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Use Wilmington/Baltimore for the I-95 return. Or use Harrisburg for a western reload that can move the truck toward New York or New England.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
PhilaPort's record container growth means drayage backhauls are worth checking near the port.
- •
Burlington's university and regional base keeps northbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Burlington to Philadelphia lane?
Three notes before this long Vermont-to-Mid-Atlantic run.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this multi-hour run.
Build in significant extra time for congestion through the New York metro area.
Confirm handling requirements before hauling pharmaceutical-connected freight.
This is a true long haul. PhilaPort's reefer share, 43% of its tonnage, makes it worth checking for cold-chain freight specifically.
Burlington to Philadelphia Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Philadelphia's pharmaceutical base, and congestion.
The lane data shows about $960 - $1,140 per load, or $2.40 - $2.85 a mile, across 400 miles.
It's a multi-hour run given the 400 miles.
It anchors a major Mid-Atlantic port and pharmaceutical-distribution base.
Reasonably, given the metro's port and pharmaceutical-distribution freight base.
Other Vermont freight lanes we dispatch
- Burlington to Providence
- Burlington to Waterbury
- Burlington to Plattsburgh
- Burlington to Boston
- Burlington to Montreal
- Burlington 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.
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