Burlington to Waterbury Truck Dispatch
Freight route from Burlington, VT to Waterbury, VT (25 miles). It is a very short in-state corridor that serves the Ben & Jerry's Waterbury plant.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Burlington to Waterbury?
Burlington to Waterbury is a 25-mile lane paying about $74 - $85 per load, near $2.95 - $3.40 a mile. Freight is mostly refrigerated ice-cream-connected freight, dairy/specialty-food freight and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 25 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $71 - $82
- Rate per mile
- $2.85 - $3.30
- Transit time
- Same day / 30 min
- 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.
Burlington to Waterbury
Burlington to Waterbury is a very short, 25-mile run southeast on I-89, connecting Vermont's biggest freight gateway to the state's largest single branded food-manufacturing operation. Ben & Jerry's produces upwards of 350,000 pints of ice cream a day at its Waterbury factory, generating steady refrigerated-truck freight bound for national markets.
Origin
Burlington, VT
Destination
Waterbury, VT
Distance
25 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 30 min
Average Rate
$71 - $82
Rate per Mile
$2.85 - $3.30
25-mile lane, a short run on I-89
Ben & Jerry's Waterbury factory is Vermont's largest single branded food-manufacturing operation
The factory produces upwards of 350,000 pints of ice cream a day
Burlington to Waterbury: route facts a driver should know
Ben & Jerry's factory is the company's only public manufacturing site
The Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory in Waterbury, VT is the company's first manufacturing site and the only Ben & Jerry's factory open to the public for tours. The company was founded in Burlington in 1978 before growing its manufacturing base in Waterbury.
Source: Wikipedia, Waterbury, Vermont. 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 Waterbury?
About $24.88 this week. The lane is 25 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 4 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
- 25 mi
- Diesel needed
- 4 gal
- Price used
- $6.47/gal
- Fuel cost
- $24.88
Common Freight Types
Refrigerated ice-cream-connected freight, dairy/specialty-food freight and consumer goods fill the trailers heading southeast.
- Ice Cream/Dairy Products
- Packaging Materials
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Burlington to Waterbury 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.
Ice cream freight requires strict temperature-controlled reefer equipment
Ice cream freight requires strict temperature-controlled reefer equipment.
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 Burlington to Waterbury lane?
What travels between Burlington and Waterbury, and why Ben & Jerry's matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Ice Cream/Dairy Products
- •Packaging Materials
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Refrigerated ice-cream-connected freight (Ben & Jerry's)
- •Dairy/specialty-food-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Ice-cream-connected freight (summer peak)
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Dairy/specialty-food freight (steady)
When is the Burlington to Waterbury lane busiest?
Summer ice-cream demand shapes this lane more than any other seasonal factor.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip in ice-cream freight volume during the coldest winter months.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb modestly from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not applicable; this lane's real cycle follows Ben & Jerry's summer ice-cream demand.
- •Summer ice-cream demand season
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady refrigerated freight year-round
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, with a tourism bump around Ben & Jerry's factory tours in summer.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Burlington to Waterbury lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need reefer 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, temperature-controlled ice-cream freight tends to pay a premium during summer peak demand.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to ice-cream-connected freight without confirming reefer equipment is properly set.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Burlington to Waterbury
- •
At 35 miles, this is one of the shortest lanes we track, so more than one load a day is realistic.
- •
Reefer freight is worth asking about given Waterbury's ice cream manufacturing plant.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Burlington to Waterbury lane?
Ben & Jerry's massive production volume makes a return load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Waterbury, VT
- •Regional distribution hubs near Waterbury
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 10-15%
With the factory producing upwards of 350,000 pints a day, there is real backhaul variety for reefer-equipped carriers.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Return to Burlington for the strongest local freight, Montpelier for central Vermont freight, or Concord for a longer New Hampshire reposition.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Waterbury's food manufacturing and state office complex give you real backhaul options.
- •
Burlington's university and regional base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough to plan several trips a day.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Burlington to Waterbury lane?
Three notes before this ice-cream-manufacturing run.
This lane pairs well with multiple turns in a single day.
Confirm reefer temperature requirements before hauling ice-cream-connected freight.
Check current market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
If you haul reefer, Ben & Jerry's Waterbury factory is worth asking about directly. It's the company's only public manufacturing site.
Burlington to Waterbury Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Ben & Jerry's production volume, and reefer requirements.
The lane data shows about $74 - $85 per load, or $2.95 - $3.40 a mile, across 25 miles.
It's home to Ben & Jerry's factory, Vermont's largest single branded food-manufacturing operation, producing upwards of 350,000 pints of ice cream a day.
About 30-40 minutes for the 25 miles.
Reasonably for reefer-equipped carriers, given the factory's massive daily production volume.
Other Vermont freight lanes we dispatch
- Burlington to Philadelphia
- Burlington to Concord
- Burlington to Providence
- Burlington to Plattsburgh
- Burlington to Boston
- Burlington to Montreal
Local resources
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 Burlington, VT to Waterbury, VT consistently?
Running Burlington to Waterbury often? Ask about a free custom growth plan.