Baltimore to Norfolk Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Baltimore, MD to Norfolk, VA (220 miles). Connects Baltimore's port to the Port of Virginia and Naval Station Norfolk via I-95/I-64.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Baltimore to Norfolk?
Baltimore to Norfolk is a 220-mile lane paying about $561 - $649 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, defense-contract freight and import/export cargo.
- Distance
- 220 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $561 - $649
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- Transit time
- Same day / 4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with Port of Virginia's growing volume. See our dispatch fee structure.
Baltimore to Norfolk
Baltimore to Norfolk is a 220-mile, roughly 3.5-hour run south, ending at the Port of Virginia, which handled nearly 3.24 million TEU in 2025 and set a monthly record of more than 340,000 TEU in a single month. A $300 million crane and infrastructure upgrade, including six new Super Post-Panamax cranes, is on track to finish by Q3 2026 and is projected to add 18% more throughput capacity.
Origin
Baltimore, MD
Destination
Norfolk, VA
Distance
220 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 4 hrs
Average Rate
$561 - $649
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
220-mile lane, about 3.5 hours south
The Port of Virginia handled nearly 3.24 million TEU in 2025
A $300 million crane and infrastructure upgrade is due to finish by Q3 2026, projected to add 18% more capacity
Baltimore to Norfolk: route facts a driver should know
The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel has different height limits each direction
The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel allows a maximum of 13 feet 6 inches without a permit westbound, and 14 feet 6 inches eastbound with a permit. A second set of tunnel tubes finished boring in fall 2025, with new westbound lanes opening in phases through 2026 as the expansion project continues.
Source: Virginia Department of Transportation, Hampton Roads bridges and tunnels. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
The Port of Virginia just finished deepening its channels
A $450 million dredging project completed in fall 2025 gave the Port of Virginia the deepest, widest channels on the US East Coast, and the port set a monthly cargo record of more than 340,000 TEUs in a recent month. That growth means steady freight for carriers serving the Norfolk terminals.
Source: Port of Virginia, cargo volume record announcement. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
The Fort McHenry Tunnel sets your height limit leaving Baltimore
The I-95 Fort McHenry Tunnel, which this lane uses leaving Baltimore, limits vehicles to 14 feet 6 inches high and 11 feet wide, and bars hazmat loads. Route hazmat freight around the harbor on I-695.
Source: Maryland Transportation Authority, tunnel restrictions reminder. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Baltimore to Norfolk?
About $207.27 this week. The lane is 220 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 34 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.12 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
- 220 mi
- Diesel needed
- 34 gal
- Price used
- $6.12/gal
- Fuel cost
- $207.27
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, defense-contract freight and import/export cargo fill the trailers heading to the coast.
- Containerized Cargo
- Military/Defense Freight
- Automotive Imports
What makes the Baltimore to Norfolk lane difficult?
Port-area traffic near the terminals can add real time to a pickup or delivery
Port-area traffic near the terminals can add real time to a pickup or delivery.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel tolls and congestion can affect routing
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel tolls and congestion can affect routing.
Defense and naval-facility deliveries often require advance clearance
Defense and naval-facility deliveries often require advance clearance.
What freight moves on the Baltimore to Norfolk lane?
What travels between Baltimore and Norfolk, and why the port and naval base matter here.
Primary Commodities
- •Containerized Cargo
- •Military/Defense Freight
- •Automotive Imports
Secondary Commodities
- •Port of Virginia import/export cargo
- •Naval and defense-contract freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Defense-contract freight (steady)
- •Import/export cargo (tied to port volume)
When is the Baltimore to Norfolk lane busiest?
Port volume and hurricane season both shape this coastal lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady defense-contract freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and port import volume both climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady defense and naval-contract freight
- •Port import surges
Hurricane Risk?
Significant. Norfolk sits directly on the Atlantic coast; check storm forecasts closely from June through November.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Port-connected freight stays strong on this lane following the Port of Virginia's 2025 channel-deepening project, with import volume climbing further ahead of the Q4 holidays.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Baltimore to Norfolk lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for this haul, more during hurricane season.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical Port of Virginia drayage freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fixed Norfolk delivery during an active Atlantic storm watch.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Baltimore to Norfolk
- •
Check the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel height limit before you route this way. It's 13 feet 6 inches without a permit westbound, tighter than most drivers expect.
- •
The Port of Virginia's record cargo volume after its channel-deepening project means steady demand for port-connected freight on this lane.
- •
Watch for construction-related lane shifts at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion project through 2026. Build in extra time if you're running a tight appointment.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Baltimore to Norfolk lane?
The Port of Virginia's record 2025 volume makes a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the northbound load:
- •Norfolk, VA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Norfolk
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With a $300 million capacity upgrade due by Q3 2026, port-connected backhaul freight should keep growing.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Strong two-port freight density (Baltimore and Norfolk) ensures reliable backhaul availability on this corridor.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
The Port of Virginia's record cargo volume and newly deepened channels make Norfolk a strong market for a booked return load.
- •
Confirm your trailer height against the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel's 13-foot-6-inch limit before you plan the return route westbound.
- •
Port-connected freight out of Norfolk tends to book a few days ahead, so start calling before you deliver.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Baltimore to Norfolk lane?
Three notes before this coastal Virginia run.
Build extra time into a port-area Norfolk pickup or delivery.
Check current Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel conditions before routing through it.
Confirm any clearance requirements before a naval-facility delivery.
Before you book Baltimore to Norfolk, confirm your rig's height against the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel limit, which differs by direction of travel.
Baltimore to Norfolk Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Virginia, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $561 - $649 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 220 miles.
It handled nearly 3.24 million TEU in 2025 and set a single-month record of more than 340,000 TEU, with a $300 million crane and infrastructure upgrade due by Q3 2026.
Yes, significantly. Norfolk sits directly on the Atlantic coast, so check storm forecasts closely from June through November.
Yes, generally, given the Port of Virginia's record and growing volume.
Other Maryland freight lanes we dispatch
- Baltimore to Charlotte
- Baltimore to Richmond
- Baltimore to Chicago
- Baltimore to Atlanta
- Baltimore to Boston
- Baltimore to Columbus
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 Baltimore, MD to Norfolk, VA consistently?
Running Baltimore to Norfolk often? Ask about a free custom growth plan.