Baltimore to Richmond Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Baltimore, MD to Richmond, VA (155 miles). Richmond's distribution position connects Maryland to the Mid-Atlantic via I-95.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Baltimore to Richmond?
Baltimore to Richmond is a 155-mile lane paying about $411 - $473 per load, near $2.65 - $3.05 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, state-government freight and retail distribution.
- Distance
- 155 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $411 - $473
- Rate per mile
- $2.65 - $3.05
- Transit time
- Same day / 3 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with Richmond's tightening industrial market. See our dispatch fee structure.
Baltimore to Richmond
Baltimore to Richmond is a 155-mile, roughly 2.5-hour run south on I-95, into Virginia's state capital and a growing logistics market. Richmond's industrial vacancy rate has stayed unusually tight for a market its size, and the city sits at the junction of I-95 and I-64, giving it strong reach into both the Mid-Atlantic and the Port of Virginia's inland freight network.
Origin
Baltimore, MD
Destination
Richmond, VA
Distance
155 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3 hrs
Average Rate
$411 - $473
Rate per Mile
$2.65 - $3.05
155-mile lane, about 2.5 hours on I-95
Richmond's industrial vacancy rate has stayed unusually tight for a market its size
Richmond sits at the I-95/I-64 junction, linking Mid-Atlantic and Port of Virginia freight
Baltimore to Richmond: route facts a driver should know
Richmond sits at the I-95/I-64 crossroads, not just on I-95
Richmond is positioned along both I-95 and I-64, giving it direct routing north-south to the DC-to-Charlotte corridor and east-west toward Hampton Roads. About 9 million trucks move along I-95 through Virginia each year, with notable congestion around Richmond and Petersburg.
Source: Greater Richmond Partnership, freight and transportation overview. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Richmond is building new warehouse capacity right now
A nearly 1 million-square-foot logistics warehouse was added along the I-95 corridor near Richmond in 2025, part of a broader wave of Class A industrial construction feeding Amazon, Target and Walmart distribution centers in the metro.
Source: American Journal of Transportation, I-95 corridor warehouse report. 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 entirely. 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 Richmond?
About $146.03 this week. The lane is 155 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 24 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.12 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
- 155 mi
- Diesel needed
- 24 gal
- Price used
- $6.12/gal
- Fuel cost
- $146.03
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, state-government freight and retail distribution fill the trailers heading south.
- Consumer Goods
- Retail Distribution
- Government Freight
What makes the Baltimore to Richmond lane difficult?
I-95 through northern Virginia can see heavy commuter traffic
I-95 through northern Virginia can see heavy commuter traffic.
State-government deliveries can require advance scheduling around session calendars
State-government deliveries can require advance scheduling around session calendars.
Richmond's growing warehouse demand means tighter dock-appointment windows than a few years ago
Richmond's growing warehouse demand means tighter dock-appointment windows than a few years ago.
What freight moves on the Baltimore to Richmond lane?
What travels between Baltimore and Richmond, and why the capital region matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Retail Distribution
- •Government Freight
Secondary Commodities
- •State government freight
- •Port of Virginia inland-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •State-government freight (steady)
- •Retail distribution (steady)
When is the Baltimore to Richmond lane busiest?
Steady government and capital-region freight softens the usual retail seasonality here.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady state-government freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and retail distribution climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady state-government and capital-region freight
- •Spring/summer construction season
Hurricane Risk?
A real factor from June through November; Richmond can see remnant tropical storm rainfall.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Distribution-center freight in Richmond stays busy year-round, with the usual Q4 retail surge layered on top as warehouses restock for the holidays.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Baltimore to Richmond lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need extra time.
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 Port of Virginia inland-connector freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fixed state-government delivery without checking the legislative session calendar.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Baltimore to Richmond
- •
Richmond's new warehouse capacity along I-95 means more reload options than a lane this length usually offers. Ask brokers about loads tied to the newer distribution centers.
- •
Expect real congestion around Richmond and Petersburg on I-95. Build a time buffer into tight delivery windows rather than promising an exact arrival.
- •
Check your equipment against the Fort McHenry Tunnel limit before you leave Baltimore, especially for hazmat freight.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Baltimore to Richmond lane?
Richmond's tightening industrial market gives good odds on a northbound load.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the northbound load:
- •Richmond, VA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Richmond
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
Richmond's link to Port of Virginia's inland network adds real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Strong Mid-Atlantic freight density keeps backhaul availability high in both directions on this corridor.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Richmond's position at the I-95/I-64 crossroads means return freight can head north on I-95 or east toward Hampton Roads and the Port of Virginia.
- •
Major distribution centers for Amazon, Target and Walmart in the Richmond metro give this lane a steady, name-brand backhaul base.
- •
With this run comfortably under 3 hours, a same-day round trip is realistic if you line up the return load before you unload.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Baltimore to Richmond lane?
Three notes before this Virginia run.
Budget extra time for I-95 traffic through northern Virginia.
Confirm scheduling requirements before a state-government facility delivery.
Book your dock appointment ahead of arrival given Richmond's tightening industrial market.
Before you book Baltimore to Richmond, check your rig's height against the Fort McHenry Tunnel limit and build in time for I-95 congestion around Richmond and Petersburg.
Baltimore to Richmond Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Richmond's industrial market, and state-government freight.
The lane data shows about $411 - $473 per load, or $2.65 - $3.05 a mile, across 155 miles.
Its industrial vacancy rate has stayed unusually tight for a market its size, reflecting steady, growing demand for warehouse space.
About 2.5 hours for the 155 miles on I-95.
Reasonably, given the city's tightening industrial market and its link to Port of Virginia's inland freight network.
Other Maryland freight lanes we dispatch
- Baltimore to Norfolk
- Baltimore to Pittsburgh
- Baltimore to Charlotte
- Baltimore to Chicago
- Baltimore to Atlanta
- Baltimore to Boston
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 Richmond, VA consistently?
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