Providence to Richmond Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Providence, RI to Richmond, VA (545 miles). Richmond's distribution position connects Rhode Island to the Mid-Atlantic via I-95.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Providence to Richmond?
Providence to Richmond is a 545-mile lane paying about $1,226 - $1,472 per load, near $2.25 - $2.70 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, distribution/warehousing-connected freight and port-connected freight.
- Distance
- 545 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,254 - $1,499
- 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 Northeast-to-Mid-Atlantic corridor. See our dispatch fee structure.
Providence to Richmond
Providence to Richmond is a 545-mile, multi-hour run southwest on I-95, connecting Rhode Island's biggest freight gateway to a Mid-Atlantic logistics powerhouse. Richmond sits at the intersection of I-95 and I-64 with the Port of Virginia 90 minutes away, and 4.5 million square feet of speculative industrial space is set to deliver in the region before the end of 2026.
Origin
Providence, RI
Destination
Richmond, VA
Distance
545 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$1,254 - $1,499
Rate per Mile
$2.30 - $2.75
545-mile lane, a multi-hour run on I-95
Richmond sits at the intersection of I-95 and I-64, 90 minutes from the Port of Virginia
4.5 million square feet of speculative industrial space is delivering in Richmond before the end of 2026
Providence to Richmond: route facts a driver should know
Richmond and Norfolk together reach more consumers than Chicago
Richmond and Norfolk combined can reach 40.4 million consumers within 250 miles, more than Chicago, Atlanta, or Los Angeles can reach from their own metro areas, and the pair sits within a 48-hour drive of 75% of the US population.
Source: CBRE, emerging industrial markets: Richmond and Norfolk. 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 Richmond?
About $511.88 this week. The lane is 545 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 84 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.11 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
- 545 mi
- Diesel needed
- 84 gal
- Price used
- $6.11/gal
- Fuel cost
- $511.88
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, distribution/warehousing-connected freight and port-connected freight fill the trailers heading southwest.
- Consumer Goods
- Retail Distribution
- Government Freight
What makes the Providence to Richmond lane difficult?
The length requires careful hours-of-service and multi-day trip planning
The length requires careful hours-of-service and multi-day trip planning.
I-95 through New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington can see heavy, unpredictable congestion
I-95 through New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington can see heavy, unpredictable congestion.
New warehouse deliveries can create short-term rate volatility as capacity absorbs
New warehouse deliveries can create short-term rate volatility as capacity absorbs.
What freight moves on the Providence to Richmond lane?
What travels between Providence and Richmond, and why the region's industrial-space boom matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Retail Distribution
- •Government Freight
Secondary Commodities
- •Distribution/warehousing-connected freight (Richmond)
- •Port-connected freight (Port of Virginia)
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Distribution/warehousing-connected freight (steady, growing)
- •Port-connected freight (steady)
When is the Providence to Richmond lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady distribution-connected freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady distribution-connected freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady distribution-connected freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This long-haul lane runs fairly steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Providence to Richmond lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a congestion buffer.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for a haul this long.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical distribution/warehousing and port-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight delivery through multiple metro areas without a significant congestion buffer.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Providence to Richmond
- •
This is a long haul at 475 miles, so plan real fuel and rest stops.
- •
Richmond's distribution reach, 40.4 million consumers within 250 miles, makes this a strong lane for general freight.
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo is worth checking on the Providence side too.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Providence to Richmond lane?
Richmond's massive industrial-space pipeline makes a northeastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Richmond, VA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Richmond
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
With 4.5 million square feet of new industrial space delivering by the end of 2026, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Richmond's e-commerce and distribution freight offers solid reload volume heading back up the I-95 corridor
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Richmond's massive consumer reach gives you strong backhaul odds heading north.
- •
ProvPort's bulk cargo 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 Providence to Richmond lane?
Three notes before this long Mid-Atlantic corridor run.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this multi-hour run.
Build in significant extra time for I-95 congestion through multiple metro areas.
Watch for rate shifts as Richmond's new industrial space comes online through 2026.
Richmond's reach to 40.4 million consumers within 250 miles beats Chicago's, Atlanta's, and LA's own metro reach. A genuinely strong distribution market.
Providence to Richmond Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Richmond's industrial-space boom, and congestion.
The lane data shows about $1,226 - $1,472 per load, or $2.25 - $2.70 a mile, across 545 miles.
It's a multi-hour run given the 545 miles.
It sits at the intersection of I-95 and I-64, 90 minutes from the Port of Virginia, with 4.5 million square feet of new industrial space delivering by the end of 2026.
Reasonably, given the region's massive industrial-space pipeline and Port of Virginia proximity.
Other Rhode Island freight lanes we dispatch
- Providence to Charlotte
- Providence to Groton
- Providence to Boston
- Providence to New York
- Providence to Hartford
- Providence to New Haven
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 Richmond, VA consistently?
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