Richmond to Baltimore Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Richmond, VA to Baltimore, MD (155 miles). The Port of Baltimore and Mid-Atlantic distribution network via I-95.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Richmond to Baltimore?
Richmond to Baltimore is a 155-mile lane paying about $411 - $473 per load, near $2.65 - $3.05 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, port-connected freight and industrial equipment.
- Distance
- 155 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $411 - $473
- Rate per mile
- $2.65 - $3.05
- Transit time
- Same day / 3 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing for a short, high-rate-per-mile lane. See our dispatch fee structure.
Richmond to Baltimore
Richmond to Baltimore is a 155-mile, roughly 2.5-hour run north on I-95, connecting Virginia's freight hub to a port coming off its second-best year ever. The Port of Baltimore handled 50 million tons of cargo and a record 1,113,309 TEUs in 2025, recovering strongly after the 2024 Key Bridge collapse, with a rail tunnel modernization completing in 2026 to enable double-stacked container trains.
Origin
Richmond, VA
Destination
Baltimore, MD
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
The Port of Baltimore handled 50 million tons of cargo in 2025, its second-best year ever
Baltimore moved a record 1,113,309 TEUs in 2025, topping the prior 2023 record
Richmond to Baltimore: route facts a driver should know
The Port of Baltimore is America's top Ro/Ro port
The Port of Baltimore is the number-one US port for roll-on/roll-off cargo, handling 887,513 tons of farm and construction equipment in 2025, up 6% from the year before, plus 728,225 autos and light trucks.
Source: Maritime Executive, Port of Baltimore performance coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
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.
Source: CBRE, emerging industrial markets: Richmond and Norfolk. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Richmond to Baltimore?
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, port-connected freight and industrial equipment fill the trailers heading north.
- Containerized Cargo
- Consumer Goods
- Automotive Imports
What makes the Richmond to Baltimore lane difficult?
I-95 through the DC-Baltimore corridor can see heavy, unpredictable congestion
I-95 through the DC-Baltimore corridor can see heavy, unpredictable congestion.
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Port capacity remains in a recovery phase following the 2024 Key Bridge collapse
Port capacity remains in a recovery phase following the 2024 Key Bridge collapse.
What freight moves on the Richmond to Baltimore lane?
What travels between Richmond and Baltimore, and why the port's record recovery matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Containerized Cargo
- •Consumer Goods
- •Automotive Imports
Secondary Commodities
- •Port import-connected freight (Port of Baltimore)
- •Consumer goods
- •Industrial equipment
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday import surge)
- •Port-connected freight (steady, record recovery)
- •Industrial equipment (steady)
When is the Richmond to Baltimore lane busiest?
Import timing and steady recovery-driven freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays as import volume normalizes.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Import-connected freight climbs sharply ahead of the holidays.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday import season
- •Steady port-connected freight through the ongoing recovery
- •Summer freight demand
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs fairly steady year-round, tracking the Port of Baltimore's consistent Ro/Ro and cargo volume.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Richmond to Baltimore lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a congestion buffer.
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 port import-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight DC-Baltimore delivery window without a congestion buffer.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Richmond to Baltimore
- •
At 155 miles, this is a short, quick run.
- •
Baltimore's roll-on/roll-off cargo creates real flatbed and auto-hauler freight worth asking about.
- •
Richmond's own growing distribution base keeps this lane busy in both directions.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Richmond to Baltimore lane?
The Port of Baltimore's record recovery makes a southbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Baltimore, MD
- •Regional distribution hubs near Baltimore
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With a record 1,113,309 TEUs moved in 2025 and a rail tunnel upgrade completing in 2026, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Port of Baltimore's steady import volume and general Mid-Atlantic freight density keep backhaul availability strong.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Baltimore's equipment and auto-import volume gives flatbed and specialized carriers strong backhaul options.
- •
Richmond's own growing freight base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
This short lane pairs well with a same-day round trip.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Richmond to Baltimore lane?
Three notes before this Mid-Atlantic port run.
Build in extra time for I-95 congestion through the DC-Baltimore corridor.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Confirm current Port of Baltimore terminal status before a tight delivery appointment.
If your equipment fits, ask about Baltimore's Ro/Ro freight. It's a specialty most carriers on this lane don't think to check.
Richmond to Baltimore Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the Port of Baltimore's recovery, and congestion.
The lane data shows about $411 - $473 per load, or $2.65 - $3.05 a mile, across 155 miles.
Strongly; it handled 50 million tons of cargo and a record 1,113,309 TEUs in 2025, its second-best year ever.
About 2.5 hours for the 155 miles on I-95.
Yes, generally, given the port's record cargo recovery.
Other Virginia freight lanes we dispatch
- Richmond to Raleigh
- Richmond to Nashville
- Richmond to Pittsburgh
- Richmond to Memphis
- Richmond to Louisville
- Richmond to Washington
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Southeast: +$2,550/week after moving to $2.85/mi on automotive parts / retail / beverage freight.
Read the case studyNeed help running Richmond, VA to Baltimore, MD consistently?
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