Richmond to Pittsburgh Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Richmond, VA to Pittsburgh, PA (316 miles). Connects Virginia to Western Pennsylvania's industrial/steel freight base via I-81/I-79.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Richmond to Pittsburgh?
Richmond to Pittsburgh is a 316-mile lane paying about $806 - $932 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, manufacturing-connected freight and e-commerce freight.
- Distance
- 316 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $806 - $932
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and winter mountain conditions. See our dispatch fee structure.
Richmond to Pittsburgh
Richmond to Pittsburgh is a 316-mile, roughly 5.5-hour run northwest on I-64 and I-79, connecting Virginia's freight hub to a re-emerging inland logistics center. Pittsburgh-based PITT OHIO was named the 2025 US Regional LTL Carrier of the Year by Penske Logistics, its fifth such honor, and the metro hosts FedEx Ground's headquarters alongside a growing Amazon fulfillment network.
Origin
Richmond, VA
Destination
Pittsburgh, PA
Distance
316 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$806 - $932
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
316-mile lane, about 5.5 hours on I-64 and I-79
Pittsburgh-based PITT OHIO was named 2025 US Regional LTL Carrier of the Year, its fifth such honor
Pittsburgh hosts FedEx Ground's corporate headquarters
Richmond to Pittsburgh: route facts a driver should know
Pittsburgh sits at the meeting point of three rivers
Pittsburgh sits where the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers meet, and its port district covers 200 commercially navigable river miles across 13 Pennsylvania counties.
Source: Port of Pittsburgh Commission. 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 Pittsburgh?
About $297.72 this week. The lane is 316 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 49 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
- 316 mi
- Diesel needed
- 49 gal
- Price used
- $6.12/gal
- Fuel cost
- $297.72
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, manufacturing-connected freight and e-commerce freight fill the trailers heading northwest.
- Steel Products
- Industrial Equipment
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Richmond to Pittsburgh lane difficult?
Mountainous terrain on I-64 and I-79 through West Virginia can affect travel time and winter conditions
Mountainous terrain on I-64 and I-79 through West Virginia can affect travel time and winter conditions.
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Competition from established regional carriers like PITT OHIO can pressure rates
Competition from established regional carriers like PITT OHIO can pressure rates.
What freight moves on the Richmond to Pittsburgh lane?
What travels between Richmond and Pittsburgh, and why the metro's logistics resurgence matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Steel Products
- •Industrial Equipment
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Manufacturing/logistics-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
- •E-commerce/last-mile-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Manufacturing-connected freight (steady)
- •E-commerce freight (steady)
When is the Richmond to Pittsburgh lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady manufacturing freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady manufacturing and logistics freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and e-commerce freight climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady manufacturing and logistics freight year-round
- •Winter freight slowdown around mountain weather
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter mountain-pass weather through West Virginia is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round. River levels can occasionally affect barge-linked freight timing, which sometimes shifts extra volume to truck.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Richmond to Pittsburgh lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
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 manufacturing and e-commerce-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast winter delivery through the West Virginia mountains without checking conditions.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Richmond to Pittsburgh
- •
This is a long haul at 316 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Barge-linked freight moving through Pittsburgh's river terminals is 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 Pittsburgh lane?
Pittsburgh's re-emerging logistics base makes a southeastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Pittsburgh, PA
- •Regional distribution hubs near Pittsburgh
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With FedEx Ground headquartered in Pittsburgh and a growing Amazon network, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Pittsburgh's manufacturing and healthcare logistics sector gives you solid backhaul volume back toward Richmond.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Pittsburgh's river-port system gives you real backhaul options, especially for bulk and industrial freight.
- •
Richmond's own growing freight base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
Check freight tied to Pittsburgh's barge terminals for a specialized backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Richmond to Pittsburgh lane?
Three notes before this mountain-crossing run.
Check West Virginia mountain-pass conditions before a winter run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check current Pittsburgh-area freight-market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Ask about barge-linked freight if river levels are running low. It sometimes pushes extra volume onto trucks for the last leg.
Richmond to Pittsburgh Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Pittsburgh's logistics growth, and winter conditions.
The lane data shows about $806 - $932 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 316 miles.
It hosts FedEx Ground's headquarters, a growing Amazon fulfillment network, and Pittsburgh-based PITT OHIO, the 2025 US Regional LTL Carrier of the Year.
About 5.5 hours for the 316 miles on I-64 and I-79.
Reasonably, given the metro's re-emerging manufacturing and logistics base.
Other Virginia freight lanes we dispatch
- Richmond to Memphis
- Richmond to Raleigh
- Richmond to Louisville
- Richmond to Washington
- Richmond to Norfolk
- Richmond to Charlotte
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 Pittsburgh, PA consistently?
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