150 miles · Est. 2.4 hours · Avg $2.65/mile · Gross $398
Day-Trip Economics
Fuel Estimate
$56
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$15
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$327
Before your other costs
Lane Overview
150
Miles
$2.65
Avg rate/mile
$398
Avg gross rate
moderate
Competition
Richmond to Baltimore on I-95 north is a 150-mile Mid-Atlantic corridor with unique freight character. Richmond's Philip Morris and Altria operations generate tobacco products heading north. Food and beverage from Virginia's agricultural processing sector complements dry-van demand. Consumer goods fill the balance heading toward Baltimore's 2.8 million consumers and port export facilities. Moderate rates at $2.55–$2.75/mile reflect the lane's solid but competitive position.
I-95 through Fredericksburg, VA is the most consistently congested stretch — Washington DC commuter traffic backs up onto I-95 north of Fredericksburg during evening rush, sometimes past the Route 3 interchange. Avoid I-95 north of Fredericksburg between 3–7pm on weekdays. The I-95/I-495 DC beltway area is a potential reroute trap — stay on I-95 express lanes and avoid the beltway entirely for this run. Return loads Baltimore to Richmond (Lane 94) bring port imports and healthcare goods southbound.
Driver Tip
Short lane, fast turn. Margin on short runs is unforgiving. Use our Load Profitability Calculator to verify this load covers your costs before accepting.
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Return Freight
Baltimore to Richmond
150 miles · $2.60/mile avg
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
One hundred and fifty miles between two Mid-Atlantic cities, and the hardest part of the drive happens at the midpoint — the DC metro corridor on I-95 through Fredericksburg and north toward the Beltway. Richmond to Baltimore is a short lane that earns solid rates, but every carrier who underestimates the Fredericksburg section pays for it in hours, not dollars. The freight is straightforward: Richmond sends tobacco products and food freight north, Baltimore receives and distributes it. The complexity is entirely in the corridor's traffic management.
Altria Group's Richmond operations — Philip Morris USA is headquartered in Henrico County — generate tobacco and consumer goods freight heading north, though the bulk of tobacco movement is on dedicated contracted carriers. The broader Richmond freight profile includes food and beverage from Virginia's agricultural processing sector (poultry processing from the Shenandoah Valley distributes through Richmond), consumer goods heading north to supply Baltimore's 2.8 million metro area residents, and healthcare supplies from Richmond's VCU Health and Bon Secours systems heading to Baltimore distribution points. Baltimore's Port of Baltimore generates import cargo and Ro-Ro vehicle freight that needs the southbound return direction.
I-95 north from Richmond is simple until Fredericksburg. The first 60 miles from Richmond to the Fredericksburg area run smoothly. North of Fredericksburg is where I-95's status as one of the most congested interstates in America becomes personal. DC commuter traffic backs up onto I-95 at the Route 3 interchange near Fredericksburg during afternoon rush, and during peak periods the backup extends to Route 17 or beyond — that's 10–15 miles of standstill. Avoid this section between 3pm and 7:30pm on weekdays without exception. Morning southbound congestion runs 7am–9:30am in reverse. Through the DC metro area, stay on I-95 express lanes north — the Beltway (I-495) is a trap that adds miles and delay. The I-95/I-495 interchange near Springfield is where GPS systems frequently try to route you onto the Beltway; override it. Maryland approaches Baltimore on I-95 via the I-695 Beltway or straight I-95 to the Fort McHenry Tunnel.
At $2.55–$2.75/mile for 150 miles, the gross rate runs $383–$413. Tolls are $15. This is a lane where timing is as important as rate negotiation — a carrier who can guarantee a specific Baltimore delivery window through the DC corridor earns more than one who can't. Time-sensitive food and beverage loads requiring morning delivery in Baltimore pay premium rates for reliable transit time performance.
Baltimore to Richmond southbound (Lane 94) brings Port of Baltimore imports and Johns Hopkins-adjacent healthcare goods south. Rates southbound run $2.50–$2.70/mile. The southbound direction also has the Fredericksburg congestion problem but in the morning rather than the afternoon.
What's the exact worst-case timing for the Fredericksburg I-95 backup northbound?
Peak congestion on I-95 northbound between Fredericksburg and the DC metro runs from approximately 3:30pm to 7:30pm Monday through Friday, with Fridays running the worst and sometimes extending to 8pm. The backup typically starts at the Route 3 interchange and extends south. Leave Richmond before 1pm or after 8pm for reliable passage.
Can I use I-95 Express Lanes through the DC metro to avoid congestion?
Yes — Virginia's I-95 Express Lanes allow commercial vehicles during off-peak hours, but during the peak period (typically 5am–9am and 3pm–7pm), commercial vehicle access to the Express Lanes is restricted. Check VDOT's current Express Lane rules for commercial vehicles before assuming you can use them during rush hour.
Where do most Baltimore industrial deliveries from Richmond freight go?
The Pulaski Highway corridor east of downtown Baltimore and the Dundalk area near the port are primary industrial delivery zones. Consumer goods often deliver to the I-695 corridor in Reisterstown, Owings Mills, or Timonium. Confirm your specific delivery zone before planning your Baltimore approach.
Dispatch Service
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