Virginia Truck Dispatch: I-81, I-95 and the Fuel Surcharge
Virginia truck dispatch covers port imports, poultry and beverages on the I-95, I-81 and I-64 corridors, in a state that ships more by truck than it receives. We book Virginia loads remotely for a flat 6% or 8% of weekly gross.
Figures and rules checked October 30, 2026
Virginia links the Northeast with the Southeast along three big corridors: I-95 near the coast, I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley and I-64 from the Port of Virginia inland. It's also a strong origin state. Trucks carried about 93 million tons from Virginia to other states in 2022, against about 78 million coming in.
That outbound lean makes Virginia a good place to reload. The freight is a mix of port imports, food, beverages, forest products and the poultry of the Shenandoah Valley.
Virginia's freight corridors
| Corridor | What it connects | What moves on it |
|---|---|---|
| I-95 | North Carolina, Richmond, Fredericksburg and the Washington area | Long-haul freight between the Northeast and Florida, plus Richmond distribution |
| I-81 | Tennessee to West Virginia through the Shenandoah Valley | Poultry, food and distribution, and through traffic to Pennsylvania and New York |
| I-64 | Norfolk and the port to Richmond, Charlottesville and West Virginia | Port imports and exports moving inland |
| I-77 and US-58 | Southwest Virginia and the North Carolina line | Manufacturing and regional freight |
The Port of Virginia's terminals in Norfolk and Portsmouth handle the containers. The port also runs the Virginia Inland Port at Front Royal, a rail-served terminal near I-81 and I-66 in the northern Shenandoah Valley. Containers come and go there by train, and trucks carry them the last miles to warehouses in the valley and the Washington area.
What Virginia ships
The FAF6 data for 2022 shows Virginia's largest van, reefer and flatbed-type truck freight:
- Other foodstuffs: about 22 million tons, including poultry from the Shenandoah Valley and processed food.
- Nonmetal mineral products: about 21 million tons.
- Wood products: about 12 million tons from the state's forests and mills.
- Alcoholic beverages: about 10 million tons, a big dry van market.
- Mixed freight and other agricultural products: about 7 and 6.5 million tons.
- Paper and electronics: about 5 million tons each.
Virginia trucks deliver most to North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia and Ohio. The biggest senders in are North Carolina, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Reloading in Virginia
- Richmond reloads in most directions. It sits on I-95 and I-64, with distribution centers on both.
- The Shenandoah Valley is reefer country. Poultry plants around Harrisonburg ship steadily, and I-81 carries them north and south.
- Hampton Roads has the port. Import freight leaves Norfolk area warehouses daily, but traffic through the tunnels can eat hours.
- Northern Virginia is dense and slow. Good inbound freight for the Washington market, with tight delivery windows and heavy traffic.
Virginia's fuel surcharge
Virginia is one of two lower 48 states, with Kentucky, that add a diesel surcharge on IFTA. On the IFTA matrix for the 4th quarter of 2026, Virginia's diesel rate is 33.6 cents a gallon plus a 14.3 cent surcharge. The surcharge is charged on the gallons you burn in Virginia, with no credit for fuel bought there. Our IFTA calculator handles it, and the IFTA, Inc. rate matrix lists the current rates.
Virginia freight by the numbers
| Measure | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Truck freight starting in the state (2022) | About 284 million tons, 67% delivered in-state |
| Truck freight to other states | About 93 million tons |
| Truck freight from other states | About 78 million tons (more leaves than arrives) |
| Top destination states | North Carolina, Maryland and Pennsylvania |
| Top states sending trucks in | North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland |
| Diesel tax, IFTA, 4th quarter 2026 | 33.6 cents a gallon, plus a 14.3 cent surcharge |
| State rule to check first | IFTA surcharge on Virginia gallons used |
Tonnage from the BTS Freight Analysis Framework (FAF6, base year 2022). Diesel tax from the IFTA, Inc. rate matrix.
Trailers that fit Virginia freight
| Equipment | Where it fits |
|---|---|
| Reefer | Poultry from the Shenandoah Valley, food plants, grocery distribution |
| Dry van | Beverages, port imports, paper and distribution center freight |
| Flatbed | Lumber, building materials and machinery |
| Power only | Trailer moves between port-area warehouses and inland distribution centers |
A Shenandoah reefer week on Valley poultry
Valley poultry heads to New Jersey, and grocery and food freight brings the reefer back down I-95 and up I-81.
| Day | Load | About |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Poultry from a Harrisonburg area plant to a New Jersey grocery warehouse on I-81 and I-78 | 310 miles |
| Tuesday | Grocery freight from New Jersey to Richmond on I-95 | 330 miles |
| Wednesday | Richmond food freight to Charlotte on I-85 | 290 miles |
| Thursday | Charlotte back up I-77 and I-81 to the Roanoke area | 200 miles |
| Friday | A short run home up I-81 | 110 miles |
An example of how a week can be planned, not a promise of loads, rates or miles. Distances are rounded.
Snow on I-81, storms on the coast
- Winter: Snow and ice on I-81 and in the mountains can shut lanes and slow trucks for days.
- Spring and summer: Construction freight, and steady poultry and food year round.
- June to November: Hurricane season can disrupt the port and coastal routes.
- Fall: Import peak through the port and the holiday retail build.
Winter on I-81 and storms on the coast are Virginia's two big disruptions. The seasonal freight calendar shows the national pattern.
Virginia reload points
| City or area | Why trucks go there | Reload outlook |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond | Distribution on I-95 and I-64 | Strong |
| Norfolk and Hampton Roads | Port of Virginia imports | Good, allow for tunnel traffic |
| Harrisonburg | Poultry and food on I-81 | Good for reefer |
| Roanoke | Manufacturing and I-81 freight | Fair |
| Winchester and Front Royal | Virginia Inland Port and distribution | Good |
Virginia checklist: the surcharge, tunnels and I-81
- Count Virginia's surcharge when you plan Virginia miles.
- Allow extra time for the tunnels in Hampton Roads on port loads.
- On Shenandoah Valley poultry loads, confirm temperature and appointment windows.
- In winter, check I-81 conditions in the mountains before you commit to a tight delivery.
- Plan Northern Virginia deliveries around traffic, with tight delivery windows.
Booking Virginia freight with us
Virginia is a strong origin state, and your dispatcher works three corridors: port imports from Hampton Roads, poultry from the Shenandoah Valley and distribution freight around Richmond. Virginia's surcharge and the tunnel traffic go into every plan. Northern Virginia deliveries get a reload lined up in Richmond or along I-81 first, since the suburbs ship little freight.
Same terms in every state. We work online and are registered in New York. There's no local office, so your dispatcher works with you by phone, text and email.
- A flat 6% of weekly gross for dry van, reefer, flatbed and power only, and 8% for box truck and hotshot
- No fee on loads picked up in your first 3 days
- No upfront or setup fees and no long-term contract
- Setup within about 24 hours of getting your documents
Here's how our fee works and what you need to get set up.
Freight tonnage on this page comes from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics Freight Analysis Framework (FAF6, base year 2022).
For the other ends of Virginia's corridors, see North Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Virginia truck dispatch questions
How does Virginia's IFTA surcharge work?▾
You pay Virginia's 14.3 cent surcharge on every gallon used in Virginia, on top of the 33.6 cent diesel rate (IFTA matrix, late 2026), with no credit for fuel bought there.
What is the Virginia Inland Port?▾
A rail-served terminal at Front Royal, run by the Port of Virginia near I-81 and I-66, where trucks pick up containers that came by train.
Is the Shenandoah Valley good for reefers?▾
Yes. Poultry plants around Harrisonburg ship steadily, and I-81 carries the freight north and south.
Is Virginia good for reloads?▾
Generally. Virginia ships more by truck than it receives, and Richmond reloads in most directions.
Ready to get your truck loaded?
Talk to a dispatcher today. Your first 3 days are free, with no upfront dispatch fees.