Freight Shipping from Jacksonville to Richmond
Ship freight from Jacksonville, FL to Richmond, VA with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,548-$1,908, LTL from $596-$1,012. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
720 mi
Drive Time
13 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,548-$1,908
LTL Rate Est.
$596-$1,012
Auto Manufacturing Corridor
Jacksonville → Richmond Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
137–158
running this lane
Weekly Loads
192–210
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.18–$2.68
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
76/100
Strong
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$9–$15 one-way passing through FL, VA, TN, SC, NC. 1 typical fuel stop along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Mon, Tue, Wed. Avoid: Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Jacksonville to Richmond Freight Corridor
Jacksonville is where the Southeast's freight arteries converge. As CSX's headquarters city and the junction of I-95 and I-10, Jax controls rail and truck freight flows between the entire Eastern Seaboard and the Gulf Coast. JAXPORT is the #1 vehicle-import port in the US, processing over 700,000 vehicles annually that Southeast Toyota and other distributors truck to dealerships across the Southeast. The city's geographic position makes it the ideal repositioning hub for carriers running Florida's north-south lanes.
Richmond is the I-95 corridor's mid-Atlantic distribution sweet spot — equidistant between the Northeast megalopolis and the Southeast's growth markets. Altria Group's massive headquarters and manufacturing complex makes Richmond one of America's top tobacco freight origins, while Performance Food Group's headquarters drives broadline foodservice distribution across the eastern seaboard. The I-95/I-64 junction positions Richmond as a natural redistribution point where north-south and east-west freight flows intersect.
The Jacksonville-to-Richmond corridor spans 720 miles via I-95, I-295. This lane connects logistics & distribution and automotive import processing freight from the Jacksonville market to tobacco & consumer products and financial services demand in Richmond. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Jacksonville
Jacksonville's economy is driven by logistics & distribution, automotive import processing, financial services, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
imported vehicles
paper & pulp products
containerized goods
lumber
phosphate
citrus products
What Richmond Receives
Richmond's tobacco & consumer products, financial services, government (state capital) sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Jacksonville.
raw tobacco
consumer goods
chemicals
packaging materials
food ingredients
building materials
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Jacksonville and Richmond, these equipment types best serve this corridor.
Dry Van (FTL)
Ideal for palletized consumer goods, electronics, packaged foods, and general merchandise. Enclosed protection from weather and theft.
$1,548-$1,908 estimated for this lane
Refrigerated (Reefer)
Required for temperature-sensitive freight including fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Maintains precise temperature control throughout transit.
$1,908-$2,412 estimated for this lane
Flatbed
Best for steel, lumber, machinery, building materials, and oversized loads that cannot be palletized or loaded through standard dock doors.
$2,052-$2,628 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,268-$3,060 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Jacksonville to Richmond lane (720 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,548-$1,908 | 13 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $596-$1,012 | 15-17 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,340-$3,240 | 9 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $972-$1,332 | 16-18 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Jacksonville and Richmond that drive volume on this lane.
CSX Transportation (HQ)
Southeast Toyota Distributors
Johnson & Johnson Vision
Altria Group (HQ)
CarMax (HQ)
Performance Food Group (HQ)
Shipping Tips for Jacksonville to Richmond
Jacksonville Seasonal Advisory
Vehicle import volume peaks in spring (new model year distribution) and fall. Hurricane season can temporarily disrupt port operations. Snowbird migration (October-November) drives a surge in household goods shipments headed to Central and South Florida.
Richmond Seasonal Advisory
Tobacco freight is steady year-round with slight upticks in Q4 for holiday carton sales. Performance Food Group distribution peaks during summer restaurant season and Q4 holiday catering. State government freight follows the legislative session calendar (January-March).
Overnight Transit
This 720-mile route typically requires one overnight stop for a solo driver. Schedule pickup before noon for next-day delivery in most cases.
Book Early for Best Rates
Spot market rates fluctuate daily. Booking 3-5 days in advance typically saves 10-15% compared to same-day or next-day freight requests. For recurring shipments, ask about contract rates.
Logistics Infrastructure
How freight actually flows in and out of Jacksonville and Richmond — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Jacksonville, FL
- Metro Population
- 1.6M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-10, I-295
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area); NS Jacksonville Terminal
- Port Access
- JAXPORT (0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Westside/I-10 Corridor, Northside/JAXPORT area, Imeson Industrial Park
“Jacksonville is the re-positioning capital of Florida freight. Carriers dropping loads in Miami or Tampa routinely deadhead to Jax to grab northbound I-95 loads rather than searching for scarce outbound freight in South Florida.”
Destination
Richmond, VA
- Metro Population
- 1.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.05-$2.40/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-64, I-295
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Richmond Terminal; Norfolk Southern Richmond Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Richmond (James River, limited barge)
- Warehouse Districts
- Hanover/I-95 North, Chester/I-95 South, Short Pump/I-64 West
“Richmond's position on I-95 at the midpoint between New York and Atlanta makes it a premier relay and driver swap location. Carriers running the I-95 corridor can stage in Richmond to comply with HOS regulations while maintaining on-time delivery windows to both endpoints.”
Return Loads from Richmond
Richmond generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Jacksonville is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Richmond
Seasonal Rate Patterns
May-Aug (produce season)
+12-18% on reefer capacity
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Jacksonville to Richmond Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Jacksonville to Richmond?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Jacksonville, FL to Richmond, VA currently range $1,548-$1,908 (roughly $2.18-$2.68 per mile over 720 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $596-$1,012 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently tight on this corridor, so booking 3-5 days out locks in the best pricing. Request a custom quote for exact rates.
How long does freight take from Jacksonville to Richmond?
Standard FTL transit from Jacksonville to Richmond is approximately 13 hrs by truck over 720 miles, with 1 typical fuel stop along the corridor. LTL shipments add 2-4 business days due to terminal transfers. Expedited service with team drivers can reduce FTL transit by up to 40%. Intermodal rail-truck service via CSX Jacksonville Intermodal (JAXPORT area) to CSX Richmond Terminal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Jacksonville to Richmond freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Jacksonville commonly ships imported vehicles, paper & pulp products, containerized goods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Richmond commonly receives raw tobacco, consumer goods, chemicals. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Richmond to Jacksonville?
Strong backhaul (scored 76/100 based on Richmond's outbound commodity mix). Richmond generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Jacksonville is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. Richmond's top outbound commodities — cigarettes & tobacco products (Altria), pharmaceuticals, processed foods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Jacksonville to Richmond?
The Jacksonville-to-Richmond corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Auto Manufacturing Corridor. Jacksonville's top outbound commodities include imported vehicles, paper & pulp products, containerized goods, lumber, phosphate, citrus products. Richmond's primary inbound freight includes raw tobacco, consumer goods, chemicals, packaging materials, food ingredients, building materials. Industries driving this lane include logistics & distribution and automotive import processing from Jacksonville and tobacco & consumer products and financial services in Richmond.
When are rates highest on the Jacksonville to Richmond lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to logistics & distribution and automotive import processing cycles. Key periods: May-Aug (produce season) (+12-18% on reefer capacity); Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable); Mar-Oct (construction season) (+8-14% on flatbed). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Mon, Tue, Wed) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Get Exact Rates for Jacksonville to Richmond
We maintain working relationships with 137+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Jacksonville–Richmond corridor. Tell us about your freight and we will match you with one that fits your commodity, timing, and budget. Free quote, no obligation.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM CT | No obligation, no contracts