How Much Does Cross Docking Cost in Virginia? (2026 Pricing Guide)
Real cross docking prices in Virginia: per-pallet rates, minimums, after-hours fees, floor-loaded unloading, rework and storage, with examples from our Richmond, VA cross dock.
· 7 min read
The short answer
At our Richmond, VA cross dock, transfers start from $20 per pallet, with a $200 weekday minimum. Work done after hours or on weekends adds a $250 fee on top of the job. Floor-loaded freight, freight rework, storage and delivery are quoted separately because they depend on the freight in front of us.
Those numbers are a useful baseline, but the price you actually pay for cross docking in Virginia depends on how your freight is loaded, when it arrives, what has to happen to it on the dock and where it goes next. This guide explains every factor so you can estimate a job before you call and avoid surprises on the invoice.
Per-pallet pricing and minimums
Most cross docks in Virginia price clean, palletized transfers per pallet. A clean pallet is one that arrives stacked, wrapped and labeled, can be moved with a pallet jack or forklift, and goes out the door in the same condition. For that kind of freight, our rate starts at $20 per pallet.
Every job also carries a minimum. Ours is $200 on weekdays. The minimum exists because the fixed costs of receiving a truck do not shrink for small loads: someone still has to check in the driver, open a door, count and photograph the freight, sign paperwork and stage it for outbound. If you are moving four pallets, the minimum applies. If you are moving twenty-six, the per-pallet rate does.
When you compare quotes from other Virginia cross docks, look at both numbers. A low per-pallet rate with a high minimum can cost more on small shipments than a slightly higher rate with a lower minimum.
After-hours and weekend fees
Our weekday dock hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and we work 24/7 by appointment. Night, weekend and holiday jobs add a $250 fee to the job. That fee covers calling in a crew outside normal hours, and it is charged once per job, not per pallet.
For brokers and carriers, the after-hours fee is often far cheaper than the alternative. A driver who cannot unload Saturday morning may sit until Monday, run out of hours, or miss the next load. Paying $250 to get the trailer emptied and the driver rolling again usually pays for itself in detention and truck-ordered-not-used charges alone.
Floor-loaded trailers and containers
Floor-loaded (loose) freight is priced differently because it is hand-unloaded. A 53-foot trailer or a 40-foot ocean container full of loose cartons can take a crew hours to unload, sort, palletize, stretch-wrap and label. We quote these jobs based on piece count, carton weight and size, how many SKUs or destinations need to be separated, and whether pallets and wrap are needed.
The best way to get an accurate floor-load quote is to send the packing list and a photo of the open doors. Text them to (804) 600-4352 and we can usually turn a number around quickly.
Freight rework pricing
Rework covers anything that has to be fixed before freight can move: shifted loads, leaning or crushed pallets, broken pallet boards, overhang, missing labels, or freight that a receiver rejected. We quote rework from photos you text us, because no two jobs are the same. Some reworks take a single person thirty minutes. Others mean restacking an entire trailer onto new pallets.
Rework is documented with before-and-after photos, which helps with carrier and shipper claims. If you are a broker dealing with a rejected load in Richmond, this documentation is often as valuable as the rework itself.
Storage costs
Next-day turnaround is standard at our dock, but freight does not always leave the next day. A receiver may not have an appointment, a project site may not be ready, or the rest of an order may still be on the water. Pallet storage is available for these situations and is quoted per pallet based on how long freight will stay.
Short holds of a day or two are often folded into the cross-dock job. Longer storage is quoted as a monthly or weekly pallet rate.
Delivery after the dock
Many Virginia shippers use us for both cross docking and last mile delivery. Delivery is priced separately from the dock work and depends on distance from Richmond, service level (dock, liftgate, inside, room of choice or white glove), number of stops, appointment requirements and whether a two-person crew is needed. Combining both services with one provider usually reduces handoffs, damage and total cost.
Three example jobs
Example one: eight clean pallets arrive on a weekday and go out the next morning on the customer’s carrier. At $20 per pallet that is $160, so the $200 weekday minimum applies. Total dock cost: $200.
Example two: twenty-two clean pallets arrive Saturday and need to be transferred the same day. 22 × $20 = $440, plus the $250 weekend fee. Total dock cost: $690.
Example three: a floor-loaded 40-foot container from the Port of Virginia needs to be devanned and rebuilt into LTL pallets for six destinations. This is quoted from the packing list and photos, then the outbound LTL or our last mile delivery is added on top.
What cross docks do not do
We do not accept hazmat freight of any class. If your load contains hazardous materials, you will need a facility certified for it. Everything else, from general merchandise and retail freight to furniture, fixtures, medical and fitness equipment, is welcome.
How to get an accurate cross docking quote
Send the pallet count or packing list, a photo of the freight if it is floor-loaded or damaged, arrival date and time, and where it needs to go next. We carry $1M in insurance and can send a certificate on request. Call or text (804) 600-4352, or use the quote form on this site, and you will usually have a number the same business day.