Container Drayage at Norfolk International Terminals (NIT)

What NIT is

Norfolk International Terminals sits on Hampton Boulevard in Norfolk and is the Port of Virginia's largest terminal. It handles container vessels from the major ocean carriers, uses semi-automated container stacks, and has a large on-dock rail yard served by Norfolk Southern and CSX. That rail connection is one reason Norfolk is a strong gateway for cargo heading to the Ohio Valley and Chicago markets. For truck freight, though, every box still needs a drayage carrier to get it through the gate and to the warehouse, consignee or yard — and that is where DPN comes in.

How DPN runs NIT moves

A clean NIT move depends on paperwork, equipment and timing lining up. We handle each piece so your container moves on the day you need it instead of the day the terminal happens to allow.

• TWIC-carded drivers on every move, so terminal access is never the hold-up
• Truck reservations booked and managed by DPN through the Port of Virginia's reservation system
• Chassis from the port's HRCP II gray pool, including tri-axles for heavier boxes
• Pre-pulls to our Portsmouth yard roughly 8 minutes from the terminal
• Empty returns scheduled promptly to stop per diem clocks
• Street turns when an import empty can be reused for an export load
• Dual transactions — dropping an export or empty and pulling an import on the same trip

Imports, exports and reefers

On imports we track availability and holds, pull the container once it is released, and deliver live or drop it for your team to unload on their schedule. On exports we pick up the empty, deliver it for loading, and bring the loaded box back to NIT ahead of the cutoff with the booking details lined up. Refrigerated containers get the same care: we move reefers out of NIT with private gensets available, so temperature-controlled freight stays powered between the terminal and your dock. We focus on standard dry and refrigerated containers; we do not move chemical freight or oversize / over-dimensional loads.

Avoiding detention and demurrage

Demurrage builds when a container sits at the terminal past its free time. Detention, or per diem, builds when the ocean carrier's equipment stays out too long. Both are avoidable with the right plan. Because our yard is minutes from NIT, we can pre-pull a container before its last free day, stage it on our own yard, and deliver when the receiver is ready. When the box is empty, we return it quickly or set up a street turn so it never sits idle on your bill. Your dedicated logistics coordinator keeps you posted on status, so there are no surprises when the invoice arrives.

Who we serve at NIT

We work with the people who are responsible for getting containers off the terminal and on the road on time.

• Importers and exporters moving their own freight
• Freight forwarders and customs brokers
• NVOCCs who need a dependable local trucking partner
• 3PLs and warehouses receiving port freight
• Freight brokers covering Port of Virginia lanes

Where we deliver from NIT

Most NIT moves stay inside Hampton Roads, and we run regional and long-haul trips when the freight needs to go farther. Our core service area covers Portsmouth, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton and Richmond. If you need a box staged before final delivery, our Portsmouth yard and port-adjacent 3PL warehouse give you storage and transloading options without adding another vendor. Call (757) 406-4613 or email sales@dpnlogistics.net to plan your next NIT move.