Container Drayage at Virginia International Gateway (VIG)

What VIG is

Virginia International Gateway sits in Portsmouth along the Elizabeth River, just off I-164. It is a semi-automated terminal with automated stacking cranes, built for high container volume, and it is rail-served, with on-dock rail connections to Norfolk Southern and CSX for cargo moving inland by train. Alongside Norfolk International Terminals, it is one of the two main container terminals at the Port of Virginia. For truck freight, a drayage carrier still has to handle the gate move, the chassis and the delivery — and because VIG is on our side of the river, it is the terminal we can reach fastest.

How DPN runs VIG moves

Short distance only helps if the rest of the move is organized. We line up the reservation, equipment and driver before the truck rolls, so your box comes out on the day you need it.

• TWIC-carded drivers on every move for terminal access
• Truck reservations booked and managed by DPN in the Port of Virginia's reservation system
• Chassis from the port's HRCP II gray pool, including tri-axles for heavier containers
• Pre-pulls to our Portsmouth yard close to the terminal
• Prompt empty returns to stop per diem clocks
• Street turns that reuse an import empty for an export load
• Dual transactions — dropping a box and pulling another on the same trip

Imports, exports and reefers

For imports we watch availability and holds, pull the container once released, and deliver live or drop it for your team to unload on their own schedule. For exports we pull the empty, deliver it for loading, and return the loaded box to VIG ahead of the cutoff with the booking details in order. Refrigerated containers are in scope as well: we move reefers out of VIG with private gensets available so cold-chain freight stays powered from the terminal to your dock. We focus on standard dry and refrigerated containers and do not move chemical freight or oversize / over-dimensional loads.

Avoiding detention and demurrage

Demurrage is charged when a container sits at the terminal past its free time; detention, or per diem, is charged when the carrier's equipment stays out too long. Being this close to VIG lets us pre-pull containers before the last free day, stage them on our own yard, and deliver when the receiver can take them. Once a box is empty, we return it or arrange a street turn so it does not keep running up charges. A dedicated logistics coordinator keeps you updated on every container, so you always know where things stand.

Who we serve at VIG

Our VIG customers are the teams accountable for getting containers out of the terminal on time.

• Importers and exporters
• Freight forwarders and customs brokers
• NVOCCs looking for a reliable local trucker
• 3PLs and warehouses receiving port freight
• Freight brokers covering Port of Virginia lanes

Where we deliver from VIG

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