Bentonville to Nashville Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Bentonville, AR to Nashville, TN (555 miles). Nashville's automotive and distribution base supports steady I-40 freight.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Bentonville to Nashville?
Bentonville to Nashville is a 555-mile lane paying about $1,360 - $1,582 per load, near $2.45 - $2.85 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, retail-distribution freight and automotive-connected freight.
- Distance
- 555 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,360 - $1,582
- Rate per mile
- $2.45 - $2.85
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices over this long haul. See our dispatch fee structure.
Bentonville to Nashville
Bentonville to Nashville is a 555-mile, roughly 8.5-hour run east, connecting Walmart's global headquarters to Tennessee's growing automotive-manufacturing base. Nashville's metro area anchors major automotive plants and a fast-growing distribution network that keeps steady eastbound freight demand alongside Walmart's own national distribution reach.
Origin
Bentonville, AR
Destination
Nashville, TN
Distance
555 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$1,360 - $1,582
Rate per Mile
$2.45 - $2.85
555-mile lane, about 8.5 hours east
Nashville's metro anchors major automotive-manufacturing plants
Walmart operates 192 US distribution facilities as of January 2026
Bentonville to Nashville: route facts a driver should know
Over 1,500 suppliers keep offices near this lane's start point
More than 1,500 major consumer goods suppliers keep offices in Northwest Arkansas to stay close to Walmart's buying and transportation teams, generating steady origin-side freight on this lane.
Source: CoStar, Bentonville supplier ecosystem coverage. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A long lane: plan for a real HOS break
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 555-mile lane runs close to 9 hours, so plan your break into the schedule.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Bentonville to Nashville?
About $523.19 this week. The lane is 555 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 85 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.13 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 555 mi
- Diesel needed
- 85 gal
- Price used
- $6.13/gal
- Fuel cost
- $523.19
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, retail-distribution freight and automotive-connected freight fill the trailers heading east.
- Automotive Parts
- Consumer Goods
- Poultry Products
What makes the Bentonville to Nashville lane difficult?
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning
A cross-region run this long requires careful hours-of-service planning.
Automotive-connected freight can require specific equipment or scheduling
Automotive-connected freight can require specific equipment or scheduling.
I-40 through Memphis can see significant congestion
I-40 through Memphis can see significant congestion.
What freight moves on the Bentonville to Nashville lane?
What travels between Bentonville and Nashville, and why the automotive-manufacturing base matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Automotive Parts
- •Consumer Goods
- •Poultry Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Retail-distribution-connected freight (Walmart)
- •Automotive-manufacturing-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Back-to-school retail freight (July-August)
- •Automotive-connected freight (steady)
When is the Bentonville to Nashville lane busiest?
Retail timing and steady automotive-connected freight both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays as retail inventory normalizes.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and retail-distribution freight both climb sharply from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Back-to-school retail season (July-August)
- •Steady automotive-manufacturing freight year-round
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Supplier and healthcare-distribution freight both run steady year-round, with a real Q4 surge as retail supply chains ramp up for the holidays.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Bentonville to Nashville lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a congestion buffer.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical Walmart and automotive-manufacturing-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight delivery through Memphis congestion without a buffer.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Bentonville to Nashville
- •
This lane runs close to 9 hours, so plan your required HOS break into the schedule.
- •
Bentonville's 1,500-plus supplier offices mean steady, varied freight worth asking brokers about specifically.
- •
Nashville's healthcare-distribution economy gives the destination end real freight variety beyond general retail.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Bentonville to Nashville lane?
Nashville's automotive and distribution base makes a westbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Nashville, TN
- •Regional distribution hubs near Nashville
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With major automotive plants anchoring the metro, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Nashville's growing distribution base and auto supply chain create reasonable westbound backhaul freight, with Memphis as a useful stop on the way.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Nashville's healthcare-management and logistics-distribution economy gives this lane a real, growing backhaul market.
- •
Ask about supplier-connected freight heading back toward Northwest Arkansas too.
- •
Book your Nashville-area return load with a bit of lead time given the length of this haul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Bentonville to Nashville lane?
Four notes before this long eastbound run.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this 8.5-hour run.
Confirm equipment requirements before hauling automotive-connected freight.
Build in extra time for Memphis-area congestion.
Confirm Walmart delivery-appointment windows before committing to a tight schedule.
Before you book Bentonville to Nashville, plan your required HOS break, since this lane runs close to 9 hours of driving.
Bentonville to Nashville Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Nashville's automotive base, and Memphis congestion.
The lane data shows about $1,360 - $1,582 per load, or $2.45 - $2.85 a mile, across 555 miles.
Its metro anchors major automotive-manufacturing plants and a fast-growing distribution network.
About 8.5 hours for the 555 miles.
Reasonably, given the metro's automotive-manufacturing and distribution base.
Other Arkansas freight lanes we dispatch
- Bentonville to Springfield
- Bentonville to St. Louis
- Bentonville to Little Rock
- Bentonville to New Orleans
- Bentonville to Springdale
- Bentonville to Fort Smith
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Southeast: +$2,550/week after moving to $2.85/mi on automotive parts / retail / beverage freight.
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