Chicago to Memphis Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Chicago, IL to Memphis, TN (535 miles). Memphis's FedEx hub and inland port make this a dependable time-sensitive freight lane via I-55.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Chicago to Memphis?
Chicago to Memphis is a 535-mile lane paying about $1,284 - $1,498 per load, near $2.40 - $2.80 a mile. Freight is mostly e-commerce/parcel, food products and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 535 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,284 - $1,498
- Rate per mile
- $2.40 - $2.80
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 25-30%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and FedEx's peak shipping season. See our dispatch fee structure.
Chicago to Memphis
Chicago to Memphis is a 535-mile, roughly 8-hour run south on I-55, ending at the world's busiest cargo airport. FedEx's Memphis World Hub covers 880 acres and 3.7 million square feet under one roof, with 32,000 local employees, up to 475,000 shipments an hour, and 140-150 flights a night. A new $1 billion, five-story automated sort center called Hercules is being added to keep up with e-commerce demand.
Origin
Chicago, IL
Destination
Memphis, TN
Distance
535 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$1,284 - $1,498
Rate per Mile
$2.40 - $2.80
535-mile lane, roughly 8 hours on I-55
Memphis is home to FedEx's World Hub, the world's busiest cargo airport
FedEx's Memphis hub can handle up to 475,000 shipments an hour
Chicago to Memphis: route facts a driver should know
Memphis is home to FedEx's largest sort facility in the world
Memphis International Airport houses the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest sort facility in FedEx's entire global network, spread across 940 acres with 171 aircraft gates.
Source: AeroXplorer, FedEx Memphis superhub overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Memphis is one of only three US cities served by all five Class I railroads
Memphis sits at the junction of I-40 and I-55 near the Mississippi River, and it's one of only three US cities served by all five Class I railroads. Trucks out of Memphis can reach about 35% of the US population overnight.
Source: AeroXplorer, FedEx Memphis superhub overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Chicago to Memphis?
About $522.82 this week. The lane is 535 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 82 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.35 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 this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 535 mi
- Diesel needed
- 82 gal
- Price used
- $6.35/gal
- Fuel cost
- $522.82
Common Freight Types
E-commerce/parcel freight, food products and consumer goods fill the trailers heading south.
- E-commerce/Parcel
- Food Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Chicago to Memphis lane difficult?
FedEx-connected freight runs on tight overnight sort schedules
FedEx-connected freight runs on tight overnight sort schedules.
Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee stretches of I-55 can see winter weather
Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee stretches of I-55 can see winter weather.
Memphis airport-area traffic can be heavy during peak sort hours
Memphis airport-area traffic can be heavy during peak sort hours.
What freight moves on the Chicago to Memphis lane?
What travels between Chicago and Memphis, and when FedEx's busy season hits.
Primary Commodities
- •E-commerce/Parcel
- •Food Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •FedEx-connected e-commerce/parcel freight
- •Food products
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •E-commerce/parcel (holiday surge)
- •Food products (steady)
- •Consumer goods (steady)
When is the Chicago to Memphis lane busiest?
FedEx's holiday shipping peak drives this lane more than anything else.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holiday e-commerce peak, cushioned by steady food-product freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
E-commerce and parcel freight climb hard through the holiday shipping season, FedEx's busiest stretch.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday e-commerce peak
- •Steady parcel and food-product freight
- •FedEx Hercules facility ramp-up
Hurricane Risk?
None; this is an inland route. Winter weather is the real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Expect tighter truck capacity near Memphis during FedEx's peak shipping season, roughly November through December, as the hub's own package volume surges.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Chicago to Memphis lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need tight scheduling.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
Book further ahead during the Q4 e-commerce peak, when FedEx's Memphis hub runs at its busiest.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical parcel and e-commerce freight tends to pay a premium during peak season.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a tight window during Memphis airport peak overnight sort hours.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Chicago to Memphis
- •
FedEx's Memphis hub creates constant freight demand, but capacity can tighten fast during the holiday package rush.
- •
At 535 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run.
- •
Rail-competitive freight is common here given Memphis's five-railroad access, so shop your rate.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Chicago to Memphis lane?
Memphis's scale as a global logistics hub keeps a northbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the northbound load:
- •Memphis, TN
- •Regional distribution hubs near Memphis
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
With five Class I railroads and the Mississippi River all converging in Memphis, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Memphis is a major logistics superhub. That makes this one of the more reliable lanes for a well-paying backhaul.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Memphis's rail convergence gives you strong backhaul options heading almost any direction.
- •
Chicago's own rail hub status means backhauls are rarely hard to find once you're home.
- •
Book early if you're running this lane in November or December, when FedEx's own volume peaks.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Chicago to Memphis lane?
Three notes before this Memphis run.
Confirm delivery-window precision before hauling FedEx-connected freight; overnight sort schedules are unforgiving.
Check I-55 winter conditions across Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee.
Avoid the Memphis airport area during peak overnight sort hours if you can.
Plan around FedEx's Memphis peak season in November and December. Local capacity gets tight fast when their own volume spikes.
Chicago to Memphis Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the FedEx World Hub, and peak season timing.
The lane data shows about $1,284 - $1,498 per load, or $2.40 - $2.80 a mile, across 535 miles.
It covers 880 acres and 3.7 million square feet under one roof, with 32,000 local employees and the ability to handle up to 475,000 shipments an hour.
It has the world's busiest cargo airport plus five Class I railroads, the Mississippi River and major trucking corridors, giving it road, rail, river and runway access.
Reasonably, given its scale as one of the world's great logistics hubs.
Other Illinois freight lanes we dispatch
- Chicago to Nashville
- Chicago to Kansas City
- Chicago to Columbus
- Chicago to Denver
- Chicago to Milwaukee
- Chicago to Dallas
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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