Louisville to Memphis Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Louisville, KY to Memphis, TN (380 miles). Memphis's FedEx hub and inland port pair naturally with Louisville's own UPS parcel volume via I-24.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Louisville to Memphis?
Louisville to Memphis is a 380-mile lane paying about $969 - $1,121 per load, near $2.55 - $2.95 a mile. Freight is mostly e-commerce/parcel, food products and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 380 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $969 - $1,121
- Rate per mile
- $2.55 - $2.95
- 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 and FedEx's peak shipping season. See our dispatch fee structure.
Louisville to Memphis
Louisville to Memphis is a 380-mile, roughly 6-hour run southwest, mostly on I-24/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 and up to 475,000 shipments an hour.
Origin
Louisville, KY
Destination
Memphis, TN
Distance
380 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$969 - $1,121
Rate per Mile
$2.55 - $2.95
380-mile lane, about 6 hours southwest
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
Louisville 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.
Louisville and Memphis are home to two of the biggest package-delivery hubs in the country
Louisville's UPS Worldport ranks third among US airports for cargo weight, behind only Memphis (FedEx) and Anchorage. Both cities anchor a huge share of the country's overnight package network.
Source: Louisville Public Media, UPS Worldport coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Louisville to Memphis?
About $371.35 this week. The lane is 380 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 58 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
- 380 mi
- Diesel needed
- 58 gal
- Price used
- $6.35/gal
- Fuel cost
- $371.35
Common Freight Types
E-commerce/parcel freight, food products and consumer goods fill the trailers heading southwest.
- E-commerce/Parcel
- Food Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Louisville to Memphis lane difficult?
FedEx-connected freight runs on tight overnight sort schedules
FedEx-connected freight runs on tight overnight sort schedules.
Tennessee's mountain stretches can see winter weather
Tennessee's mountain stretches 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 Louisville to Memphis lane?
What travels between Louisville 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
- •UPS-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •E-commerce/parcel (holiday surge)
- •Food products (steady)
- •Consumer goods (steady)
When is the Louisville 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 on both ends of this lane during the peak shipping season, roughly November through December.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Louisville 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 Louisville to Memphis
- •
This lane connects two of the busiest package-delivery hubs in the country, so expect real freight volume.
- •
At 380 miles, this is a solid one-day run.
- •
Book early if you're running this lane in November or December, when both hubs' volume peaks.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Louisville to Memphis lane?
Memphis's scale as a global logistics hub keeps a northeastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the northeastbound load:
- •Memphis, TN
- •Regional distribution hubs near Memphis
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
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:
- •Parcel-hub volume on both ends supports strong backhaul.
- •Pre-book return freight on load boards before you arrive, so you don't sit empty
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Memphis's rail convergence gives you strong backhaul options heading almost any direction.
- •
Louisville's UPS hub keeps freight flowing north too.
- •
This lane connects two major air-cargo cities, so freight is rarely hard to find.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Louisville to Memphis lane?
Three notes before this Memphis run.
Confirm delivery-window precision before hauling FedEx-connected freight; overnight sort schedules are unforgiving.
Check winter conditions across Tennessee.
Avoid the Memphis airport area during peak overnight sort hours if you can.
This lane links UPS's Louisville hub and FedEx's Memphis hub. Plan around both companies' November-December peak season.
Louisville to Memphis Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the FedEx World Hub, and peak season timing.
The lane data shows about $969 - $1,121 per load, or $2.55 - $2.95 a mile, across 380 miles.
It covers 880 acres and 3.7 million square feet under one roof, with 32,000 local employees.
It has the world's busiest cargo airport plus five Class I railroads and the Mississippi River.
Reasonably, given its scale as one of the world's great logistics hubs.
Other Kentucky freight lanes we dispatch
- Louisville to Columbus
- Louisville to St. Louis
- Louisville to Charlotte
- Louisville to Detroit
- Louisville to Dallas
- Louisville to Charleston
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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