New Orleans to Memphis Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting New Orleans, LA to Memphis, TN (395 miles). Memphis's FedEx hub and inland port pair naturally with the Mississippi River corridor via I-55.
What do truck dispatch rates run from New Orleans to Memphis?
New Orleans to Memphis is a 395-mile lane paying about $968 - $1,126 per load, near $2.45 - $2.85 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods/e-commerce, air-cargo-connected freight and port import-connected freight.
- Distance
- 395 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $968 - $1,126
- Rate per mile
- $2.45 - $2.85
- Transit time
- 1 day
- Deadhead risk
- 25-30%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and rise during the Q4 e-commerce peak. See our dispatch fee structure.
New Orleans to Memphis
New Orleans to Memphis is a 395-mile, roughly 6-hour run north on I-55, connecting Louisiana's port gateway to the country's biggest air-cargo and logistics city. Memphis is home to the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest air-cargo operation on earth, giving this lane strong truck-to-air reload connections beyond standard ground-freight demand.
Origin
New Orleans, LA
Destination
Memphis, TN
Distance
395 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$968 - $1,126
Rate per Mile
$2.45 - $2.85
395-mile lane, about 6 hours on I-55
Memphis hosts the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest air-cargo operation on earth
New Orleans sits at the mouth of the Mississippi River import and export corridor
New Orleans 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.
Source: AeroXplorer, FedEx Memphis superhub overview. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for New Orleans to Memphis?
About $372.36 this week. The lane is 395 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 61 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
- 395 mi
- Diesel needed
- 61 gal
- Price used
- $6.13/gal
- Fuel cost
- $372.36
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, air-cargo-connected freight and port import-connected freight fill the trailers heading north.
- E-commerce/Parcel
- Agricultural Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the New Orleans to Memphis lane difficult?
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt the New Orleans end of this route
Hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt the New Orleans end of this route.
Time-critical air-cargo-connected freight can require tight scheduling
Time-critical air-cargo-connected freight can require tight scheduling.
Competition from Memphis's dense logistics-carrier base can compress rates during slow periods
Competition from Memphis's dense logistics-carrier base can compress rates during slow periods.
What freight moves on the New Orleans to Memphis lane?
What travels between New Orleans and Memphis, and why the FedEx hub matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •E-commerce/Parcel
- •Agricultural Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (FedEx hub)
- •Consumer goods
- •Port import-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods and e-commerce (holiday surge)
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (steady, peaks Q4)
- •Hurricane-prep and resupply freight (June-November)
When is the New Orleans to Memphis lane busiest?
The Q4 e-commerce and air-cargo peak drives this lane hard.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holiday e-commerce peak.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
E-commerce and air-cargo-connected freight climb sharply from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday e-commerce and air-cargo peak
- •Hurricane-season disruption risk (June-November)
- •Steady logistics freight year-round
Hurricane Risk?
Real on the New Orleans end; Atlantic and Gulf hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt operations.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Expect tighter truck capacity near Memphis during FedEx's peak shipping season, roughly November through December.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the New Orleans to Memphis lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need tight scheduling.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
1-2 days out is typical for this haul, tighter during the Q4 e-commerce peak.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical air-cargo-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a slow-season load in a market as competitive as Memphis without checking current rates.
Rate Negotiation Tips for New Orleans to Memphis
- •
This lane runs along the Mississippi River corridor via I-55, roughly 395 miles.
- •
FedEx's Memphis hub creates constant freight demand, but capacity can tighten fast during the holiday package rush.
- •
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 New Orleans to Memphis lane?
Memphis's air-cargo and logistics base makes a southbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Memphis, TN
- •Regional distribution hubs near Memphis
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 25-30%
With the world's largest air-cargo hub anchoring the city, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •FedEx hub volume and river-corridor freight support 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.
- •
New Orleans's own port and petrochemical freight base keeps southbound loads flowing too.
- •
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 New Orleans to Memphis lane?
Three notes before this logistics-hub run.
Check hurricane advisories before running this lane June through November.
Confirm scheduling windows before hauling freight connecting to FedEx's air-cargo network.
Check current Memphis-area logistics-market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
Plan around FedEx's Memphis peak season in November and December. Local capacity gets tight fast when their own volume spikes.
New Orleans to Memphis Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the FedEx hub, and hurricane season.
The lane data shows about $968 - $1,126 per load, or $2.45 - $2.85 a mile, across 395 miles.
It hosts the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest air-cargo operation on earth.
About 6 hours for the 395 miles on I-55.
Yes, generally, given Memphis's dense river, rail, air and highway logistics network.
Other Louisiana freight lanes we dispatch
- New Orleans to Dallas
- New Orleans to Atlanta
- New Orleans to Lake Charles
- New Orleans to Jackson
- New Orleans to Birmingham
- New Orleans to Little Rock
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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