Charleston to Memphis Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Charleston, SC to Memphis, TN (630 miles). Memphis's FedEx hub and inland port make this a dependable time-sensitive freight lane.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Charleston to Memphis?
Charleston to Memphis is a 630-mile lane paying about $1,481 - $1,733 per load, near $2.35 - $2.75 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods/e-commerce, air-cargo-connected freight and automotive-export freight.
- Distance
- 630 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,480 - $1,732
- Rate per mile
- $2.35 - $2.75
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- 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.
Charleston to Memphis
Charleston to Memphis is a 630-mile, roughly 10-hour run west on I-26 and I-40, connecting South Carolina's automotive port 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.
Origin
Charleston, SC
Destination
Memphis, TN
Distance
630 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,480 - $1,732
Rate per Mile
$2.35 - $2.75
630-mile lane, about 10 hours on I-26 and I-40
Memphis hosts the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest air-cargo operation on earth
The Port of Charleston's automotive-export scale gives this lane strong origin-side freight
Charleston 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.
Charleston Harbor is the deepest on the East Coast
Charleston Harbor was deepened to 52 feet in 2022, the deepest harbor on the East Coast, and SC Ports handled 2.6 million TEUs in fiscal year 2025.
Source: South Carolina Ports Authority. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Charleston to Memphis?
About $586.00 this week. The lane is 630 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 97 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.05 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
- 630 mi
- Diesel needed
- 97 gal
- Price used
- $6.05/gal
- Fuel cost
- $586.00
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, air-cargo-connected freight and automotive-export freight fill the trailers heading west.
- E-commerce/Parcel
- Food Products
- Automotive Parts
What makes the Charleston to Memphis 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.
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 Charleston to Memphis lane?
What travels between Charleston and Memphis, and why the FedEx hub matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •E-commerce/Parcel
- •Food Products
- •Automotive Parts
Secondary Commodities
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (FedEx hub)
- •Consumer goods
- •Automotive-export-connected freight
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods and e-commerce (holiday surge)
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (steady, peaks Q4)
- •Automotive-export freight (steady)
When is the Charleston 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
- •Steady logistics freight year-round
- •Summer freight demand
Hurricane Risk?
Real on the Charleston end; Atlantic hurricane season (June-November) can disrupt port 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 Charleston 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 Charleston to Memphis
- •
This is a long haul at 630 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
FedEx's Memphis hub creates constant freight demand, but capacity can tighten fast during the holiday package rush.
- •
Port-linked freight out of Charleston is worth asking about on this end.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Charleston to Memphis lane?
Memphis's air-cargo and logistics base makes an eastbound 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:
- •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.
- •
Charleston's growing port keeps eastbound freight 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 Charleston to Memphis lane?
Three notes before this logistics-hub run.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this 10-hour run.
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.
Charleston to Memphis Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the FedEx hub, and the Q4 peak.
The lane data shows about $1,481 - $1,733 per load, or $2.35 - $2.75 a mile, across 630 miles.
It hosts the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest air-cargo operation on earth.
About 10 hours for the 630 miles on I-26 and I-40.
Yes, generally, given Memphis's dense river, rail, air and highway logistics network.
Other South Carolina freight lanes we dispatch
- Charleston to Nashville
- Charleston to Dallas
- Charleston to Orlando
- Charleston to Richmond
- Charleston to New York
- Charleston to Indianapolis
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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