Nashville to Dallas Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Nashville, TN to Dallas, TX (660 miles). Dallas-Fort Worth's distribution density supports steady two-way retail freight.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Nashville to Dallas?
Nashville to Dallas is a 660-mile lane paying about $1,518 - $1,782 per load, near $2.30 - $2.70 a mile. Freight is mostly retail distribution, consumer goods and electronics.
- Distance
- 660 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,518 - $1,782
- Rate per mile
- $2.30 - $2.70
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 30-35%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices over this haul. See our dispatch fee structure.
Nashville to Dallas
Nashville to Dallas is a 660-mile, roughly 10-hour run west on I-40 to I-30. Dallas-Fort Worth's Union Pacific Intermodal Terminal handles about 365,000 containers a year and BNSF's Alliance facility moves more than 1 million containers annually, giving this lane strong reload options.
Origin
Nashville, TN
Destination
Dallas, TX
Distance
660 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,518 - $1,782
Rate per Mile
$2.30 - $2.70
660-mile lane, about 10 hours on I-40 to I-30
Dallas-Fort Worth's two major intermodal terminals move well over 1 million containers a year combined
Crosses Arkansas and East Texas
Nashville to Dallas: route facts a driver should know
Nashville's I-65/I-24 junction is the busiest road in Tennessee
The section where I-65 and I-24 run concurrently through Nashville carried an average of 188,694 vehicles a day in 2025, the busiest stretch of road anywhere in Tennessee.
Source: Mid-America Freight Coalition, I-65 corridor profile. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
The DFW Inland Port spans over 76,000 acres
The Dallas-Fort Worth Inland Port covers more than 76,000 acres at the crossing of I-20, I-30, I-35, and I-45, with access to Union Pacific and BNSF rail. It's described as the largest inland distribution market in North America.
Source: Partners Real Estate, Dallas-Fort Worth market research. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Nashville to Dallas?
About $622.18 this week. The lane is 660 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 102 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
- 660 mi
- Diesel needed
- 102 gal
- Price used
- $6.13/gal
- Fuel cost
- $622.18
Common Freight Types
Retail distribution, consumer goods and electronics fill the trailers heading west.
- Retail Distribution
- Consumer Goods
- Electronics
What makes the Nashville to Dallas lane difficult?
The length requires a realistic HOS plan
Understanding and preparing for this challenge helps optimize your operations and maximize profitability on this lane.
Arkansas stretches on I-40 can see winter weather
Understanding and preparing for this challenge helps optimize your operations and maximize profitability on this lane.
Dallas-Fort Worth metro traffic can add time at the end
Dallas-Fort Worth metro traffic can add time at the end.
What freight moves on the Nashville to Dallas lane?
What travels between Nashville and Dallas, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Retail Distribution
- •Consumer Goods
- •Electronics
Secondary Commodities
- •Union Pacific and BNSF intermodal freight
- •Electronics
- •Retail distribution
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Retail distribution (holiday surge)
- •Electronics (steady)
- •Consumer goods (steady)
When is the Nashville to Dallas lane busiest?
Retail timing sets the main peak on this haul.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady intermodal freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Retail distribution and consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady electronics and retail freight
- •Spring/summer construction season
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, without a major seasonal swing to plan around.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Nashville to Dallas lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need HOS planning.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
2-3 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical electronics and Alliance Logistics District freight tend to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast turnaround without building in your required rest.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Nashville to Dallas
- •
This is a long haul at 660 miles, so plan multi-day rest and fuel stops.
- •
The DFW Inland Port's scale, over 76,000 acres, means broad freight demand across nearly every category.
- •
Build in extra time leaving downtown Nashville, the busiest stretch of road in Tennessee.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Nashville to Dallas lane?
Dallas-Fort Worth's massive intermodal base makes an eastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the eastbound load:
- •Dallas, TX
- •Regional distribution hubs near Dallas
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 30-35%
Check both the Union Pacific southern Dallas terminal and BNSF's Alliance facility in Fort Worth.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Dallas's diverse freight base and Memphis's FedEx hub both offer strong backhaul options.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Dallas-Fort Worth's massive inland port gives you strong backhaul odds in almost any direction.
- •
Nashville's growing logistics base keeps eastbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Nashville to Dallas lane?
Three notes before this two-day run.
Plan your rest stops before you leave Nashville on a run this long.
Check winter conditions across Arkansas.
Check which terminal (Alliance or the southern Dallas Union Pacific yard) has your reload freight.
This is a true long haul connecting two major freight markets. Plan real rest stops across nearly 700 miles.
Nashville to Dallas Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, HOS planning, and the Dallas-Fort Worth freight hub.
The lane data shows about $1,518 - $1,782 per load, or $2.30 - $2.70 a mile, across 660 miles.
The Union Pacific Intermodal Terminal in southern Dallas County handles about 365,000 containers a year, and BNSF's Alliance facility moves more than 1 million containers annually.
Typically a long single day or split across two, requiring a full HOS plan across the drive.
Yes, generally, given its scale as an inland logistics hub.
Other Tennessee freight lanes we dispatch
- Nashville to Memphis
- Nashville to Chicago
- Nashville to Charlotte
- Nashville to Indianapolis
- Nashville to St. Louis
- Nashville to Houston
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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