Nashville to Memphis Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Nashville, TN to Memphis, TN (210 miles). Memphis's FedEx hub and inland port make this the state's busiest internal freight lane.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Nashville to Memphis?
Nashville to Memphis is a 210-mile lane paying about $578 - $662 per load, near $2.75 - $3.15 a mile. Freight is mostly e-commerce/parcel, food products and consumer goods.
- Distance
- 210 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $578 - $662
- Rate per mile
- $2.75 - $3.15
- Transit time
- Same day / 3-4 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 15-20%
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.
Nashville to Memphis
Nashville to Memphis is a 210-mile, roughly 3-hour run west on I-40, 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, backed by a new $1 billion, five-story automated sort center called Hercules.
Origin
Nashville, TN
Destination
Memphis, TN
Distance
210 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 3-4 hrs
Average Rate
$578 - $662
Rate per Mile
$2.75 - $3.15
210-mile lane, about 3 hours on I-40
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
Nashville to Memphis: route facts a driver should know
I-40 connects Tennessee's two largest metro areas directly
Nashville and Memphis sit at opposite ends of the same I-40 corridor across Tennessee, a direct, single-interstate route with no major detours.
Source: Wikipedia, Interstate 40 in Tennessee. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
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.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Nashville to Memphis?
About $205.22 this week. The lane is 210 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 32 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
- 210 mi
- Diesel needed
- 32 gal
- Price used
- $6.35/gal
- Fuel cost
- $205.22
Common Freight Types
E-commerce/parcel freight, food products and consumer goods fill the trailers heading west.
- E-commerce/Parcel
- Food Products
- Industrial Equipment
What makes the Nashville to Memphis lane difficult?
FedEx-connected freight runs on tight overnight sort schedules
FedEx-connected freight runs on tight overnight sort schedules.
Memphis airport-area traffic can be heavy during peak sort hours
Memphis airport-area traffic can be heavy during peak sort hours.
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range
A short-to-medium lane keeps per-load rates in a tighter range.
What freight moves on the Nashville to Memphis lane?
What travels between Nashville and Memphis, and when FedEx's busy season hits.
Primary Commodities
- •E-commerce/Parcel
- •Food Products
- •Industrial Equipment
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 Nashville 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
This lane runs steady year-round, with a bump in parcel-linked freight around the holiday shipping season for Memphis's FedEx hub.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Nashville 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 Nashville to Memphis
- •
At 210 miles, this is a comfortable one-day run, all on I-40.
- •
Air-cargo-linked freight is worth asking about given Memphis's massive FedEx World Hub.
- •
This lane is straightforward with no major detours.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Nashville to Memphis lane?
Memphis's scale as a global logistics hub keeps an eastbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the eastbound load:
- •Memphis, TN
- •Regional distribution hubs near Memphis
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 15-20%
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:
- •Farm/cotton-belt freight from Memphis offers a reliable backhaul option that isn't linked to FedEx.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Memphis's FedEx World Hub gives you real backhaul options for parcel-feeder freight.
- •
Nashville's growing logistics base keeps eastbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane is short enough for a same-day or next-day backhaul.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Nashville to Memphis lane?
Three notes before this Memphis run.
Confirm delivery-window precision before hauling FedEx-connected freight; overnight sort schedules are unforgiving.
Avoid the Memphis airport area during peak overnight sort hours if you can.
This lane pairs well with a same-day return load; line one up before you leave Nashville.
A direct, no-detour run connecting Tennessee's two biggest metros. Worth asking about parcel-feeder freight tied to Memphis's FedEx hub.
Nashville to Memphis Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the FedEx World Hub, and peak season timing.
The lane data shows about $578 - $662 per load, or $2.75 - $3.15 a mile, across 210 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.
Reasonably, given its scale as one of the world's great logistics hubs.
Other Tennessee freight lanes we dispatch
- Nashville to Charlotte
- Nashville to Dallas
- Nashville to Indianapolis
- Nashville to St. Louis
- Nashville to Houston
- Nashville to Louisville
Local resources
Dry Van owner-operator, Southeast: +$2,550/week after moving to $2.85/mi on automotive parts / retail / beverage freight.
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