Dallas to Memphis Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Dallas, TX to Memphis, TN (450 miles). Memphis's FedEx hub and inland port make this a reliable time-sensitive freight lane.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Dallas to Memphis?
Dallas to Memphis is a 450-mile lane paying about $1,103 - $1,283 per load, near $2.45 - $2.85 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods/e-commerce, air-cargo-connected freight and industrial equipment.
- Distance
- 450 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,102 - $1,282
- 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.
Dallas to Memphis
Dallas to Memphis is a 450-mile, roughly 7-hour run east on I-30 and I-40, connecting DFW's inland hub 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 the standard ground-freight market.
Origin
Dallas, TX
Destination
Memphis, TN
Distance
450 miles
Transit Time
1 day
Average Rate
$1,102 - $1,282
Rate per Mile
$2.45 - $2.85
450-mile lane, about 7 hours on I-30 and I-40
Memphis hosts the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest air-cargo operation on earth
DFW's BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal access supports flexible origin reloads
Dallas 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.
DFW Airport's air cargo hit 859,000 tons in 2025
DFW International Airport handled 858,952 tons of air cargo in 2025, up 4.9% from the year before, with cargo's annual economic impact roughly doubling to $42 billion.
Source: Air Cargo News/STAT Times, DFW cargo growth coverage. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Dallas to Memphis?
About $424.21 this week. The lane is 450 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 69 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
- 450 mi
- Diesel needed
- 69 gal
- Price used
- $6.13/gal
- Fuel cost
- $424.21
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, air-cargo-connected freight and industrial equipment fill the trailers heading east.
- E-commerce/Parcel
- Food Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Dallas to Memphis lane difficult?
Time-critical air-cargo-connected freight can require tight scheduling
Time-critical air-cargo-connected freight can require tight scheduling.
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
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 Dallas to Memphis lane?
What travels between Dallas and Memphis, and why the FedEx hub matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •E-commerce/Parcel
- •Food Products
- •Consumer Goods
Secondary Commodities
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (FedEx hub)
- •Consumer goods
- •Industrial equipment
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods and e-commerce (holiday surge)
- •Air-cargo-connected freight (steady, peaks Q4)
- •Industrial equipment (steady)
When is the Dallas 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
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, with a bump in parcel-linked freight around the holiday shipping season.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Dallas 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 Dallas to Memphis
- •
This is a long haul at 450 miles, so plan for a solid one-day trip.
- •
Air-cargo-linked freight is worth asking about on both ends, since Memphis runs FedEx's largest hub and DFW is a growing air-cargo market.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this run.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Dallas to Memphis lane?
Memphis's air-cargo and logistics base makes a westbound 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:
- •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.
- •
DFW's growing air cargo base keeps westbound loads flowing too.
- •
Give yourself real recovery time after this long run before your next dispatch.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Dallas to Memphis lane?
Three notes before this logistics-hub run.
Confirm scheduling windows before hauling freight connecting to FedEx's air-cargo network.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check current Memphis-area logistics-market rates before committing to a slow-season load.
This lane connects two of the country's biggest air-cargo freight markets. Worth prioritizing if you haul parcel-feeder freight.
Dallas to Memphis Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the FedEx hub, and the Q4 peak.
The lane data shows about $1,103 - $1,283 per load, or $2.45 - $2.85 a mile, across 450 miles.
It hosts the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest air-cargo operation on earth.
About 7 hours for the 450 miles on I-30 and I-40.
Yes, generally, given Memphis's dense river, rail, air and highway logistics network.
Other Texas freight lanes we dispatch
- Dallas to Denver
- Dallas to Phoenix
- Dallas to Oklahoma City
- Dallas to Laredo
- Dallas to Kansas City
- Dallas to New Orleans
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
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