Richmond to Memphis Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Richmond, VA to Memphis, TN (780 miles). Memphis's FedEx hub and inland port make this a dependable time-sensitive freight lane.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Richmond to Memphis?
Richmond to Memphis is a 780-mile lane paying about $1,716 - $2,028 per load, near $2.20 - $2.60 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods/e-commerce, air-cargo-connected freight and industrial equipment.
- Distance
- 780 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $1,716 - $2,028
- Rate per mile
- $2.20 - $2.60
- Transit time
- 1-2 days
- Deadhead risk
- 30-35%
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.
Richmond to Memphis
Richmond to Memphis is a 780-mile, roughly 12-hour run southwest on I-81 and I-40, connecting Virginia's freight 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.
Origin
Richmond, VA
Destination
Memphis, TN
Distance
780 miles
Transit Time
1-2 days
Average Rate
$1,716 - $2,028
Rate per Mile
$2.20 - $2.60
780-mile lane, about 12 hours on I-81 and I-40
Memphis hosts the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest air-cargo operation on earth
Richmond sits within 500 miles of over 50% of the US population
Richmond 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 Richmond to Memphis?
About $725.52 this week. The lane is 780 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 120 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
- 780 mi
- Diesel needed
- 120 gal
- Price used
- $6.05/gal
- Fuel cost
- $725.52
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, air-cargo-connected freight and industrial equipment fill the trailers heading southwest.
- E-commerce/Parcel
- Food Products
- Consumer Goods
What makes the Richmond 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.
I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley can see heavy truck congestion
I-81 through the Shenandoah Valley can see heavy truck congestion.
What freight moves on the Richmond to Memphis lane?
What travels between Richmond 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 Richmond 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
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 Richmond 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 Richmond to Memphis
- •
This is a long haul at 780 miles, so plan real fuel and rest stops.
- •
FedEx's Memphis hub creates constant freight demand, but capacity can tighten fast during the holiday package rush.
- •
Richmond's own growing distribution base keeps this lane busy in both directions.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Richmond to Memphis lane?
Memphis's air-cargo and logistics base makes a northeastbound 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: 30-35%
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.
- •
Richmond's own growing freight base keeps eastbound 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 Richmond to Memphis lane?
Three notes before this logistics-hub run.
Plan your hours-of-service and rest stops before this 12-hour run.
Confirm scheduling windows before hauling freight connecting to FedEx's air-cargo network.
Build in extra time for I-81 truck congestion through the Shenandoah Valley.
Plan around FedEx's Memphis peak season in November and December. Local capacity gets tight fast when their own volume spikes.
Richmond to Memphis Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, the FedEx hub, and the Q4 peak.
The lane data shows about $1,716 - $2,028 per load, or $2.20 - $2.60 a mile, across 780 miles.
It hosts the FedEx Express World Hub, the largest air-cargo operation on earth.
About 12 hours for the 780 miles on I-81 and I-40.
Yes, generally, given Memphis's dense river, rail, air and highway logistics network.
Other Virginia freight lanes we dispatch
- Richmond to Louisville
- Richmond to Pittsburgh
- Richmond to Washington
- Richmond to Norfolk
- Richmond to Charlotte
- Richmond to Atlanta
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.
Read the case studyNeed help running Richmond, VA to Memphis, TN consistently?
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