Chicago, IL → Memphis, TN
Route Details
I-40 Cross-Country Corridor
I-40 · 2,554 total miles · east west
Illinois Trucking
Illinois, anchored by Chicago, is America's central freight hub. Chicago is the largest rail terminal in the world and a...
Tennessee Trucking
Tennessee is strategically positioned in the Southeast with Memphis and Nashville serving as critical freight hubs. Memp...
I-55 / I-57
530 miles from Chicago, IL to Memphis, TN
Freight on This Lane
The dominant freight categories moving between Chicago, IL and Memphis, TN
Agriculture & Grain
Agricultural freight is the original trucking category, moving 4.5 billion bushels of grain, 180 million tons of animal feed, and $120 billion in farm...
Retail & Consumer Goods
Retail freight is the backbone of dry van trucking, representing $190+ billion in annual US transportation spend across 12 million truckloads per year...
Manufacturing & Industrial
Manufacturing freight moves $165 billion in raw materials, components, and finished goods between 320,000+ US factories each year, generating 9.5 mill...
Rate Breakdown
Seasonal Patterns
Agricultural freight from the Illinois-Missouri grain belt peaks August through November during harvest season — dry van grain product loads hit $2.90-$3.15/mile. FedEx hub freight in Memphis runs year-round but spikes 30-40% during holiday peak (November-January). Retail redistribution from Chicago distribution centers to the Mid-South is strongest October through December.
Backhaul Guide
Return load strategy for the Memphis, TN to Chicago, IL direction
Memphis-to-Chicago backhauls average $2.40-$2.80/mile. Memphis is the FedEx global hub — freight radiates from there in every direction. Cotton and lumber from the Mississippi Delta region head north. The Memphis intermodal yards (BNSF, CSX) generate drayage and transload freight at $2.60-$2.90/mile for northbound moves.
Compatible Truck Types
Equipment types that run profitably on this lane
Memphis is the FedEx Superhub — over 400 flights per night process 12+ million packages daily. Ground freight to and from the FedEx campus pays premium rates ($2.80-$3.15/mile) because of strict delivery windows. For the southbound run, fuel in southern Illinois (lowest diesel taxes on the corridor) and skip Missouri fueling. The I-55/I-40 interchange in West Memphis, AR is a known congestion point — time your arrival for early morning.
Chicago, IL to Memphis, TN FAQ
Common questions about this freight lane
How does the FedEx hub affect Memphis freight?+
What agricultural freight runs on this lane?+
Should I take I-55 or I-57 from Chicago to Memphis?+
Get Dispatched on the Chicago, IL to Memphis, TN Lane
Our dispatchers know this lane inside and out. 6% commission, no contracts, and we pre-book your backhaul before you depart.
Book a Free Strategy Call