Memphis, TN → Los Angeles, CA
Route Details
I-40 Cross-Country Corridor
I-40 · 2,554 total miles · east west
Tennessee Trucking
Tennessee is strategically positioned in the Southeast with Memphis and Nashville serving as critical freight hubs. Memp...
California Trucking
California is the gateway for international trade and domestic distribution. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach han...
I-40
1,810 miles from Memphis, TN to Los Angeles, CA
Freight on This Lane
The dominant freight categories moving between Memphis, TN and Los Angeles, CA
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...
Beverages
Beverage freight is one of trucking's heaviest and most consistent categories, moving 13.8 billion cases per year across 4.2 million truckloads. A ful...
Rate Breakdown
Seasonal Patterns
Westbound from Memphis to LA is the softer direction — rates average 10-15% below eastbound. Holiday pre-positioning (August-October) brings a 10-15% bump as retailers ship inventory west. FedEx overflow from the Memphis hub creates year-round spot freight opportunities.
Backhaul Guide
Return load strategy for the Los Angeles, CA to Memphis, TN direction
Eastbound LA to Memphis is the premium leg — consumer goods, electronics, and produce from California distribution centers pay $2.70-$3.10/mile. Memphis is the best reload market in the central US with FedEx, Nike, and Williams-Sonoma distribution centers ensuring same-day freight availability.
Compatible Truck Types
Equipment types that run profitably on this lane
Memphis is your secret weapon. FedEx overflow loads and last-minute freight are always available within 4-6 hours. If you drop anywhere within 200 miles of Memphis, we can get you reloaded same-day 90% of the time. Watch the Amarillo-to-Albuquerque stretch (290 miles) — spring wind gusts hit 60+ mph and flip empty trailers. Load heavy through the Texas Panhandle.
Memphis, TN to Los Angeles, CA FAQ
Common questions about this freight lane
Why should I relay through Memphis?+
How does I-40 compare to I-10 for Memphis to LA?+
What are the best truck stops along I-40?+
Get Dispatched on the Memphis, TN to Los Angeles, CA Lane
Our dispatchers know this lane inside and out. 6% commission, no contracts, and we pre-book your backhaul before you depart.
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