Freight Shipping from Dallas to Nashville
Ship freight from Dallas, TX to Nashville, TN with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,722-$2,123, LTL from $641-$1,081. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
801 mi
Drive Time
15 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,722-$2,123
LTL Rate Est.
$641-$1,081
Industrial Freight Lane
Dallas → Nashville Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
170–189
running this lane
Weekly Loads
234–250
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
94/100
Excellent
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$8–$13 one-way passing through TX, TN, MO, AR, OK. 2 typical fuel stops along the corridor.
Book For Best Rates
Best pickup days: Tue, Wed, Thu. Avoid: Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM. Mid-week pickups on this lane typically price 6-11% below weekend-adjacent bookings.
Dallas to Nashville Freight Corridor
Dallas is the economic engine of the DFW metroplex, housing more Fortune 500 corporate headquarters than any city except New York. Texas Instruments and the Telecom Corridor in Richardson generate a constant flow of high-value electronics freight, while the South Dallas warehouse district contains over 150 million square feet of distribution space. The city's central location means a truck leaving Dallas can reach 93% of the U.S. population within 48 hours.
Nashville has emerged as one of America's fastest-growing freight markets, fueled by explosive population growth and a diversified economy anchored by healthcare and automotive. Nissan's Smyrna assembly plant — the most productive auto plant in North America — builds 640,000+ vehicles annually, while HCA Healthcare's headquarters drives medical supply distribution across 180+ hospitals. The I-40/I-65/I-24 triple junction gives Nashville reach to virtually every major market east of the Rockies.
The Dallas-to-Nashville corridor spans 801 miles via I-35E, I-30, I-40, I-65. This lane connects technology and telecommunications freight from the Dallas market to healthcare and music & entertainment demand in Nashville. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Dallas
Dallas's economy is driven by technology, telecommunications, financial services, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
electronics (Texas Instruments)
telecommunications equipment
consumer packaged goods
processed foods
defense systems
e-commerce shipments
What Nashville Receives
Nashville's healthcare, music & entertainment, automotive manufacturing sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Dallas.
automotive components
consumer electronics
construction materials
food products
retail merchandise
medical supplies
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Dallas and Nashville, these equipment types best serve this corridor.
Dry Van (FTL)
Ideal for palletized consumer goods, electronics, packaged foods, and general merchandise. Enclosed protection from weather and theft.
$1,722-$2,123 estimated for this lane
Flatbed
Best for steel, lumber, machinery, building materials, and oversized loads that cannot be palletized or loaded through standard dock doors.
$2,283-$2,924 estimated for this lane
LTL (Less Than Truckload)
Cost-effective for shipments under 10,000 lbs or fewer than 10 pallets. Shared trailer space with other shippers reduces cost for smaller loads.
$641-$1,081 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Dallas to Nashville lane (801 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,722-$2,123 | 15 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $641-$1,081 | 17-19 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,603-$3,605 | 10 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,081-$1,482 | 18-20 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Dallas and Nashville that drive volume on this lane.
Texas Instruments (HQ)
AT&T (HQ)
Amazon DFW Fulfillment Network
Nissan North America (HQ & Smyrna Plant)
HCA Healthcare (HQ)
Bridgestone Americas (HQ)
Shipping Tips for Dallas to Nashville
Dallas Seasonal Advisory
E-commerce fulfillment peaks massively during Q4 holidays. Construction freight is year-round due to DFW's unrelenting building boom. Texas Instruments production runs consistently but new product cycles create periodic shipping surges.
Nashville Seasonal Advisory
Nissan production runs year-round with brief shutdowns in July and December. Healthcare supply distribution peaks during flu season (October-March). The massive construction boom for Nashville's growth creates steady building material demand March through November.
Overnight Transit
This 801-mile route typically requires one overnight stop for a solo driver. Schedule pickup before noon for next-day delivery in most cases.
Book Early for Best Rates
Spot market rates fluctuate daily. Booking 3-5 days in advance typically saves 10-15% compared to same-day or next-day freight requests. For recurring shipments, ask about contract rates.
Logistics Infrastructure
How freight actually flows in and out of Dallas and Nashville — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Dallas, TX
- Metro Population
- 7.6M metro (DFW)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.00-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35E, I-30, I-635 (LBJ)
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth); Union Pacific Mesquite Intermodal; BNSF Wilmer Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- South Dallas/I-20 Corridor, Mesquite/I-30 East, Garland/I-635 Northeast
“Dallas's massive inbound-to-outbound imbalance — driven by the region's explosive population growth — means carriers delivering to DFW can almost always find loads out. The challenge is finding loads that pay well enough to justify the outbound leg, especially southbound to Houston where competition is fierce.”
Destination
Nashville, TN
- Metro Population
- 2.0M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-40, I-65, I-24
- Rail / Intermodal
- CSX Nashville Intermodal; Radnor Yard (Nashville's primary rail facility)
- Warehouse Districts
- La Vergne/I-24 Southeast, Lebanon/I-40 East, Smyrna/I-24 Nissan Corridor
“Nashville's population boom (adding 80+ people per day) has created a permanent imbalance — inbound freight exceeds outbound, meaning carriers delivering to Nashville often face deadhead miles finding loads out. Savvy dispatchers book outbound loads in advance, particularly automotive parts heading to Midwest assembly plants.”
Return Loads from Nashville
Nashville is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Dallas typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Nashville
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Dallas to Nashville Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Dallas to Nashville?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Dallas, TX to Nashville, TN currently range $1,722-$2,123 (roughly $2.16-$2.66 per mile over 801 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $641-$1,081 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently tight on this corridor, so booking 3-5 days out locks in the best pricing. Request a custom quote for exact rates.
How long does freight take from Dallas to Nashville?
Standard FTL transit from Dallas to Nashville is approximately 15 hrs by truck over 801 miles, with 2 typical fuel stops along the corridor. LTL shipments add 2-4 business days due to terminal transfers. Expedited service with team drivers can reduce FTL transit by up to 40%. Intermodal rail-truck service via BNSF Alliance Intermodal (Fort Worth) to CSX Nashville Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Dallas to Nashville freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Dallas commonly ships electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Nashville commonly receives automotive components, consumer electronics, construction materials. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Nashville to Dallas?
Excellent backhaul (scored 94/100 based on Nashville's outbound commodity mix). Nashville is a strong outbound freight market. Carriers returning to Dallas typically secure backhaul within 24-48 hours, often at 75-85% of the forward rate. Nashville's top outbound commodities — healthcare products, automotive parts (Nissan), consumer goods — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Dallas to Nashville?
The Dallas-to-Nashville corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Dallas's top outbound commodities include electronics (Texas Instruments), telecommunications equipment, consumer packaged goods, processed foods, defense systems, e-commerce shipments. Nashville's primary inbound freight includes automotive components, consumer electronics, construction materials, food products, retail merchandise, medical supplies. Industries driving this lane include technology and telecommunications from Dallas and healthcare and music & entertainment in Nashville.
When are rates highest on the Dallas to Nashville lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to technology and telecommunications cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable); Mar-Oct (construction season) (+8-14% on flatbed). For the lowest spot rates, ship mid-week (Tue, Wed, Thu) and avoid Sun, Fri PM, Mon AM pickups when possible.
Get Exact Rates for Dallas to Nashville
We maintain working relationships with 170+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Dallas–Nashville corridor. Tell us about your freight and we will match you with one that fits your commodity, timing, and budget. Free quote, no obligation.
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