Freight Shipping from Des Moines to Memphis
Ship freight from Des Moines, IA to Memphis, TN with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,357-$1,672, LTL from $547-$936. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
631 mi
Drive Time
11 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,357-$1,672
LTL Rate Est.
$547-$936
Consumer Goods Corridor
Des Moines → Memphis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
129–147
running this lane
Weekly Loads
84–104
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
62/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$10–$16 one-way passing through IA, TN, IL, MO. 1 typical fuel stop 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.
Des Moines to Memphis Freight Corridor
Des Moines sits at the junction of I-80 and I-35, making it the natural crossroads of the upper Midwest agricultural belt. The city punches above its weight in freight thanks to a concentration of food processing plants (Tyson, Barilla, Kemin) and Hy-Vee's distribution network that services grocery stores across eight states. Meta's massive data center campus in Altoona has added a new dimension of high-value technology freight for server equipment and infrastructure.
Memphis is America's logistics capital, defined by FedEx's global SuperHub at Memphis International Airport — the world's busiest cargo airport. Every FedEx Express package in the Western Hemisphere passes through this facility, creating a 24/7 ground freight ecosystem of pickups, deliveries, and linehaul moves that sustains thousands of carriers. The Mississippi River port adds barge freight, and the city's five Class I railroad connections make it the most rail-served city in the nation.
The Des Moines-to-Memphis corridor spans 631 miles via I-80, I-35, I-40, I-55. This lane connects insurance & financial services and food processing freight from the Des Moines market to logistics & distribution (fedex) and medical devices demand in Memphis. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Des Moines
Des Moines's economy is driven by insurance & financial services, food processing, agriculture, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
processed meats
corn products & ethanol
insurance documents
animal feed
soybeans
egg products
What Memphis Receives
Memphis's logistics & distribution (fedex), medical devices, agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Des Moines.
e-commerce packages (FedEx)
consumer goods
raw cotton
steel & metals
petroleum products
agricultural inputs
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Des Moines and Memphis, 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.
$1,357-$1,672 estimated for this lane
Refrigerated (Reefer)
Required for temperature-sensitive freight including fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Maintains precise temperature control throughout transit.
$1,672-$2,114 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.
$1,798-$2,303 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$1,988-$2,682 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Des Moines to Memphis lane (631 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,357-$1,672 | 11 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $547-$936 | 13-15 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,051-$2,840 | 8 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $852-$1,167 | 14-16 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Des Moines and Memphis that drive volume on this lane.
John Deere (Des Moines Works)
Hy-Vee (HQ)
Principal Financial (HQ)
FedEx (Global HQ & SuperHub)
Smith & Nephew
International Paper
Shipping Tips for Des Moines to Memphis
Des Moines Seasonal Advisory
Harvest season (September-November) transforms the freight market as grain trucks flood the highways and competition for drivers intensifies. Holiday food processing peaks October through December. Data center construction freight has become a year-round constant.
Memphis Seasonal Advisory
FedEx's holiday peak season (November-January) transforms Memphis into a frenzy of carrier demand. Cotton harvest (October-December) drives outbound agricultural volume. The Mississippi River's water levels affect barge operations — low water in late summer can shift freight to trucks, spiking rates.
Overnight Transit
This 631-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 Des Moines and Memphis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Des Moines, IA
- Metro Population
- 699K metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.00-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, I-35, I-235
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Des Moines Intermodal
- Warehouse Districts
- Ankeny/I-35 North, Altoona/I-80 East, Grimes/I-80/I-35
“Iowa's 80/35 interchange is the most critical truck routing decision point between Chicago and the Great Plains. Carriers heading west can choose I-80 toward Omaha or I-35 toward Kansas City, and rate differentials between these two lanes can swing 15-20% depending on seasonal demand.”
Destination
Memphis, TN
- Metro Population
- 1.3M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.00-$2.35/mi
- Key Highways
- I-40, I-55, I-240
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Memphis Intermodal; Norfolk Southern Memphis Terminal; Union Pacific Memphis Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Memphis (Mississippi River, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Memphis Airport/FedEx SuperHub, Olive Branch, MS/I-269, West Memphis, AR/I-40
“Memphis's FedEx effect means the city never sleeps logistically. Ground carriers who align their schedules with FedEx's overnight sort — picking up e-commerce freight in the evening and delivering before dawn — can access premium expedited rates that standard daytime carriers miss entirely.”
Return Loads from Memphis
Backhaul from Memphis to Des Moines requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Memphis
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Des Moines to Memphis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Des Moines to Memphis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Des Moines, IA to Memphis, TN currently range $1,357-$1,672 (roughly $2.16-$2.67 per mile over 631 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $547-$936 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently balanced 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 Des Moines to Memphis?
Standard FTL transit from Des Moines to Memphis is approximately 11 hrs by truck over 631 miles, with 1 typical fuel stop 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 UP Des Moines Intermodal to BNSF Memphis Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Des Moines to Memphis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Des Moines commonly ships processed meats, corn products & ethanol, insurance documents, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Memphis commonly receives e-commerce packages (FedEx), consumer goods, raw cotton. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Memphis to Des Moines?
Moderate backhaul (scored 62/100 based on Memphis's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Memphis to Des Moines requires planning. Carriers often reposition via intermediate markets, impacting forward pricing. Memphis's top outbound commodities — e-commerce packages (FedEx), medical devices, cotton — are the most common return-load categories carriers target.
What commodities move from Des Moines to Memphis?
The Des Moines-to-Memphis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. Des Moines's top outbound commodities include processed meats, corn products & ethanol, insurance documents, animal feed, soybeans, egg products. Memphis's primary inbound freight includes e-commerce packages (FedEx), consumer goods, raw cotton, steel & metals, petroleum products, agricultural inputs. Industries driving this lane include insurance & financial services and food processing from Des Moines and logistics & distribution (FedEx) and medical devices in Memphis.
When are rates highest on the Des Moines to Memphis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to insurance & financial services and food processing cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); 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 Des Moines to Memphis
We maintain working relationships with 129+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Des Moines–Memphis corridor. Tell us about your freight and we will match you with one that fits your commodity, timing, and budget. Free quote, no obligation.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM CT | No obligation, no contracts