248 miles · Est. 3.7 hours · Avg $2.35/mile · Gross $583
Day-Trip Economics
Fuel Estimate
$92
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$5
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$486
Before your other costs
Lane Overview
248
Miles
$2.35
Avg rate/mile
$583
Avg gross rate
moderate
Competition
Atlanta to Nashville northbound on I-75 north to I-24 west is the automotive corridor in the opposite direction. Automotive parts from Atlanta's Tier 2 and Tier 3 supplier network head toward Nashville's Nissan Smyrna plant and GM Spring Hill — inbound components for vehicle assembly. Consumer goods and healthcare supplies add dry-van volume on this 248-mile moderate-difficulty run. Rates hold at $2.25–$2.45/mile reliably.
I-75 north through Chattanooga to the I-24 west split is the primary routing. The I-75/I-24 Chattanooga interchange is among the busiest in Tennessee — it can delay you 20 minutes during any weekday rush hour. I-24 west from Chattanooga through Monteagle Mountain requires engine brake use on the steep descent — a 6% grade drop is not a lane for inattentive driving. Nashville approach on I-24 to the I-440 bypass is straightforward. Return Nashville to Atlanta (Lane 28) brings automotive parts and food products southbound at similar rates.
Driver Tip
Short lane, fast turn. Margin on short runs is unforgiving. Use our Load Profitability Calculator to verify this load covers your costs before accepting.
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Return Freight
Nashville to Atlanta
248 miles · $2.40/mile avg
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
Atlanta to Nashville is an automotive corridor run that moves faster than the numbers suggest. At 248 miles and $2.35/mile average, the math on this one is a 4-hour drive with a solid rate — but Monteagle Mountain between Chattanooga and Nashville separates drivers who know this route from ones who don't. Get that part right and it's a clean earner for regional Southeast operators.
Nissan's Smyrna, Tennessee assembly plant is one of the largest vehicle manufacturing facilities in the US — the Altima, Maxima, and Leaf all come out of Smyrna. The inbound parts supply chain from Georgia Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers generates flatbed and dry-van freight heading north from Atlanta. GM's Spring Hill plant in Tennessee runs a similar pattern. HCA Healthcare, the largest private hospital operator in the country, is headquartered in Nashville — medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare supplies flow north from Atlanta's distribution infrastructure. Consumer goods from the west-side Atlanta DCs fill dry-van capacity on a daily basis.
I-75 north from Atlanta to Chattanooga is 115 miles of solid interstate. The Chattanooga I-75/I-24 interchange is the pivot point — take I-24 west toward Nashville. This interchange handles enormous freight volume and can back up 20–30 minutes during peak hours any weekday. The stretch of I-24 west between Chattanooga and the Tennessee plateau is manageable, but the Monteagle Mountain descent is the section that matters. The I-24 westbound descent from Monteagle Summit is a sustained 6% grade — engine braking mandatory, speed limit enforced, runaway truck ramps visible on the right. Brake fires from trucks overheating on this descent happen; use your gears. The I-24 west into Nashville approaches via the I-440 south bypass or direct on I-24 to downtown — most industrial receivers in Nashville are in the Brentwood/Cool Springs south corridor or the distribution park areas near Smyrna.
Direct automotive supply chain accounts with Tier 2 suppliers in the Atlanta metro are the premium play here. Parts feeding the Nissan and GM plants operate on just-in-time schedules — shippers pay for reliable carriers who understand automotive freight timing requirements. Spot market dry-van rates run $2.25–$2.40/mile. Automotive supply chain contracts run $2.40–$2.55/mile with consistency that beats the spot market every month.
Nashville to Atlanta (Lane 28) brings reverse automotive logistics, food products from Nashville's distribution network, and consumer goods southbound. Rates are comparable to northbound and the lane is bilateral enough to make this a regular rotation for dedicated Southeast operators.
How bad is Monteagle Mountain really?
It's significant. The westbound descent on I-24 is a 6% grade for about 5 miles. Fully loaded trucks need to be in a lower gear before the descent starts — don't wait until you're on the slope and already moving fast to downshift. CHP and Tennessee DOT patrol this section actively for overheating brakes. There are runaway truck ramps, and they get used.
What's the Chattanooga interchange timing advice?
The I-75/I-24 interchange at Chattanooga runs congested 7–9am and 4–6pm, sometimes longer in summer when tourist traffic to the mountains adds recreational vehicle volume. If you're departing Atlanta before 6am, you'll clear Chattanooga clean. Mid-morning departures work fine. Avoid arriving in Chattanooga between 4–6pm.
Are there weigh stations between Atlanta and Nashville?
The Georgia I-75 northbound scale near Ringgold just south of the Tennessee line is active. Tennessee's I-24 westbound doesn't have a dedicated fixed scale between Chattanooga and Nashville, but Tennessee DOT runs portable inspection stations periodically near the Monteagle area.
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