139 miles · Est. 2.1 hours · Avg $2.15/mile · Gross $299
Day-Trip Economics
Fuel Estimate
$52
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$5
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$242
Before your other costs
Lane Overview
139
Miles
$2.15
Avg rate/mile
$299
Avg gross rate
moderate
Competition
Memphis to Little Rock westbound on I-40 is a short agricultural and consumer goods return lane. FedEx World Hub sorted freight — consumer goods, food and beverage, industrial supplies — heads west toward Little Rock's distribution infrastructure serving Arkansas's 3 million residents. The proximity to the Arkansas Delta agricultural belt means food processing output from the Memphis area also moves westbound toward Little Rock packers and processors.
I-40 west from Memphis crosses the Mississippi River on the Hernando de Soto Bridge — check ARDOT for the current status of this bridge, which underwent inspection-driven lane restrictions previously. West Memphis, AR has active state police enforcement on I-40 westbound. Little Rock delivery: most consumer and food freight goes to the I-30/I-430 interchange industrial corridors on the city's southwest side. At 139 miles and $2.05–$2.25/mile, this is a short-hop lane best used as a positioning move to pick up outbound Little Rock loads or as a final leg of a longer westbound run.
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
Little Rock to Memphis
139 miles · $2.20/mile avg
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
Memphis to Little Rock is 137 miles. That's a short haul by any standard, and the rates reflect it. I'll tell you exactly when this lane makes sense and when it doesn't, because too many drivers accept loads on this run without thinking through the math. If you're positioning to grab something strong out of Little Rock or continuing west on I-40 toward Oklahoma or Texas, this run can be a smart move. As a standalone revenue run, it's marginal at best.
The FedEx World Hub in Memphis sorts an enormous volume of freight every night — consumer goods, food and beverage, industrial supplies — and some of that volume pushes westbound toward Arkansas's distribution infrastructure. Little Rock is a genuine regional hub for Arkansas, and Walmart's supply chain (Bentonville is 140 miles northwest) moves product through Little Rock regularly. Food processing from the Arkansas Delta — rice, catfish, poultry — can generate reefer loads, though these are typically shorter LTL movements.
I-40 west from Memphis through the Hernando de Soto Bridge into West Memphis is the only route. Know the bridge situation — it had a significant structural crack discovered in 2021 that shut it for months. Check ARDOT (Arkansas Department of Transportation) for any current restrictions before departure. Arkansas State Police run enforcement on I-40 westbound through West Memphis actively. The Arkansas weigh station just west of West Memphis on I-40 checks both directions. Little Rock delivery is primarily at the I-30/I-430 southwest side industrial corridor — the distribution centers cluster in that area for its freeway access.
At $2.05–$2.25/mile for 137 miles, this run grosses around $280–$308. That's not a revenue run — it's a positioning run with partial cost recovery. If you can find a direct shipper relationship with a Little Rock DC that needs consistent inbound from Memphis, volume can make it work. On the spot market, don't take this at anything below $2.10/mile without a guaranteed outbound from Little Rock.
Little Rock to Memphis has agricultural and industrial freight moving east, but the volume is thinner than the westbound. Plan your Little Rock outbound before you depart Memphis.
Is there any LTL opportunity that makes this lane more viable?
Yes, actually. If you can operate as a partial, picking up 2–3 LTL shipments from Memphis area DCs heading to different Little Rock receivers, the economics improve substantially. Check with regional LTL brokers in Memphis.
What's the bridge situation on I-40 over the Mississippi River?
Always check ARDOT before departure. The Hernando de Soto Bridge had a significant structural inspection closure in 2021. Commercial vehicles may be required to use the I-55 bridge at times — add that distance to your planning.
Where do most Little Rock freight deliveries land?
Southwest side of the city, I-30/I-430 interchange area. Walmart supplier DCs, regional grocery distribution, and industrial suppliers are all clustered in that southwest corridor.
Dispatch Service
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