Chicago to Nashville LTL Freight Rates
Real LTL costs, transit times and carriers for freight picked up in the Chicago metro and delivered in the Nashville metro, from 118 shipments.
What LTL shipping costs from Chicago to Nashville
These are the all-in rates Armstrong customers actually paid from Chicago to Nashville from September 2025 – August 2026, including fuel and any accessorials. The range is the middle 50% of shipments in each weight bracket, so a quarter paid less and a quarter paid more, mostly because of freight class, accessorials and timing.
| Shipment weight | Typical range | Median | Shipments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 500 lb | $195 – $300 | $255 | 40 |
| 500–999 lb | $295 – $455 | $320 | 36 |
| 1,000–2,499 lb | $320 – $575 | $400 | 23 |
Historical rates, rounded to $5, shown for budgeting only. They aren’t a quote: your price depends on exact ZIPs, freight class, pickup date and accessorials. See national pallet shipping costs for comparison.
Transit time and carriers from Chicago to Nashville
The median LTL shipment from Chicago to Nashville delivered in 1 business day after pickup, and 80% arrived within 2 business days (based on 116 delivered shipments). Standard LTL transit is an estimate, not a promise; if a delivery date matters, ask for a guaranteed service. More on how LTL transit times work.
No single carrier wins every shipment. AAA Cooper Transportation, XPO and Averitt Express moved 68% of the freight we arranged from Chicago to Nashville; the rest went to Central Transport and Estes Express Lines and other national and regional carriers, depending on which one priced each shipment best.
| Carrier | Share of shipments |
|---|---|
| AAA Cooper Transportation | 27% |
| XPO | 24% |
| Averitt Express | 17% |
| Central Transport | 12% |
| Estes Express Lines | 5% |
What ships from Chicago to Nashville
The median shipment weighed 780 lb at a median freight class of 85. The most common classes were class 70 (31%), class 250 (21%) and class 125 (8%). Lighter, bulkier freight rates in higher classes and costs more per pound, which is why measuring density before you quote matters.
By type of shipper, the biggest groups were industrial machinery & equipment (37%), plastics & packaging (30%) and chemicals & consumer products (27%), among shipments where the shipper’s industry is known.
About this lane
Illinois is the rail and trucking crossroads of the Midwest. The Chicago area, including the I-55 and I-80 warehouse corridors near Joliet, is one of the densest LTL markets anywhere, with many carrier terminals and strong competition.
Tennessee is home to Memphis, one of the country's biggest distribution hubs, and Nashville on I-40, I-24 and I-65. Its central location puts much of the eastern U.S. within one or two days by truck.
Metro areas here are defined by ZIP code prefix, so Chicago includes surrounding suburbs and industrial areas. Rates between two specific ZIPs can differ from the metro-wide range, which is why a live quote across 50+ carriers is the only way to know your price.
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Get my free rates →Frequently asked questions
How much does LTL shipping cost from Chicago to Nashville?
For a 500–999 lb shipment from Chicago to Nashville, the middle half of Armstrong customers paid $295 to $455 all-in, median $320 (September 2025 – August 2026). Class, accessorials and exact ZIPs move the price; get a quote for your shipment.
How long does LTL freight take from Chicago to Nashville?
The median shipment from Chicago to Nashville delivered 1 business day after pickup, and 80% arrived within 2 business days.
Which carriers ship LTL from Chicago to Nashville?
On freight Armstrong arranged from Chicago to Nashville, the most-used carriers were AAA Cooper Transportation, XPO, Averitt Express and Central Transport. The best-priced carrier changes shipment by shipment.
Related
Figures are from LTL freight arranged through the Armstrong Transport Group network, September 2025 – August 2026, for pickups and deliveries within each metro’s ZIP-code area. Price ranges are the middle 50% of all-in paid rates, rounded to $5, for budgeting only. See our data methodology.