Freight Shipping from Memphis to Tulsa
Ship freight from Memphis, TN to Tulsa, OK with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $952-$1,174, LTL from $444-$777. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
443 mi
Drive Time
8 hrs
FTL Budget Range
$952-$1,174
LTL Budget Range
$444-$777
Distance is road-adjusted straight-line mileage; drive time assumes 55 mph average including stops. Budget ranges apply a $2.15–$2.65 per-mile dry van band to that distance. These are planning figures, not quotes — live pricing depends on your commodity, equipment, timing and the market that week.
What actually drives the price on Memphis → Tulsa
Mileage is the starting point, not the answer. Three things move a quote on this corridor more than distance does — what comes back the other way, what season you are shipping in, and what the route costs the driver to run.
Return freight — strong
Tulsa ships out aircraft components, refined fuels, steel pipe & fittings — categories Memphis takes in — so a truck running this lane has a realistic shot at a paying return load rather than deadheading. That usually shows up as a slightly better forward rate, because the carrier is not pricing an empty trip back into your quote.
Seasonal pressure
- July. Most auto plants take summer shutdown, so parts freight on this corridor drops off predictably for a few weeks and capacity loosens with it.
- March-October. Construction season. Flatbed and step-deck demand climbs with the building calendar and stays elevated until the first hard freeze.
Cost of running it
Roughly $5–$8 in tolls one way, estimated from published commercial rates in TN, OK, MO, plus about 1 fuel stop at a stop per 380 loaded miles. Exact routing and axle count will shift this.
Booking that saves money
Give more than 48 hours notice and avoid Friday-afternoon pickups. Those two habits save shippers more than negotiating does — a truck booked Tuesday for Thursday prices very differently from the same truck booked Friday morning for that afternoon.
Memphis to Tulsa Freight Corridor
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.
Tulsa is the aerospace maintenance capital of the central U.S., with American Airlines operating its largest MRO facility here — capable of servicing widebody aircraft. The Port of Catoosa, America's most inland river port, connects Tulsa to the Gulf of Mexico via the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, enabling barge-to-truck transloading for heavy industrial freight. The city's legacy oil refining infrastructure creates steady tanker and hazmat volumes.
The Memphis-to-Tulsa corridor spans 443 miles via I-40, I-55, I-44, US-75. This lane connects logistics & distribution (fedex) and medical devices freight from the Memphis market to aerospace manufacturing and energy demand in Tulsa. Carriers running this route regularly maintain competitive rates through strong backhaul availability in both directions.
What Ships from Memphis
Memphis's economy is driven by logistics & distribution (fedex), medical devices, agriculture, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
e-commerce packages (FedEx)
medical devices
cotton
lumber
processed foods
automotive parts
What Tulsa Receives
Tulsa's aerospace manufacturing, energy, steel fabrication sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Memphis.
crude oil
raw steel
aircraft sub-assemblies
chemicals
electronic components
packaging materials
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Memphis and Tulsa, 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.
$952-$1,174 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.
$1,263-$1,617 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$1,395-$1,883 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.
$444-$777 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Memphis to Tulsa lane (443 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $952-$1,174 | 8 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $444-$777 | 10-12 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,440-$1,994 | 5 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Memphis and Tulsa that drive volume on this lane.
FedEx (Global HQ & SuperHub)
Smith & Nephew
International Paper
American Airlines Maintenance Base
NORDAM Group
Holly Frontier Refining
Shipping Tips for Memphis to Tulsa
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.
Tulsa Seasonal Advisory
Aerospace MRO work peaks during winter when airlines pull aircraft from service for heavy maintenance checks. Refinery output is steady but turnaround seasons (spring and fall) temporarily reduce outbound tanker volumes while increasing inbound equipment freight.
Same-Day Delivery Possible
At 443 miles, a single driver can complete this route within a standard driving window. Expedited same-day service is available for time-critical shipments at a premium.
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 Memphis and Tulsa — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
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.”
Destination
Tulsa, OK
- Metro Population
- 1.0M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.45/mi
- Key Highways
- I-44, US-75, US-169
- Rail / Intermodal
- Tulsa Port of Catoosa (McClellan-Kerr Waterway)
- Port Access
- Port of Catoosa (McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System, 7 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Broken Arrow/US-169 South, Catoosa/Port Industrial Park, Tulsa International Airport Area
“The Port of Catoosa handles oversized cargo that can't move efficiently by highway alone — wind turbine components, industrial boilers, and heavy machinery arrive by barge and transfer to specialized heavy-haul carriers for final-mile delivery across the region.”
Return Loads from Tulsa
Tulsa ships out aircraft components, refined fuels, steel pipe & fittings — categories Memphis takes in — so a truck running this lane has a realistic shot at a paying return load rather than deadheading. That usually shows up as a slightly better forward rate, because the carrier is not pricing an empty trip back into your quote.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Tulsa
Seasonal Rate Patterns
July
Most auto plants take summer shutdown, so parts freight on this corridor drops off predictably for a few weeks and capacity loosens with it.
March-October
Construction season. Flatbed and step-deck demand climbs with the building calendar and stays elevated until the first hard freeze.
Memphis to Tulsa Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Memphis to Tulsa?
As a planning figure, budget $952-$1,174 for a full truckload from Memphis, TN to Tulsa, OK. That is the 443-mile lane distance run against a $2.15-$2.65 per-mile dry van range, which is a broad industry band rather than a live quote for your freight. LTL lands roughly $444-$777 depending on freight class, weight and dimensions. Real pricing moves with fuel, season, equipment type and how much notice you give — a lane like this can quote well outside that band in a tight week. Send us the details and we will price it against what carriers are actually accepting right now.
How long does freight take from Memphis to Tulsa?
Standard FTL transit from Memphis to Tulsa is approximately 8 hrs by truck over 443 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%.
What equipment do I need for Memphis to Tulsa freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Memphis commonly ships e-commerce packages (FedEx), medical devices, cotton, which typically moves in standard dry van trailers. Tulsa commonly receives crude oil, raw steel, aircraft sub-assemblies. Our team matches you with the right equipment type for your specific freight.
Is there good backhaul from Tulsa to Memphis?
Tulsa ships out aircraft components, refined fuels, steel pipe & fittings — categories Memphis takes in — so a truck running this lane has a realistic shot at a paying return load rather than deadheading. That usually shows up as a slightly better forward rate, because the carrier is not pricing an empty trip back into your quote. Why it matters to you as a shipper: backhaul is the single least visible input into your rate. Two lanes of identical mileage can quote hundreds of dollars apart purely because one has a return load waiting and the other does not.
What commodities move from Memphis to Tulsa?
Memphis's top outbound commodities include e-commerce packages (FedEx), medical devices, cotton, lumber, processed foods, automotive parts. Tulsa's primary inbound freight includes crude oil, raw steel, aircraft sub-assemblies, chemicals, electronic components, packaging materials. The industries driving the lane are logistics & distribution (FedEx) and medical devices on the Memphis end and aerospace manufacturing and energy in Tulsa. That mix is what determines which trailer types run the corridor regularly — and a lane with steady demand for your equipment type is one where you will find a truck on short notice.
When are rates highest on the Memphis to Tulsa lane?
Rate pressure on this corridor follows the logistics & distribution (FedEx) and medical devices calendar. July: Most auto plants take summer shutdown, so parts freight on this corridor drops off predictably for a few weeks and capacity loosens with it. March-October: Construction season. Flatbed and step-deck demand climbs with the building calendar and stays elevated until the first hard freeze. Two habits that help regardless of season — book mid-week rather than Friday afternoon, and give more than 48 hours notice. Last-minute Friday pickups are where shippers overpay most consistently.
Get Exact Rates for Memphis to Tulsa
Tell us what you are moving on the Memphis–Tulsa corridor and we will source an FMCSA-verified carrier that fits the commodity, the timing and the budget. We check authority, insurance and safety record before a truck is ever assigned to your freight. Free quote, no obligation.
Mon-Fri 7AM-7PM CT | No obligation, no contracts