Freight Shipping from New York City to Memphis
Ship freight from New York City, NY to Memphis, TN with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,664-$3,283, LTL from $881-$1,453. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,239 mi
Drive Time
23 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,664-$3,283
LTL Rate Est.
$881-$1,453
Consumer Goods Corridor
New York City → Memphis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
122–147
running this lane
Weekly Loads
230–246
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
66/100
Moderate
High-demand corridor. Spot rates move quickly during peak weeks. Contract lanes typically lock in 8-12% below spot.
Toll Estimate
$26–$44 one-way passing through NY, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, SC, NC. 3 typical fuel stops 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.
New York City to Memphis Freight Corridor
New York City is the largest consumer freight market in the Western Hemisphere, with 20+ million metro residents requiring over 1 billion pounds of food per week alone. Hunts Point Market in the Bronx is the world's largest wholesale produce, meat, and fish distribution center. The city's extreme density, bridge and tunnel tolls, and strict delivery-hour regulations make NYC the most challenging — and highest-paying — last-mile delivery market in the country.
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 New York City-to-Memphis corridor spans 1,239 miles via I-95, I-278 (BQE), I-40, I-55. This lane connects financial services and media & publishing freight from the New York City 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 New York City
New York City's economy is driven by financial services, media & publishing, fashion & apparel, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
printed materials
fashion & apparel
financial documents
media equipment
recycled materials
food products
What Memphis Receives
Memphis's logistics & distribution (fedex), medical devices, agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like New York City.
e-commerce packages (FedEx)
consumer goods
raw cotton
steel & metals
petroleum products
agricultural inputs
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between New York City 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.
$2,664-$3,283 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.
$3,531-$4,522 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$3,903-$5,266 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.
$881-$1,453 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the New York City to Memphis lane (1,239 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,664-$3,283 | 23 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $881-$1,453 | 25-27 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $4,027-$5,576 | 15 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,673-$2,292 | 26-28 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both New York City and Memphis that drive volume on this lane.
Hunts Point Produce Market
FreshDirect
Amazon NYC Fulfillment
FedEx (Global HQ & SuperHub)
Smith & Nephew
International Paper
Shipping Tips for New York City to Memphis
New York City Seasonal Advisory
Holiday season (November-December) overwhelms the city's limited loading dock capacity, with delivery appointment wait times exceeding 6 hours at major retailers. Restaurant supply freight surges during summer outdoor dining season (May-September).
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.
Consider Team Drivers
At 1,239 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 23 hours without mandatory 10-hour rest breaks, cutting transit time nearly in half compared to a solo driver.
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 New York City and Memphis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
New York City, NY
- Metro Population
- 20.1M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.70-$3.20/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-278 (BQE), I-495 (LIE)
- Rail / Intermodal
- Howland Hook Marine Terminal (Staten Island); Red Hook Container Terminal (Brooklyn)
- Port Access
- Port of New York (multiple terminals across 5 boroughs)
- Warehouse Districts
- Hunts Point/South Bronx, Red Hook/Sunset Park (Brooklyn), Maspeth/Long Island City (Queens)
“NYC has some of the most restrictive commercial vehicle regulations in the nation — overnight delivery curfews, bridge height and weight limits, and mandatory off-peak delivery programs in Manhattan. Carriers who master these rules earn significant premiums, while those who don't face $500+ fines per violation.”
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 New York City 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
New York City to Memphis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from New York City to Memphis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from New York City, NY to Memphis, TN currently range $2,664-$3,283 (roughly $2.17-$2.66 per mile over 1,239 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $881-$1,453 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently tight 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 New York City to Memphis?
Standard FTL transit from New York City to Memphis is approximately 23 hrs by truck over 1,239 miles, with 3 typical fuel stops 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 Howland Hook Marine Terminal (Staten Island) to BNSF Memphis Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for New York City to Memphis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. New York City commonly ships printed materials, fashion & apparel, financial 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 New York City?
Moderate backhaul (scored 66/100 based on Memphis's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Memphis to New York City 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 New York City to Memphis?
The New York City-to-Memphis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. New York City's top outbound commodities include printed materials, fashion & apparel, financial documents, media equipment, recycled materials, food 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 financial services and media & publishing from New York City and logistics & distribution (FedEx) and medical devices in Memphis.
What tolls should I expect on the New York City to Memphis route?
Expect roughly $26-$44 in tolls round-trip passing through NY, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, SC, NC. Most rate quotes either include tolls in the line-haul or bill them as a separate pass-through — ask your dispatcher to confirm which model applies to your lane.
When are rates highest on the New York City to Memphis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to financial services and media & publishing 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 New York City to Memphis
We maintain working relationships with 122+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the New York City–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