Freight Shipping from Oklahoma City to Memphis
Ship freight from Oklahoma City, OK to Memphis, TN with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,178-$1,452, LTL from $501-$866. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
548 mi
Drive Time
10 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,178-$1,452
LTL Rate Est.
$501-$866
Consumer Goods Corridor
Oklahoma City → Memphis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
152–175
running this lane
Weekly Loads
189–205
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.66
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
63/100
Moderate
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$6–$10 one-way passing through OK, TN. 1 typical fuel stop 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.
Oklahoma City to Memphis Freight Corridor
Oklahoma City sits at the junction of three major interstates — I-35, I-40, and I-44 — creating a natural crossroads for north-south and east-west freight flows across the Southern Plains. Tinker Air Force Base is the city's largest employer and drives a significant volume of defense logistics. The metro's oil and gas sector, led by Devon Energy and Continental Resources, generates heavy oilfield equipment moves that keep flatbed carriers busy year-round.
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 Oklahoma City-to-Memphis corridor spans 548 miles via I-40. This lane connects oil & gas and aerospace & defense freight from the Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City's economy is driven by oil & gas, aerospace & defense, agriculture, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
petroleum products
natural gas equipment
cattle & beef
wheat & grain
aerospace components
oilfield equipment
What Memphis Receives
Memphis's logistics & distribution (fedex), medical devices, agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Oklahoma City.
e-commerce packages (FedEx)
consumer goods
raw cotton
steel & metals
petroleum products
agricultural inputs
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Oklahoma 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.
$1,178-$1,452 estimated for this lane
Refrigerated (Reefer)
Required for temperature-sensitive freight including fresh produce, dairy, frozen foods, pharmaceuticals, and beverages. Maintains precise temperature control throughout transit.
$1,452-$1,836 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.
$1,562-$2,000 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$1,726-$2,329 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Oklahoma City to Memphis lane (548 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,178-$1,452 | 10 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $501-$866 | 12-14 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $1,781-$2,466 | 7 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $740-$1,014 | 13-15 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Oklahoma City and Memphis that drive volume on this lane.
Tinker Air Force Base
Continental Resources
Devon Energy
FedEx (Global HQ & SuperHub)
Smith & Nephew
International Paper
Shipping Tips for Oklahoma City to Memphis
Oklahoma City Seasonal Advisory
Oilfield freight fluctuates with WTI crude prices — when prices climb above $70/bbl, drilling activity and equipment moves surge. Wheat harvest (June-July) drives seasonal grain hauling demand across western Oklahoma.
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.
Overnight Transit
This 548-mile route typically requires one overnight stop for a solo driver. Schedule pickup before noon for next-day delivery in most cases.
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 Oklahoma City and Memphis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Oklahoma City, OK
- Metro Population
- 1.4M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-35, I-40, I-44
- Rail / Intermodal
- BNSF Oklahoma City Intermodal; Union Pacific Oklahoma City Yard
- Warehouse Districts
- Will Rogers World Airport/I-44 South, Midwest City/Tinker AFB Area, I-35/I-240 Junction
“OKC's position as the midpoint of I-40 between the West Coast and Memphis makes it a critical relay and fuel stop for coast-to-coast carriers. Love's Travel Stops, headquartered here, operates the nation's largest truck stop network — and their own distribution freight out of OKC is a consistent load source.”
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 Oklahoma 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
Oklahoma City to Memphis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Oklahoma City to Memphis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Oklahoma City, OK to Memphis, TN currently range $1,178-$1,452 (roughly $2.16-$2.66 per mile over 548 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $501-$866 depending on freight class, weight, and dimensions. Capacity is currently balanced 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 Oklahoma City to Memphis?
Standard FTL transit from Oklahoma City to Memphis is approximately 10 hrs by truck over 548 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%. Intermodal rail-truck service via BNSF Oklahoma City Intermodal to BNSF Memphis Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Oklahoma City to Memphis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Oklahoma City commonly ships petroleum products, natural gas equipment, cattle & beef, 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 Oklahoma City?
Moderate backhaul (scored 63/100 based on Memphis's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Memphis to Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma City to Memphis?
The Oklahoma City-to-Memphis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Consumer Goods Corridor. Oklahoma City's top outbound commodities include petroleum products, natural gas equipment, cattle & beef, wheat & grain, aerospace components, oilfield equipment. 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 oil & gas and aerospace & defense from Oklahoma City and logistics & distribution (FedEx) and medical devices in Memphis.
When are rates highest on the Oklahoma City to Memphis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to oil & gas and aerospace & defense 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 Oklahoma City to Memphis
We maintain working relationships with 152+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Oklahoma 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