Freight Shipping from Philadelphia to Memphis
Ship freight from Philadelphia, PA to Memphis, TN with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $2,457-$3,029, LTL from $829-$1,372. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
1,143 mi
Drive Time
21 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$2,457-$3,029
LTL Rate Est.
$829-$1,372
Industrial Freight Lane
Philadelphia → Memphis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
163–182
running this lane
Weekly Loads
230–245
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.16–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
62/100
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 PA, 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.
Philadelphia to Memphis Freight Corridor
Philadelphia commands the Delaware River waterfront with PhilaPort, the fastest-growing port on the East Coast and the nation's top import point for fresh fruit, cocoa beans, and forest products. The metro's pharmaceutical corridor — stretching from the Navy Yard to the western suburbs — houses major operations from GSK, AstraZeneca, and dozens of biotech firms generating high-value temperature-controlled freight. The I-95/I-76/New Jersey Turnpike interchange makes Philadelphia the Northeast's critical freight chokepoint.
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 Philadelphia-to-Memphis corridor spans 1,143 miles via I-95, I-76, I-40, I-55. This lane connects pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining freight from the Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia
Philadelphia's economy is driven by pharmaceuticals & biotech, petroleum refining, food processing, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
refined petroleum
pharmaceuticals
processed foods
chemicals
medical devices
containerized exports
What Memphis Receives
Memphis's logistics & distribution (fedex), medical devices, agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Philadelphia.
e-commerce packages (FedEx)
consumer goods
raw cotton
steel & metals
petroleum products
agricultural inputs
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Philadelphia 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.
$2,457-$3,029 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.
$3,029-$3,829 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.
$3,258-$4,172 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$3,600-$4,858 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Philadelphia to Memphis lane (1,143 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $2,457-$3,029 | 21 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $829-$1,372 | 23-25 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $3,715-$5,144 | 14 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,543-$2,115 | 24-26 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Philadelphia and Memphis that drive volume on this lane.
Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES)
Comcast (HQ)
Campbell Soup (Camden)
FedEx (Global HQ & SuperHub)
Smith & Nephew
International Paper
Shipping Tips for Philadelphia to Memphis
Philadelphia Seasonal Advisory
Fresh fruit imports peak January through April (Chilean fruit season). Pharmaceutical shipments maintain steady year-round volume with slight spikes during flu vaccine distribution (August-October). Holiday retail import surge hits September through November.
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 1,143 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 21 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 Philadelphia and Memphis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Philadelphia, PA
- Metro Population
- 6.2M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.55/mi
- Key Highways
- I-95, I-76, I-476
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Philadelphia Terminal; CSX Greenwich Yard; PhilaPort Packer Avenue Marine Terminal
- Port Access
- PhilaPort — Port of Philadelphia (Delaware River, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Northeast Philadelphia/I-95 Corridor, King of Prussia/I-76 West, South Jersey/I-295 (Camden-Gloucester)
“PhilaPort's concentration in perishable imports creates a natural reefer freight ecosystem — carriers delivering produce from Central and South America can backhaul pharmaceuticals and processed foods northbound on I-95 or westbound on I-76, maintaining cold chain both ways.”
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 Philadelphia 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
Philadelphia to Memphis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Philadelphia to Memphis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Philadelphia, PA to Memphis, TN currently range $2,457-$3,029 (roughly $2.16-$2.67 per mile over 1,143 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $829-$1,372 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 Philadelphia to Memphis?
Standard FTL transit from Philadelphia to Memphis is approximately 21 hrs by truck over 1,143 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 Norfolk Southern Philadelphia Terminal to BNSF Memphis Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Philadelphia to Memphis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Philadelphia commonly ships refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, 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 Philadelphia?
Moderate backhaul (scored 62/100 based on Memphis's outbound commodity mix). Backhaul from Memphis to Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia to Memphis?
The Philadelphia-to-Memphis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Philadelphia's top outbound commodities include refined petroleum, pharmaceuticals, processed foods, chemicals, medical devices, containerized exports. 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 pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining from Philadelphia and logistics & distribution (FedEx) and medical devices in Memphis.
What tolls should I expect on the Philadelphia to Memphis route?
Expect roughly $26-$44 in tolls round-trip passing through PA, 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 Philadelphia to Memphis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to pharmaceuticals & biotech and petroleum refining 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 Philadelphia to Memphis
We maintain working relationships with 163+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Philadelphia–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