Freight Shipping from Pittsburgh to Memphis
Ship freight from Pittsburgh, PA to Memphis, TN with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,843-$2,271, LTL from $671-$1,128. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
857 mi
Drive Time
16 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,843-$2,271
LTL Rate Est.
$671-$1,128
Industrial Freight Lane
Pittsburgh → Memphis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
139–156
running this lane
Weekly Loads
189–204
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.67
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
72/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$20–$33 one-way passing through PA, TN, KY, VA, OH, IN, IL, MO, SC, NC. 2 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.
Pittsburgh to Memphis Freight Corridor
Pittsburgh has reinvented itself from bulk steel to high-tech manufacturing, but freight still flows heavy from this river city. U.S. Steel and PPG Industries maintain headquarters here, and the three-river confluence creates the nation's second-busiest inland port by tonnage. The emerging autonomous vehicle corridor — Aurora, Argo AI, and Carnegie Mellon's robotics spinoffs — adds a new class of high-value, specialized freight moving between testing facilities and manufacturing partners.
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 Pittsburgh-to-Memphis corridor spans 857 miles via I-76, I-79, I-40, I-55. This lane connects advanced manufacturing and robotics & ai freight from the Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh's economy is driven by advanced manufacturing, robotics & ai, healthcare, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
specialty steel
industrial equipment
medical devices
autonomous vehicle components
glass products
chemicals
What Memphis Receives
Memphis's logistics & distribution (fedex), medical devices, agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like Pittsburgh.
e-commerce packages (FedEx)
consumer goods
raw cotton
steel & metals
petroleum products
agricultural inputs
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between Pittsburgh 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.
$1,843-$2,271 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.
$2,442-$3,128 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,700-$3,642 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.
$671-$1,128 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the Pittsburgh to Memphis lane (857 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,843-$2,271 | 16 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $671-$1,128 | 18-20 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,785-$3,857 | 10 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $1,157-$1,585 | 19-21 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both Pittsburgh and Memphis that drive volume on this lane.
U.S. Steel (HQ)
PPG Industries (HQ)
UPMC Health System
FedEx (Global HQ & SuperHub)
Smith & Nephew
International Paper
Shipping Tips for Pittsburgh to Memphis
Pittsburgh Seasonal Advisory
Construction season (April-November) drives the strongest demand for steel and building materials freight. Natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region generates year-round oilfield equipment moves, with spikes when new wells are permitted.
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 857-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 Pittsburgh and Memphis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
Pittsburgh, PA
- Metro Population
- 2.4M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.10-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-76, I-79, I-376
- Rail / Intermodal
- Norfolk Southern Pitcairn Intermodal; CSX McKees Rocks Yard
- Port Access
- Port of Pittsburgh (Ohio/Allegheny/Monongahela Rivers, 0 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- Findlay Township/I-376 Airport Corridor, Cranberry Township/I-79 North, Monroeville/I-76 East
“Pittsburgh's river system handles 30+ million tons of barge freight annually, primarily coal, aggregates, and chemicals. Carriers who serve the transloading facilities along the Mon Valley can access heavy-haul loads that are impossible to source from traditional load boards.”
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
Memphis generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Pittsburgh is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate.
Top Backhaul Commodities from Memphis
Seasonal Rate Patterns
Oct-Dec (retail peak)
+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out
Jul (auto shutdown)
-8-12% available capacity, predictable
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
Pittsburgh to Memphis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from Pittsburgh to Memphis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from Pittsburgh, PA to Memphis, TN currently range $1,843-$2,271 (roughly $2.17-$2.67 per mile over 857 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $671-$1,128 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 Pittsburgh to Memphis?
Standard FTL transit from Pittsburgh to Memphis is approximately 16 hrs by truck over 857 miles, with 2 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 Pitcairn Intermodal to BNSF Memphis Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for Pittsburgh to Memphis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. Pittsburgh commonly ships specialty steel, industrial equipment, medical devices, 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 Pittsburgh?
Strong backhaul (scored 72/100 based on Memphis's outbound commodity mix). Memphis generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to Pittsburgh is generally available within 2-3 days at 65-78% of forward rate. 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 Pittsburgh to Memphis?
The Pittsburgh-to-Memphis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. Pittsburgh's top outbound commodities include specialty steel, industrial equipment, medical devices, autonomous vehicle components, glass products, chemicals. 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 advanced manufacturing and robotics & AI from Pittsburgh and logistics & distribution (FedEx) and medical devices in Memphis.
When are rates highest on the Pittsburgh to Memphis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to advanced manufacturing and robotics & AI cycles. Key periods: Oct-Dec (retail peak) (+15-22% on dry van, book 2+ weeks out); Jul (auto shutdown) (-8-12% available capacity, predictable); 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 Pittsburgh to Memphis
We maintain working relationships with 139+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the Pittsburgh–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.
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