Freight Shipping from San Francisco to Memphis
Ship freight from San Francisco, CA to Memphis, TN with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $5,029-$6,198, LTL from $1,486-$2,388. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
2,339 mi
Drive Time
43 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$5,029-$6,198
LTL Rate Est.
$1,486-$2,388
Industrial Freight Lane
San Francisco → Memphis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
72–87
running this lane
Weekly Loads
188–201
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
71/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$36–$60 one-way passing through CA, TN, IL, MO, OK, NM. 6 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.
San Francisco to Memphis Freight Corridor
San Francisco's freight economy is driven by the highest-value-per-pound commodities in the country. Biotech shipments from the South San Francisco corridor require validated cold chain logistics, while tech companies demand white-glove, high-security transport for prototype hardware and server equipment. The constrained geography of the peninsula limits warehouse space, pushing most distribution operations across the bay to Oakland or south to San Jose.
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 San Francisco-to-Memphis corridor spans 2,339 miles via I-80, US-101, I-40, I-55. This lane connects technology and biotechnology freight from the San Francisco 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 San Francisco
San Francisco's economy is driven by technology, biotechnology, financial services, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
tech hardware & servers
biotech pharmaceuticals
wine & spirits
specialty foods
medical devices
lab equipment
What Memphis Receives
Memphis's logistics & distribution (fedex), medical devices, agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like San Francisco.
e-commerce packages (FedEx)
consumer goods
raw cotton
steel & metals
petroleum products
agricultural inputs
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between San Francisco 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.
$5,029-$6,198 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.
$6,198-$7,836 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.
$6,666-$8,537 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$7,368-$9,941 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the San Francisco to Memphis lane (2,339 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $5,029-$6,198 | 43 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $1,486-$2,388 | 45-47 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $7,602-$10,526 | 28 hrs |
| Intermodal (Rail + Truck) | $3,158-$4,327 | 46-48 days |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both San Francisco and Memphis that drive volume on this lane.
Salesforce
Genentech
McKesson
FedEx (Global HQ & SuperHub)
Smith & Nephew
International Paper
Shipping Tips for San Francisco to Memphis
San Francisco Seasonal Advisory
Wine harvest (August-October) from Napa and Sonoma valleys creates seasonal reefer and temperature-controlled demand. Tech company product launches (often September-October) drive spikes in white-glove shipments.
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 2,339 miles, this route exceeds single-driver HOS limits. Team drivers can deliver in 43 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 San Francisco and Memphis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
San Francisco, CA
- Metro Population
- 4.7M metro
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.55-$2.95/mi
- Key Highways
- I-80, US-101, I-280
- Rail / Intermodal
- UP Oakland Intermodal
- Port Access
- Port of Oakland (10 mi)
- Warehouse Districts
- South San Francisco biotech corridor, Brisbane/Bayshore
“San Francisco proper has some of the most restrictive truck access regulations in the US. Many downtown deliveries require box trucks or smaller, and certain streets ban commercial vehicles entirely during peak hours. Last-mile costs here can be triple the national average.”
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 San Francisco 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
Mar-Oct (construction season)
+8-14% on flatbed
San Francisco to Memphis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from San Francisco to Memphis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from San Francisco, CA to Memphis, TN currently range $5,029-$6,198 (roughly $2.17-$2.65 per mile over 2,339 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $1,486-$2,388 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 San Francisco to Memphis?
Standard FTL transit from San Francisco to Memphis is approximately 43 hrs by truck over 2,339 miles, with 6 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 UP Oakland Intermodal to BNSF Memphis Intermodal takes 5-7 days but offers significant cost savings.
What equipment do I need for San Francisco to Memphis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. San Francisco commonly ships tech hardware & servers, biotech pharmaceuticals, wine & spirits, 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 San Francisco?
Strong backhaul (scored 71/100 based on Memphis's outbound commodity mix). Memphis generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to San Francisco 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 San Francisco to Memphis?
The San Francisco-to-Memphis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Industrial Freight Lane. San Francisco's top outbound commodities include tech hardware & servers, biotech pharmaceuticals, wine & spirits, specialty foods, medical devices, lab 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 technology and biotechnology from San Francisco and logistics & distribution (FedEx) and medical devices in Memphis.
What tolls should I expect on the San Francisco to Memphis route?
Expect roughly $36-$60 in tolls round-trip passing through CA, TN, IL, MO, OK, NM. 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 San Francisco to Memphis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to technology and biotechnology 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.
Should I use team drivers for the San Francisco to Memphis lane?
At 2,339 miles, this route exceeds a solo driver's hours-of-service limits and requires at least one 10-hour break, adding roughly 14-18 hours to transit. Team drivers typically deliver in 25-30 hours — nearly half the solo transit — at a 20-35% rate premium. For time-critical freight over 1,200 miles, teams generally pay for themselves.
Get Exact Rates for San Francisco to Memphis
We maintain working relationships with 72+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the San Francisco–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