Freight Shipping from St. Petersburg to Memphis
Ship freight from St. Petersburg, FL to Memphis, TN with FMCSA-verified carriers. FTL from $1,875-$2,311, LTL from $680-$1,141. No hidden fees, no re-bills.
Distance
872 mi
Drive Time
16 hrs
FTL Rate Est.
$1,875-$2,311
LTL Rate Est.
$680-$1,141
Port Drayage Corridor
St. Petersburg → Memphis Lane Market Snapshot
Active Carriers
138–153
running this lane
Weekly Loads
190–211
typical volume
Rate / Mile
$2.17–$2.65
dry van spot
Backhaul Score
70/100
Strong
Steady carrier availability year-round. Expect stable pricing with 5-8% swings during seasonal peaks.
Toll Estimate
$10–$16 one-way passing through FL, TN, GA, 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.
St. Petersburg to Memphis Freight Corridor
St. Petersburg sits on a peninsula between Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, creating unique freight logistics challenges since all truck traffic must cross bridges to reach the mainland. Despite this geographic constraint, the city has built a significant healthcare and technology freight base. HSN's major fulfillment operations generate steady e-commerce freight, while Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital drives medical supply distribution. The city's growing tech sector and marine science cluster at the NOAA campus produce specialized research equipment and data center freight.
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 St. Petersburg-to-Memphis corridor spans 872 miles via I-275, I-175, I-40, I-55. This lane connects healthcare and financial services freight from the St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg's economy is driven by healthcare, financial services, marine sciences, generating consistent outbound freight demand.
medical devices
marine research equipment
processed foods
financial services documents
recycled materials
craft beverages
What Memphis Receives
Memphis's logistics & distribution (fedex), medical devices, agriculture sectors drive strong inbound freight demand from markets like St. Petersburg.
e-commerce packages (FedEx)
consumer goods
raw cotton
steel & metals
petroleum products
agricultural inputs
Recommended Equipment
Based on the commodities moving between St. Petersburg 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.
$1,875-$2,311 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.
$2,311-$2,921 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.
$2,485-$3,183 estimated for this lane
Tanker / Hazmat
Specialized equipment for liquid chemicals, petroleum products, and hazardous materials. Requires hazmat-endorsed drivers and placarding compliance.
$2,747-$3,706 estimated for this lane
Rate Estimates by Shipping Mode
Estimated rates for the St. Petersburg to Memphis lane (872 miles). Actual rates depend on commodity, weight, season, and equipment.
| Mode | Rate Estimate | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| FTL (Full Truckload) | $1,875-$2,311 | 16 hrs |
| LTL (Less Than Truckload) | $680-$1,141 | 18-20 days |
| Expedited / Hot Shot | $2,834-$3,924 | 11 hrs |
Major Shippers on This Corridor
Key freight generators in both St. Petersburg and Memphis that drive volume on this lane.
Jabil Inc. (nearby HQ)
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Home Shopping Network (HSN, St. Pete)
FedEx (Global HQ & SuperHub)
Smith & Nephew
International Paper
Shipping Tips for St. Petersburg to Memphis
St. Petersburg Seasonal Advisory
Snowbird season (November-April) swells the population and drives consumer goods demand. Tourism peaks around spring break and summer. HSN fulfillment runs year-round with Q4 holiday peaks. Hurricane season (June-November) creates pre-storm surge freight and post-storm recovery demand.
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 872-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 St. Petersburg and Memphis — the warehouses, rail terminals, and highway spines that shape rates on this lane.
Origin
St. Petersburg, FL
- Metro Population
- 265K city (Tampa Bay metro 3.2M)
- Avg Outbound Rate
- $2.15-$2.50/mi
- Key Highways
- I-275, I-175, US-19
- Port Access
- Port of St. Petersburg (Tampa Bay, limited)
- Warehouse Districts
- Gateway/I-275 North, Pinellas Park/US-19, 34th Street Industrial Corridor
“St. Petersburg's peninsula geography means carriers face bridge congestion on I-275 and the Howard Frankland Bridge during peak hours. Experienced operators schedule pickups and deliveries for early morning or midday to avoid the Tampa Bay commuter crush that can add 60-90 minutes to bridge crossings.”
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 St. Petersburg 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
St. Petersburg to Memphis Freight FAQs
How much does it cost to ship freight from St. Petersburg to Memphis?
Full truckload (FTL) rates from St. Petersburg, FL to Memphis, TN currently range $1,875-$2,311 (roughly $2.17-$2.65 per mile over 872 miles). LTL shipments typically cost $680-$1,141 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 St. Petersburg to Memphis?
Standard FTL transit from St. Petersburg to Memphis is approximately 16 hrs by truck over 872 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%.
What equipment do I need for St. Petersburg to Memphis freight?
Equipment choice depends on your commodity. St. Petersburg commonly ships medical devices, marine research equipment, 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 St. Petersburg?
Strong backhaul (scored 70/100 based on Memphis's outbound commodity mix). Memphis generates consistent outbound volume. Backhaul to St. Petersburg 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 St. Petersburg to Memphis?
The St. Petersburg-to-Memphis corridor handles a diverse freight mix — freight brokers often call this the Port Drayage Corridor. St. Petersburg's top outbound commodities include medical devices, marine research equipment, processed foods, financial services documents, recycled materials, craft beverages. 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 healthcare and financial services from St. Petersburg and logistics & distribution (FedEx) and medical devices in Memphis.
When are rates highest on the St. Petersburg to Memphis lane?
This lane's rate cycle is tied to healthcare and financial services 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 St. Petersburg to Memphis
We maintain working relationships with 138+ FMCSA-verified carriers running the St. Petersburg–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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