How container drayage works in Memphis
Memphis has more rail options than almost any city outside Chicago: five Class I railroads and four big intermodal ramps on both sides of the Mississippi. Containers come from every coast, and many are transloaded and redistributed nationwide.
- Rail ramps
- BNSF Tennessee Yard, NS Rossville, UP Marion (AR), CN/CSX Gateway
- Warehouses
- DeSoto (MS), Shelby and Fayette (TN), Crittenden (AR)
- Watch for
- Daily Mississippi River bridge crossings
- Also
- FedEx's world hub at Memphis International
More about drayage in Memphis
Memphis has more rail options than almost any city outside Chicago. BNSF's Memphis Intermodal Facility at Tennessee Yard was rebuilt in a $200 million project and has capacity for about one million lifts a year.
Norfolk Southern opened its Memphis Regional Intermodal Facility in Rossville, east of the city, in 2012 on more than 400 acres with capacity for over 327,000 units, and also handles containers at Forrest Yard. Union Pacific runs a terminal across the river in Marion, Arkansas, and CN and CSX jointly operate Intermodal Gateway Memphis, opened in 2005 inside the Port of Memphis' Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park.
Together these ramps connect Memphis with every coast: West Coast ports via BNSF and UP, East Coast ports via Norfolk Southern and CSX, the Gulf and Canada via CN. Containers that arrive by rail are delivered to warehouses, and many are transloaded and redistributed by truck across the country.
Local drayage carriers serve DeSoto County in Mississippi, Shelby and Fayette counties in Tennessee, and Crittenden County in Arkansas. Crossing the Mississippi River bridges to reach Marion and other Arkansas sites is a daily part of the job.
4
Rail ramps
Railroads
BNSF · Norfolk Southern · Union Pacific · CN · CSX
Main highways
I-40 · I-55 · I-22 · I-240 · I-269 · US-78 / Lamar Avenue
Container terminals and rail ramps in Memphis
Where containers are picked up and returned in the Memphis area.
Rail ramp
Memphis Intermodal Facility (Tennessee Yard)
Rail ramp · BNSF
Rebuilt in a $200 million project to about one million lifts a year; BNSF's main Memphis hub.
Memphis Regional Intermodal Facility (Rossville)
Rail ramp · Norfolk Southern
Opened 2012 east of Memphis on more than 400 acres, capacity over 327,000 containers and trailers a year.
Marion Intermodal Terminal
Rail ramp · Union Pacific
Union Pacific terminal across the Mississippi in Marion, Arkansas.
Intermodal Gateway Memphis
Rail ramp · CN / CSX
Opened 2005 in the Port of Memphis' Frank C. Pidgeon Industrial Park and operated jointly by CN and CSX.
Warehouses, FedEx and the I-40/I-55 crossroads
FedEx's world hub at Memphis International Airport and the city's position on Interstates 40, 55 and 22 have made Memphis a top location for national distribution centers. Major warehouse districts include Southaven and Olive Branch in DeSoto County, Mississippi, the Lamar Avenue corridor, Airways and the airport area, and Marion and West Memphis in Arkansas.
Lamar Avenue, which links the BNSF and NS terminals with DeSoto County, is one of the busiest truck corridors in the region and has been the focus of road improvements. Because so many warehouses are close to the ramps, many drayage moves are short, but bridge traffic and road construction can add time.
Agriculture, river freight and exports
Memphis is a hub for cotton, soybeans, rice and other farm products from the Mid-South. Many are exported in containers that are loaded at warehouses and railed to coastal ports. The Mississippi River carries barge traffic, mainly bulk, and the Port of Memphis is one of the largest inland ports on the river. Empty container repositioning to Memphis creates opportunities for exporters to load boxes that would otherwise return empty.
Weather and river crossings
Memphis has hot, humid summers and occasional winter ice storms that can shut down roads. Severe thunderstorms and tornadoes also affect the region in spring.
The Hernando de Soto Bridge (I-40) and the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge (I-55) carry heavy truck traffic. When the I-40 bridge was closed for repairs in 2021, traffic shifted to I-55, showing how important these crossings are. River flooding can affect low-lying industrial areas and roads near the Mississippi.
Common lanes out of Memphis
Approximate one-way highway miles for the runs local carriers quote most often.
West Memphis / Marion, AR
Arkansas warehouses and UP's Marion ramp.
15 mi
Southaven / Olive Branch, MS
DeSoto County distribution centers.
20 mi
Jackson, TN
West Tennessee via I-40.
85 mi
Little Rock
Arkansas via I-40.
135 mi
Nashville
Middle Tennessee via I-40.
210 mi
Jackson, MS
Central Mississippi via I-55.
210 mi
Booking drayage in Memphis: what to know
Local habits that change the price and timing of a move in Memphis. Mention them when you ask for a quote.
Identify the railroad and ramp
Memphis has terminals for BNSF, NS, UP and CN/CSX. Confirm the right one before dispatch.
Plan river crossings
Arkansas pickups and deliveries depend on the I-40 and I-55 bridges. Allow extra time at peak hours.
Use empties for exports
Repositioned empty containers in Memphis can be loaded with Mid-South agricultural exports.
Watch for ice storms
Winter ice can shut down roads. Keep flexibility in December through February.
Drayage markets near Memphis
Many carriers that serve Memphis also run these nearby ports and rail ramps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about container drayage in Memphis, TN.