Memphis, United States
Sea freight in Memphis
We book FCL and LCL sea freight for shippers and consignees in Memphis, via Inland rail ramps and Mississippi river port. Pre-carriage, on-carriage by road or rail and the customs entries are planned together with the ocean booking.
Airports, seaports and connections in Memphis
- AirportMemphis
MEM - SeaportInland rail ramps and Mississippi river port
Memphis International Airport (MEM) is one of the busiest cargo airports in the world, because it hosts the FedEx World Hub, the global headquarters hub of FedEx Express. Most of the airport's cargo volume is express traffic, while general freighter service is limited. Memphis has no ocean port; sea containers arrive by rail from the East, West and Gulf Coast ports. The city also has a port on the Mississippi River, which handles barge traffic for bulk goods and connects Memphis with New Orleans.
I-40 (east-west from the Atlantic to California) and I-55 (north-south from Chicago to New Orleans) cross in Memphis, with I-240 and I-269 as ring roads and I-22 to Birmingham. Memphis is served by five Class I railroads, which makes it a major rail and intermodal hub, and the Mississippi River adds a waterway connection.
Operational logistics facts for Memphis
| Hub | Specialisation | Local advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis International Airport (MEM) | Express hub operations | Express capacity for urgent shipments |
| Memphis orthopaedic device cluster | Implants, instruments and surgical kits | Time-critical medical shipments |
| Class I railroad hub | Rail containers from all US coasts | Inland delivery of sea freight to the Mid-South |
| I-40 / I-55 junction | Truck distribution across the US | Central location for nationwide distribution |
Industries in Memphis and how we support them
Memphis is a major centre for medical devices, especially orthopaedic implants and instruments, produced by several large manufacturers in the city. Its location, transport links and express hub have attracted large distribution centres for retail, healthcare and e-commerce. Agriculture, including cotton trading, is also part of the regional economy. We support these supply chains with air freight under our own air waybills, Next Flight Out for urgent instruments and implants, On-Board Courier for surgical kits and samples, and sea freight with rail delivery to Memphis. FDA and customs data is prepared before arrival.
From the port to your door in Memphis
We arrange collection of the container or the LCL cargo at Inland rail ramps and Mississippi river port, customs clearance and delivery to your site in the Memphis area. For exports we organise the pick-up and the delivery to the terminal before the cut-off.
Customs clearance in the United States
Ziem network
Customs clearance in the United States is handled by a partner team in the Ziem network, under the Ziem Logistics brand and to our procedures.
For air freight to and from the United States we issue our own air waybills.
Importers in the United States need an importer of record number and, for most formal entries, a customs bond.
Frequently asked questions
Which port is used for sea freight to and from Memphis?
Usually Inland rail ramps and Mississippi river port. Depending on the shipping line and the destination, another port can be faster or more economical; we compare the options when quoting.