In today’s global marketplace, business success is dependent upon access to new markets, to customers and partners, and to the latest information and technology. To be competitive, you need to be well-positioned.

Home to the world headquarters and world hub of FedEx and major UPS, DHL and U.S. Postal operations, Memphis is uniquely positioned to provide hassle-free access and the most cost effective distribution and logistics services in the nation. This is especially ideal for companies that rely on fast-cycle logistics to support their business model. The FedEx World Hub in Memphis is the centerpiece of the distribution and delivery operations across the globe.

Positioning an operations in close proximity to a FedEx global hub offers businesses exceptional access to the powerful FedEx network – and to new international commerce opportunities. It is also one of the only places in the world where packages dropped off as late as midnight can still be delivered around the world as soon as the next day.

Memphis is a city that was built around the railroads. Memphis can reach 45 states and Canada and Mexico by rail within 2 days and is one of only four cities in the U.S. to be served by 5 class I railroads. Single system shipment is available to all 48 contiguous states, Alaska, Mexico, and Canada. Access to rail is available 24/7 at nine intermodal yards throughout the Memphis metro. Home to five wide-span cranes, the intermodal yards have a lift capacity of more than 2 million TEUs annually.

Class-I Railroads Highlights: (alpha order)

1. BNSF Railway (BNSF) expanded its Tennessee Yard to 1,000,000 container lifts per year from 250,000. The expansion includes parking for more than 6,000 trucks, an automated inventory tracking system, five loading cranes and more.
2. Canadian National Railroad (CN) completed a $100 million expansion to its Harrison Yard with a new capacity of 3,100 freight cars with 45 tracks which allows it to handle 35 or more freight trains per day.
3. CSX Corporation (CSX) shares an intermodal yard with CN and operates intermodal and automobile distribution terminals in Memphis.
4. Norfolk Southern (NS) operates three intermodal tracks and provides stacking capabilities, on load and off load services and access 7 days per week.
5. Union Pacific (UP) operates its most eastern location in Memphis, connecting our city to the western United States and moving cotton, lumber, processed foods and more.

Geographically positioned as a gateway between cities in the eastern and western United States, Memphis serves as a major connection for many transcontinental truck shipments. Complementing its strategic positioning, nearly 900 miles of interstate and U.S. designated highways strengthen the movement of inbound of outbound goods.

Leveraging its sophisticated roadway infrastructure, inbound and outbound commodities distributed via roadway infrastructure amounted to nearly $350 billion in 2015, representing 83% of all freight flows value.

Major roadways within the Memphis MSA include I-55 which travels north-south providing connection to New Orleans to the south, St. Louis to the North, and continues to Chicago, US 78/ I-22 which connects the Region to the city of Birmingham to the south and I-40, connecting the east side of Tennessee including the cities of Knoxville, Nashville, and Jackson to the Greater Memphis region. In addition, I-40 connects the Greater Memphis region on the west to Little Rock, Oklahoma City, and continues to Mexico and the southern portion of California. I-240 loops around the City of Memphis connecting I-40 to I-55.

The Mississippi River serves as another alternative for shipping goods in barge loads or container on-barge operations. As a key regional asset, the Port of Memphis is a significant economic force supporting jobs and commerce across and the Mid-South region.

Strategically located between the Port of New Orleans and St. Louis, the Port of Memphis is the second largest port on the shallow draft portion of the Mississippi River and the 5th largest inland port in the United States, based on tonnage. The Port of Memphis offers 68 water fronted facilities, large crane capacity and ice-free harbors year round.