Minneapolis Freight Shipping
Learn more about shipping freight to and from Minneapolis, including information on the city's major ports, terminals, and other freight shipping services, and discover the most competitive freight shipping rates available. FreightCenter provides top solutions for all your logistics needs.
Shipping freight to or from Minneapolis is a breeze with FreightCenter. We make navigating the city’s freight landscape easy by offering instant quotes from top carriers, competitive rates, and a straightforward booking process. Whether you’re moving intermodal, LTL, truckload, or rail freight, our extensive network and expert support ensure your cargo moves smoothly and affordably. No matter your shipping needs in Minneapolis, FreightCenter delivers tailored solutions to keep your business running efficiently.
Minneapolis Freight Shipping
Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the state's most populous city and is part of the Twin Cities, a metropolitan area made up of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, the state's capital. Surrounded by 13 lakes and sitting on the Mississippi River, the city's location near Saint Anthony Falls (the only natural waterfall on the river) allowed it to become a major flour milling and lumber powerhouse. Today, the city is home to several food, retail and manufacturing giants, as well as important locations like the University of Minnesota's main campus and the First Avenue Nightclub, a favorite for Minneapolis-born artist Prince.
The logistics and transportation industry in Minneapolis extends out into the Twin Cities area. The Port of St Paul, located east of Minneapolis, handles the area's agriculture and manufactured goods and imports oil and energy supplies. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Saint Paul handles cargo from UPS, FedEx, and Amazon, as well as cargo from commercial airlines. Minneapolis does have many highways and freeways throughout the city; truck carriers do face the difficulties of driving through the city's snowy winters, but otherwise are fully capable of navigating its roads quickly and efficiently. There are also four major railroads that cut through the city, along with many private rail yards and terminals that allow for intermodal and multimodal services.
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Telephones and telephone parts
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Base metals, like zinc, copper or tin
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Cereal grains, like wheat, oats, rice and corn
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Oil and petroleum products
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Minerals
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Gravel and Stone
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Machinery
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Motorized vehicles and auto parts
Minneapolis is known for its imports, making around $15.2 billion in imports in 2023. The city mainly imports from Canada, France, China, Italy, and Germany, while it exports primarily to the Netherlands, Canada, Ireland, Japan, and the United Kingdom.
Minneapolis has become an essential major manufacturing, financial, and trading center in the Upper Midwest United States. Five Fortune 500 companies are headquartered in the city: Target, U.S. Bancorp, Xcel Energy, Ameriprise Financial, and Thrivent. Aside from those, other major companies have settled into the city and the surrounding metro area for its location along the Mississippi River and for its proximity to many food, manufacturing, retail, and lumber industries.
Listed below are companies headquartered in Minneapolis:
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Xcel Energy, Inc. provides electric utilities and delivers natural gas throughout the Upper Midwest and Southwest United States.
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Target Corporation offers a chain of discount department stores and supermarkets and is one of the largest American-owned private employers in the nation. It is a Fortune 500 company.
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U.S. Bancorp is an American bank holding company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is the parent company of the U.S. Bank National Association.
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Valspar manufactures paints and coatings for home and business decorating.
These companies are crucial to driving the city’s economy, as most are involved in developing and distributing major imports and exports. As the city continues to embrace new infrastructures and industries, its status as a logistics powerhouse will also continue to rise.
Freight Shipping Rates To Any City
Shipping from city to city can be challenging. But it doesn’t have to be if you work with FreightCenter. We’re a 3PL dedicated to enhancing your shipping experience. We’ll find reputable carriers in your metropolitan area from our extensive network of over 50 shipping companies.
No matter where your freight is shipping to or from, Enjoy reliable, cost-effective freight services with easy booking and tracking tools. FreightCenter knows how to ship freight right!
Call us at (800) 716-7608, or use our free online quote tool to find and compare rates to and from any city in North America!
FreightCenter’s vast network of carriers includes companies servicing the Houston metro area. We connect customers to reputable trucking carriers, finding the right one for your shipping needs. Some of FreightCenter’s partnered freight shipping companies include:
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ABF Freight
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ArcBest
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Bolt Express
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Central Transport
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CRST
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Daylight Transport
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Dayton Freight Lines
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Estes Express Lines
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Estes Forwarding Worldwide
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FedEx Freight
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Forward Air
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Frontline Freight
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HNRY Logistics
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Holland
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Keyboard Motorcycle
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Lynden
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Old Dominion Freight Line
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Panther Premium Logistics
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Pilot Freight
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Pitt Ohio
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R+L Carriers
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Roadrunner Transportation Systems
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SAIA
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TForce Freight
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UPack
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UPS Freight (now TForce Freight)
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XPO Logistics
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Xpress Global Systems
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Yellow Freight
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YRC Freight
Note: FreightCenter adds and removes carrier partners from time to time. This list may not be current. Ask your FreightCenter agent for assistance.
Minneapolis’s Major Highways and Freeways
Several major highways and tollways service the Houston Metro area. These include the following:
- I-35
- I-35 W
- I-90
- I-94
- I-394
- I-494
- I-694
- US 2
- US 8
- US 10
- US 52
- US 61
- US 169
- MN 23
- MN 60
- MN 210
Minneapolis’s Major Ports, Terminals, and Warehouses
The city of Minneapolis does not have a major port itself. Instead, it relies on the nearby city, Saint Paul, for its inland port, the Port of Saint Paul. The port is the 13th largest inland port based on tonnage and has four public terminals that travel on the Mississippi River to various destinations. Most lake freighters (lakers) utilize ports along Lake Superior, including the Twin Ports area of Duluth and Superior, Wisconsin. However, Port of Saint Paul does handle local agriculture, metals, and other locally sourced commodities while also importing supplies needed for the winter, like oil.
The Twin Cities area also has many privately owned container, river, truck, and rail terminals. Most notable is the air cargo terminal at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport handles cargo from several small package carriers like Amazon and UPS.
A map of Minneapolis and the Twin Cities Area’s intermodal freight terminals can be found here.
Minneapolis Railroads
Four Class 1 freight railroads run through Minneapolis:
- BNSF Railway
- Union Pacific
- Canadian National Railway
- Canadian Pacific Railway (owned by Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC))
Two subsidiaries also run through the city: Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad and Soo Line Railroad, both owned by CPKC.
Minneapolis Airports
The city’s primary airport is the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). In the 2020s, J.D. Power ranked the airport in the top 5 in North America. Several cargo airlines utilize the airport, including UPS, FedEx, and Amazon. MSP is a central hub for Delta Airlines and is the home airport for Sun Country Airlines, both of which have cargo divisions.
Cost to Ship Freight to Minneapolis
When shipping to and from Minneapolis, several factors influence the cost. This includes:
- Type, size, and weight: Shipping heavy equipment, perishable goods, or specialized cargo will affect pricing. Minneapolis offers a variety of shipping options, from standard LTL to temperature-controlled and expedited services, ensuring your freight arrives safely and securely.
- Seasonal changes and demand: Minneapolis’s rates fluctuate as much as the seasons change, especially during severe weather events or peak holiday shipping seasons.
- Shipping distance: How far are you shipping your freight? The length between point A and point B will heavily determine your rate. Popular routes to and from Minneapolis include major cities like Chicago, Ontario, New York City, and Detroit, where established rates can result in competitive rates.
- What transportation mode is used: How you get your freight to and from Minneapolis matters. LTL freight shipping via truck is much cheaper than air or rail shipping. However, it is also riskier and slower than those two, especially when your freight passes through multiple terminals throughout the city.
- Accessorial Charges: Additional services, such as liftgate requirements, residential delivery, or limited access locations, can impact the final shipping price. Minneapolis’s vast network of carriers ensures you can find a provider that offers the services you need at the right price.
Minneapolis offers competitive rates due to its extensive network of freight carriers, proximity to key markets, and multiple transportation options. The city provides flexible and cost-effective solutions tailored to your needs, whether shipping less-than-truckload (LTL), full truckload (FTL), air cargo, intermodal cargo, or ocean and container drayage.
Why Choose Minneapolis for Your Shipping Needs?
Shipping to and from Minneapolis offers unique advantages other metropolitan areas with logistics hubs can’t offer:
- Location on the Mississippi River: Minneapolis sits on the banks of the Mississippi River, right where Saint Anthony Falls is. This has made the city and surrounding metro area a prime location for grain and lumber production, all transported via river vessels. This is an excellent opportunity for agricultural and manufacturing businesses, as the river provides large, oversized shipping and many small ports to settle and conduct business.
- Proximity to Retail Giants: The city and the surrounding Twin Cities area are host to several major retailers like Target, Best Buy, Supervalu, and more. Being close to these businesses allows smaller retailers and businesses to make connections and ship their goods and services to them.
- Multimodal and Intermodal Options: Minneapolis has many transportation modes available to shippers, from rail to air to water transportation. You can use a combination of these modes to create an optimized shipping route, efficiently delivering your products to your customers without delay.
How to Ship Freight to Minneapolis
When shipping from Minneapolis, start by gathering accurate information on what you are shipping, like the weight and dimensions, including the packaging. The freight will be handled multiple times at several freight terminals along the way. To protect your shipment during transport, crating an item is recommended.
You can compare Minneapolis freight rates with our freight quote tool and find a carrier that meets your pricing and shipping needs. Ask our in-house shipping experts which carrier will be best for your shipment. They will also advise you if any other fees or special services are needed when shipping to Minneapolis.
Get the Best Minneapolis Freight Rates Today
To find the most competitive rates for shipping freight to or from Minneapolis, use our online freight quote tool. Instantly compare rates from over 50 carriers and choose the best option for your needs. Alternatively, call 800.716.7608 to speak with one of our freight experts and receive a custom quote tailored to your shipment.
Make Minneapolis your next shipping destination and experience reliable, cost-effective freight services from a city that’s a leader in logistics and transportation.
We provide competitive freight shipping prices and an all-inclusive, easy-to-use shipping experience for our customers. Exceeding our customers’ expectations results in thousands of satisfied customer reviews and repeat business. We believe in the power of our customer relationships. Check out FreightCenter reviews from real customers, and learn what they have to say about their freight shipping experience!
