Shipping from Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN freight rates Leaders in the Minneapolis area believe the transportation infrastructure of the Twin Cities is a leading factor to why the region is considered the second least stressful city in the nation. That means shipping in and out of the Greater MSP region should be relatively stress-free as well. Highway access is provided by I-35 and I-94. Four Class I railroads serve the area. The Minneapolis area also has convenient access to two major bodies of water that provide efficient shipping options. Just to the north is the Port of Duluth on Lake Superior, which connects the region’s businesses to ocean-going cargo ships. To the south, there are three ports on the Mississippi River for hauling products to the Gulf of Mexico. Minneapolis freight rates are usually higher than most because there are not many cities or urban areas surrounding the area or within the state. Rates can also peak in the summer.
Shipping to Tampa
Tampa, Florida freight rates The central Florida city of Tampa is home to the highly traveled Port Tampa Bay, the closest full service port to the Panama Canal. It handled more than 36 million tons of cargo in 2014 and is one of the world’s premier fertilizer ports. With major interstate systems I-4, I-75 and I-275 running through the region, Tampa is connected to major U.S. cities like Atlanta, Cincinnati, Orlando and Detroit, as well as to the Canadian border. The region offers 500 miles of active railroad and siding tracks, which maintains a major rail yard, an intermodal terminal, a TRANSFLO terminal and an automotive distribution center in Tampa. The region isn’t as affected by the tourism industry as other locations in Florida, but like other destinations in the Sunshine State, the summer citrus season can drive freight prices up. LTL shipping is usually affordable due to the volume of goods moving through the area via truck and rail.