Minneapolis, MN

Freight hub guide — rates, shippers, parking, and opportunities for owner-operators in Minneapolis.

Part of Minnesota trucking network →

#27

Freight Rank

5,134

Carriers Based Here

Fair

Truck Parking

Midwest

Region

Who Operates Out of Minneapolis

5,134 active motor carriers are registered with a physical address in Minneapolis. Here is how that base breaks down by fleet size — useful for judging whether you would be competing against owner-operators or against fleets with dedicated freight locked up.

2,990

Owner-operators (1 truck)

1,197

Small fleets (2-5)

301

Mid fleets (6-20)

Large fleets (20+)

58% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 193 are registered to haul hazardous materials.

Source: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census (active carriers, US physical addresses), retrieved 2026-07-18.

Average Rates Per Mile

Equipment Type	Rate / Mile
Dry Van	$2.25
Reefer	$2.70
Flatbed	$2.85

Rates by Equipment Type

Key Highways

I-94I-35WI-35EI-494I-694I-394US-169

Top Industries

Retail (Target, Best Buy)

Food manufacturing

Medical devices

Agriculture

Technology

Major Distribution Centers

Amazon MSP1 (Shakopee)

Target Corporate HQ & DC (Minneapolis)

Best Buy Corporate HQ & DC (Richfield)

General Mills (Golden Valley)

3M Corporate HQ (Maplewood/St. Paul)

UnitedHealth Group HQ (Minnetonka)

Top Shippers

Target

Best Buy

General Mills

Cargill (Minnetonka)

Nearby Ports

Port of Minneapolis (Upper Mississippi River)

Truck Stops

Pilot Travel Center (Albertville)

Love's Travel Stop (Rogers)

TA Petro (Inver Grove Heights)

Flying J (Lakeville)

Kwik Trip (multiple locations)

Challenges

Brutal winter weather — sub-zero temps, heavy snow, and ice from November through March
I-35W/I-94 interchange (the "Lowry Tunnel") is a major bottleneck
Shorter daylight hours in winter limit productive driving time
Northern location means longer transit times to most US destinations

Opportunities

Target HQ — one of the largest retailers in the US ships from here constantly
General Mills, Hormel, and Land O'Lakes create a food manufacturing freight corridor
Medical device corridor (Medtronic in nearby Fridley, Boston Scientific) provides high-value freight
Agricultural heartland — grain, sugar beets, and livestock generate seasonal volume

Seasonal Freight Patterns

Grain harvest (September-November) creates massive outbound freight. Target holiday shipments peak September through December. Winter storm season (November-March) causes disruptions and rate spikes. Spring planting (April-May) brings seed and equipment freight. Summer is prime construction season.

Trucking in Minneapolis — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Minneapolis: Dry Van $2.25, Reefer $2.70, Flatbed $2.85. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.

Truck parking in Minneapolis is rated "fair." Popular stops include Pilot Travel Center (Albertville), Love's Travel Stop (Rogers), TA Petro (Inver Grove Heights). Parking is manageable but can get tight during peak hours and weekends.

Top shippers operating in the Minneapolis freight market include Target, Best Buy, General Mills, 3M, Cargill (Minnetonka). Key industries driving freight demand are retail (target, best buy), food manufacturing, medical devices.

The biggest challenges for truckers in Minneapolis include: Brutal winter weather; I-35W/I-94 interchange (the "Lowry Tunnel") is a major bottleneck; Shorter daylight hours in winter limit productive driving time. However, opportunities include target hq — one of the largest retailers in the us ships from here constantly.

Nearby Freight Hubs

Chicago, IL

#1 freight hub

Kansas City, MO

#9 freight hub

Detroit, MI

#17 freight hub

Denver, CO

#20 freight hub

Other Cities in Minnesota

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Bloomington, MN

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Brooklyn Park, MN

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View all trucking info for Minnesota →

Running freight in Minneapolis? Get dispatched.

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Who Operates Out of Minneapolis

2,990

Owner-operators (1 truck)

1,197

Small fleets (2-5)

301

Mid fleets (6-20)

Large fleets (20+)

58% of carriers based here run a single truck, and 193 are registered to haul hazardous materials.

Source: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census (active carriers, US physical addresses), retrieved 2026-07-18.

Equipment Type

Rate / Mile

Dry Van

$2.25

Reefer

$2.70

Flatbed

$2.85

Opportunities

Target HQ — one of the largest retailers in the US ships from here constantly
General Mills, Hormel, and Land O'Lakes create a food manufacturing freight corridor
Medical device corridor (Medtronic in nearby Fridley, Boston Scientific) provides high-value freight
Agricultural heartland — grain, sugar beets, and livestock generate seasonal volume

Trucking in Minneapolis — FAQ

Average rates per mile out of Minneapolis: Dry Van $2.25, Reefer $2.70, Flatbed $2.85. Rates vary by season, lane, and current market conditions.