Lane · HOT · Oct 2026

Charlotte, NC to Merced, CA hotshot rate

$3,862hotshot

+3.5% from last month

Per mile: $1.49
Distance: 2,593 mi
Typical range: $3,205–$4,519
Transit: 5 days

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Hotshot · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Charlotte to Merced price history

3 months: +8.8%
1 year: +18.3%
5 years: +25.2%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $2,241
Fuel: $1,621
All-in estimate: $3,862

Return trip

Merced → Charlotte$6,914

This direction runs 44% below the return trip. Leaving NC prices below the national average and arriving in CA prices below it.

Charlotte to Merced by truck type

Estimated cost from Charlotte, NC to Merced, CA by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$5,740	$2.21	$5,109 – $6,371
53' refrigerated	$6,836	$2.64	$5,947 – $7,724
48' flatbed	$6,861	$2.65	$5,900 – $7,821
Step deck	$7,460	$2.88	$6,267 – $8,654
Power only	$5,114	$1.97	$4,450 – $5,779
Hotshot	$3,862	$1.49	$3,205 – $4,519
26' box truck	$3,768	$1.45	$3,203 – $4,333
Sprinter van	$2,296	$0.89	$1,929 – $2,663

Live market check

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The index is an estimate. For a price you can act on, ask connected freight providers for a live 53' dry van rate, or send the load details and get quoted for any truck type.

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More lanes from Charlotte

Hotshot lanes from Charlotte, NC
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	627 mi	$1,567	$2.50	$1,301 – $1,833	2 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,508 mi	$3,746	$1.49	$3,109 – $4,382	5 d
Chicago, IL	695 mi	$1,242	$1.79	$1,031 – $1,453	2 d
Houston, TX	1,093 mi	$1,869	$1.71	$1,551 – $2,186	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	2,099 mi	$3,514	$1.67	$2,916 – $4,111	5 d
Philadelphia, PA	537 mi	$1,333	$2.48	$1,107 – $1,560	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,303 mi	$2,166	$1.66	$1,798 – $2,535	3 d
San Diego, CA	2,448 mi	$3,663	$1.50	$3,041 – $4,286	5 d

More lanes into Merced

Hotshot lanes into Merced, CA
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	2,928 mi	$4,834	$1.65	$4,012 – $5,656	6 d
Los Angeles, CA	301 mi	$1,079	$3.58	$895 – $1,262	1 d
Chicago, IL	2,081 mi	$4,266	$2.05	$3,540 – $4,991	5 d
Houston, TX	1,805 mi	$2,931	$1.62	$2,432 – $3,429	4 d
Phoenix, AZ	635 mi	$1,013	$1.60	$841 – $1,186	2 d
Philadelphia, PA	2,864 mi	$4,206	$1.47	$3,491 – $4,921	6 d
San Antonio, TX	1,621 mi	$2,665	$1.64	$2,212 – $3,118	4 d
San Diego, CA	429 mi	$1,341	$3.13	$1,113 – $1,569	1 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Charlotte, NC to Merced, CA?

A Hotshot from Charlotte, NC to Merced, CA is estimated at $3,862 all-in in October 2026, or $1.49 a mile over about 2,593 mi. Quotes typically land between $3,205 and $4,519.

How far is Charlotte, NC from Merced, CA by truck?

About 2,593 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 5 days of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $1,621 of the $3,862 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $2,241 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Merced, CA to Charlotte, NC?

The reverse direction is estimated at $6,914, which makes Charlotte, NC to Merced, CA 44% cheaper. Direction matters because trucks are scarcer leaving some markets than others.

Figures are estimates for a standard full load. Get a firm quote for this lane →