Lane · STEP · Oct 2026

Charlotte, NC to Santa Maria, CA step deck rate

$7,543step deck

+3.2% from last month

Per mile: $2.87
Distance: 2,625 mi
Typical range: $6,336–$8,750
Transit: 6 days

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Step deck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Charlotte to Santa Maria price history

3 months: +8.7%
1 year: +18.6%
5 years: +24.8%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $4,896
Fuel: $2,647
All-in estimate: $7,543

Return trip

Santa Maria → Charlotte$13,503

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

Charlotte to Santa Maria by truck type

Estimated cost from Charlotte, NC to Santa Maria, CA by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$5,804	$2.21	$5,166 – $6,443
53' refrigerated	$6,912	$2.63	$6,014 – $7,811
48' flatbed	$6,937	$2.64	$5,966 – $7,908
Step deck	$7,543	$2.87	$6,336 – $8,750
Power only	$5,173	$1.97	$4,500 – $5,845
Hotshot	$3,906	$1.49	$3,242 – $4,570
26' box truck	$3,810	$1.45	$3,239 – $4,382
Sprinter van	$2,322	$0.88	$1,950 – $2,693

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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

Step deck lanes from Charlotte, NC
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	627 mi	$3,205	$5.11	$2,693 – $3,718	2 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,508 mi	$7,241	$2.89	$6,083 – $8,400	6 d
Chicago, IL	695 mi	$2,525	$3.63	$2,121 – $2,929	2 d
Houston, TX	1,093 mi	$3,715	$3.40	$3,120 – $4,309	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	2,099 mi	$6,825	$3.25	$5,733 – $7,916	5 d
Philadelphia, PA	537 mi	$2,753	$5.13	$2,313 – $3,194	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,303 mi	$4,275	$3.28	$3,591 – $4,959	3 d
San Diego, CA	2,448 mi	$7,086	$2.89	$5,953 – $8,220	6 d

More lanes into Santa Maria

Step deck lanes into Santa Maria, CA
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	2,997 mi	$9,512	$3.17	$7,990 – $11,034	7 d
Los Angeles, CA	156 mi	$1,756	$11.26	$1,475 – $2,037	1 d
Chicago, IL	2,154 mi	$8,541	$3.97	$7,174 – $9,907	5 d
Houston, TX	1,771 mi	$5,625	$3.18	$4,725 – $6,525	4 d
Phoenix, AZ	574 mi	$1,936	$3.37	$1,626 – $2,246	2 d
Philadelphia, PA	2,929 mi	$8,273	$2.82	$6,949 – $9,596	7 d
San Antonio, TX	1,573 mi	$5,087	$3.23	$4,273 – $5,901	4 d
San Diego, CA	283 mi	$2,246	$7.94	$1,887 – $2,606	1 d

About this lane

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

A Step deck from Charlotte, NC to Santa Maria, CA is estimated at $7,543 all-in in October 2026, or $2.87 a mile over about 2,625 mi. Quotes typically land between $6,336 and $8,750.

How far is Charlotte, NC from Santa Maria, CA by truck?

About 2,625 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 6 days of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $2,647 of the $7,543 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $4,896 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Santa Maria, CA to Charlotte, NC?

The reverse direction is estimated at $13,503, which makes Charlotte, NC to Santa Maria, 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 →