Lane · REEF · Oct 2026

Chicago, IL to Council Bluffs, IA reefer rate

$2,470reefer

−0.2% from last month

Per mile: $4.93
Distance: 501 mi
Typical range: $2,149–$2,791
Transit: 1 day

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Reefer · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Chicago to Council Bluffs price history

3 months: +1.9%
1 year: +36.2%
5 years: +3.6%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $1,957
Fuel: $513
All-in estimate: $2,470

Return trip

Council Bluffs → Chicago$2,216

This direction runs 12% above the return trip. Leaving IL prices above the national average and arriving in IA prices below it.

Chicago to Council Bluffs by truck type

Estimated cost from Chicago, IL to Council Bluffs, IA by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$2,069	$4.13	$1,842 – $2,297
53' refrigerated	$2,470	$4.93	$2,149 – $2,791
48' flatbed	$2,561	$5.11	$2,202 – $2,919
Step deck	$2,803	$5.59	$2,354 – $3,251
Power only	$1,793	$3.58	$1,560 – $2,026
Hotshot	$1,351	$2.70	$1,122 – $1,581
26' box truck	$1,338	$2.67	$1,137 – $1,539
Sprinter van	$828	$1.65	$695 – $960

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 Chicago

53' refrigerated lanes from Chicago, IL
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	847 mi	$4,796	$5.66	$4,173 – $5,420	2 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,063 mi	$7,511	$3.64	$6,534 – $8,487	4 d
Houston, TX	1,106 mi	$4,565	$4.13	$3,972 – $5,158	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,705 mi	$7,007	$4.11	$6,096 – $7,918	4 d
Philadelphia, PA	787 mi	$4,315	$5.48	$3,754 – $4,876	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,236 mi	$5,000	$4.05	$4,350 – $5,650	3 d
San Diego, CA	2,034 mi	$7,417	$3.65	$6,453 – $8,381	4 d
Dallas, TX	942 mi	$4,016	$4.26	$3,494 – $4,538	2 d

More lanes into Council Bluffs

53' refrigerated lanes into Council Bluffs, IA
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,347 mi	$4,330	$3.21	$3,767 – $4,893	3 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,565 mi	$6,575	$4.20	$5,721 – $7,430	3 d
Houston, TX	934 mi	$3,028	$3.24	$2,634 – $3,421	2 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,220 mi	$3,063	$2.51	$2,665 – $3,462	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,283 mi	$3,692	$2.88	$3,212 – $4,172	3 d
San Antonio, TX	976 mi	$3,134	$3.21	$2,727 – $3,542	2 d
San Diego, CA	1,540 mi	$6,485	$4.21	$5,642 – $7,328	3 d
Dallas, TX	691 mi	$2,410	$3.49	$2,097 – $2,724	2 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Chicago, IL to Council Bluffs, IA?

A 53' refrigerated from Chicago, IL to Council Bluffs, IA is estimated at $2,470 all-in in October 2026, or $4.93 a mile over about 501 mi. Quotes typically land between $2,149 and $2,791.

How far is Chicago, IL from Council Bluffs, IA by truck?

About 501 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 1 day of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $513 of the $2,470 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $1,957 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Council Bluffs, IA to Chicago, IL?

The reverse direction is estimated at $2,216, which makes Chicago, IL to Council Bluffs, IA 12% more expensive. 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 →