Lane · STEP · Oct 2026

Chicago, IL to Council Bluffs, IA step deck rate

$2,803step deck

+3.4% from last month

Per mile: $5.59
Distance: 501 mi
Typical range: $2,354–$3,251
Transit: 2 days

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

Chicago to Council Bluffs price history

3 months: +8.6%
1 year: +18.7%
5 years: +24.8%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $2,298
Fuel: $505
All-in estimate: $2,803

Return trip

Council Bluffs → Chicago$2,515

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

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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

Step deck lanes from Chicago, IL
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	847 mi	$5,354	$6.32	$4,497 – $6,211	2 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,063 mi	$8,224	$3.99	$6,908 – $9,540	5 d
Houston, TX	1,106 mi	$5,061	$4.58	$4,251 – $5,870	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,705 mi	$7,698	$4.51	$6,466 – $8,929	4 d
Philadelphia, PA	787 mi	$4,827	$6.13	$4,055 – $5,599	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,236 mi	$5,529	$4.47	$4,644 – $6,413	3 d
San Diego, CA	2,034 mi	$8,123	$3.99	$6,823 – $9,423	5 d
Dallas, TX	942 mi	$4,470	$4.75	$3,755 – $5,185	3 d

More lanes into Council Bluffs

Step deck lanes into Council Bluffs, IA
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,347 mi	$4,779	$3.55	$4,014 – $5,543	3 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,565 mi	$7,235	$4.62	$6,077 – $8,392	4 d
Houston, TX	934 mi	$3,371	$3.61	$2,831 – $3,910	2 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,220 mi	$3,388	$2.78	$2,846 – $3,930	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,283 mi	$4,079	$3.18	$3,426 – $4,731	3 d
San Antonio, TX	976 mi	$3,486	$3.57	$2,928 – $4,043	3 d
San Diego, CA	1,540 mi	$7,138	$4.63	$5,996 – $8,280	4 d
Dallas, TX	691 mi	$2,707	$3.92	$2,274 – $3,140	2 d

About this lane

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

A Step deck from Chicago, IL to Council Bluffs, IA is estimated at $2,803 all-in in October 2026, or $5.59 a mile over about 501 mi. Quotes typically land between $2,354 and $3,251.

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 2 days of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $505 of the $2,803 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $2,298 is linehaul.

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

The reverse direction is estimated at $2,515, 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 →