Lane · HOT · Oct 2026
Chicago, IL to Lake Charles, LA hotshot rate
$2,617hotshot
+3.6% from last month
- Per mile
- $2.58
- Distance
- 1,016 mi
- Typical range
- $2,172–$3,062
- Transit
- 2 days
Hotshot · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Chicago to Lake Charles price history
- 3 months
- +8.8%
- 1 year
- +18.9%
- 5 years
- +25.2%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $1,982
- Fuel
- $635
- All-in estimate
- $2,617
Return trip
Lake Charles → Chicago$1,786This direction runs 47% above the return trip. Leaving IL prices above the national average and arriving in LA prices below it.
Chicago to Lake Charles by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $3,942 | $3.88 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $4,699 | $4.62 | |
| 48' flatbed | $4,786 | $4.71 | |
| Step deck | $5,220 | $5.14 | |
| Power only | $3,469 | $3.41 | |
| Hotshot | $2,617 | $2.58 | |
| 26' box truck | $2,570 | $2.53 | |
| Sprinter van | $1,577 | $1.55 |
Live market check
Get live dry van quotes on this lane
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.
More lanes from Chicago
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $2,661 | $3.14 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $4,232 | $2.05 |
| Houston, TX | $2,547 | $2.30 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $3,939 | $2.31 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,390 | $3.04 |
| San Antonio, TX | $2,796 | $2.26 |
| San Diego, CA | $4,179 | $2.05 |
| Dallas, TX | $2,233 | $2.37 |
More lanes into Lake Charles
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $3,073 | $2.00 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $4,646 | $2.63 |
| Houston, TX | $629 | $4.01 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $2,094 | $1.57 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,589 | $1.79 |
| San Antonio, TX | $998 | $2.62 |
| San Diego, CA | $4,435 | $2.65 |
| Dallas, TX | $906 | $2.79 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Chicago, IL to Lake Charles, LA?
A Hotshot from Chicago, IL to Lake Charles, LA is estimated at $2,617 all-in in October 2026, or $2.58 a mile over about 1,016 mi. Quotes typically land between $2,172 and $3,062.
How far is Chicago, IL from Lake Charles, LA by truck?
About 1,016 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 $635 of the $2,617 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $1,982 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Lake Charles, LA to Chicago, IL?
The reverse direction is estimated at $1,786, which makes Chicago, IL to Lake Charles, LA 47% 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 →