Lane · REEF · Oct 2026

Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA reefer rate

$4,536reefer

−0.2% from last month

Per mile: $4.67
Distance: 972 mi
Typical range: $3,947–$5,126
Transit: 2 days

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Reefer · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Chicago to New Orleans price history

3 months: +2.0%
1 year: +36.1%
5 years: +3.5%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $3,540
Fuel: $996
All-in estimate: $4,536

Return trip

New Orleans → Chicago$3,096

This direction runs 47% above the return trip. Leaving IL prices above the national average and arriving in LA prices below it.

Chicago to New Orleans by truck type

Estimated cost from Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$3,806	$3.92	$3,387 – $4,224
53' refrigerated	$4,536	$4.67	$3,947 – $5,126
48' flatbed	$4,625	$4.76	$3,978 – $5,273
Step deck	$5,045	$5.19	$4,238 – $5,852
Power only	$3,346	$3.44	$2,911 – $3,781
Hotshot	$2,524	$2.60	$2,095 – $2,954
26' box truck	$2,480	$2.55	$2,108 – $2,852
Sprinter van	$1,522	$1.57	$1,279 – $1,766

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 New Orleans

53' refrigerated lanes into New Orleans, LA
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,367 mi	$4,968	$3.63	$4,322 – $5,614	3 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,988 mi	$9,181	$4.62	$7,988 – $10,375	4 d
Houston, TX	386 mi	$1,853	$4.80	$1,612 – $2,094	1 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,558 mi	$4,266	$2.74	$3,711 – $4,820	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,276 mi	$4,165	$3.26	$3,623 – $4,706	3 d
San Antonio, TX	610 mi	$2,498	$4.10	$2,173 – $2,823	2 d
San Diego, CA	1,900 mi	$8,821	$4.64	$7,675 – $9,968	4 d
Dallas, TX	525 mi	$2,253	$4.29	$1,960 – $2,546	1 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA?

A 53' refrigerated from Chicago, IL to New Orleans, LA is estimated at $4,536 all-in in October 2026, or $4.67 a mile over about 972 mi. Quotes typically land between $3,947 and $5,126.

How far is Chicago, IL from New Orleans, LA by truck?

About 972 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 $996 of the $4,536 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $3,540 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from New Orleans, LA to Chicago, IL?

The reverse direction is estimated at $3,096, which makes Chicago, IL to New Orleans, 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 →