Lane · STEP · Oct 2026

Chicago, IL to San Marcos, TX step deck rate

$5,349step deck

+3.4% from last month

Per mile: $4.51
Distance: 1,186 mi
Typical range: $4,493–$6,204
Transit: 3 days

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

Chicago to San Marcos price history

3 months: +8.7%
1 year: +18.7%
5 years: +24.9%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $4,153
Fuel: $1,196
All-in estimate: $5,349

Return trip

San Marcos → Chicago$3,973

This direction runs 35% above the return trip. Leaving IL prices above the national average and arriving in TX prices below it.

Chicago to San Marcos by truck type

Estimated cost from Chicago, IL to San Marcos, TX by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$4,055	$3.42	$3,609 – $4,501
53' refrigerated	$4,833	$4.07	$4,205 – $5,461
48' flatbed	$4,907	$4.14	$4,220 – $5,594
Step deck	$5,349	$4.51	$4,493 – $6,204
Power only	$3,578	$3.02	$3,113 – $4,043
Hotshot	$2,700	$2.28	$2,241 – $3,159
26' box truck	$2,648	$2.23	$2,251 – $3,045
Sprinter van	$1,622	$1.37	$1,363 – $1,882

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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 San Marcos

Step deck lanes into San Marcos, TX
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,815 mi	$6,311	$3.48	$5,301 – $7,321	4 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,453 mi	$6,993	$4.81	$5,874 – $8,111	4 d
Houston, TX	180 mi	$1,347	$7.48	$1,131 – $1,563	1 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,026 mi	$3,039	$2.96	$2,553 – $3,525	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,726 mi	$5,368	$3.11	$4,509 – $6,227	4 d
San Diego, CA	1,356 mi	$6,606	$4.87	$5,549 – $7,662	3 d
Dallas, TX	252 mi	$1,549	$6.15	$1,301 – $1,797	1 d
Jacksonville, FL	1,148 mi	$3,281	$2.86	$2,756 – $3,806	3 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Chicago, IL to San Marcos, TX?

A Step deck from Chicago, IL to San Marcos, TX is estimated at $5,349 all-in in October 2026, or $4.51 a mile over about 1,186 mi. Quotes typically land between $4,493 and $6,204.

How far is Chicago, IL from San Marcos, TX by truck?

About 1,186 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 3 days of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $1,196 of the $5,349 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $4,153 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from San Marcos, TX to Chicago, IL?

The reverse direction is estimated at $3,973, which makes Chicago, IL to San Marcos, TX 35% 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 →