Lane · FLAT · Oct 2026
Chicago, IL to Santa Maria, CA flatbed rate
$7,851flatbed
+3.1% from last month
- Per mile
- $3.64
- Distance
- 2,154 mi
- Typical range
- $6,752–$8,950
- Transit
- 5 days
Flatbed · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Chicago to Santa Maria price history
- 3 months
- +8.7%
- 1 year
- +18.6%
- 5 years
- +24.7%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $5,747
- Fuel
- $2,104
- All-in estimate
- $7,851
Return trip
Santa Maria → Chicago$8,566This direction runs 8% below the return trip. Leaving IL prices above the national average and arriving in CA prices below it.
Chicago to Santa Maria by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $6,553 | $3.04 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $7,805 | $3.62 | |
| 48' flatbed | $7,851 | $3.64 | |
| Step deck | $8,541 | $3.97 | |
| Power only | $5,828 | $2.71 | |
| Hotshot | $4,401 | $2.04 | |
| 26' box truck | $4,297 | $2.00 | |
| Sprinter van | $2,621 | $1.22 |
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 | $4,905 | $5.79 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $7,559 | $3.66 |
| Houston, TX | $4,642 | $4.20 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $7,071 | $4.15 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $4,421 | $5.62 |
| San Antonio, TX | $5,073 | $4.10 |
| San Diego, CA | $7,466 | $3.67 |
| Dallas, TX | $4,097 | $4.35 |
More lanes into Santa Maria
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $8,750 | $2.92 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $1,594 | $10.22 |
| Houston, TX | $5,168 | $2.92 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,770 | $3.08 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $7,610 | $2.60 |
| San Antonio, TX | $4,672 | $2.97 |
| San Diego, CA | $2,046 | $7.23 |
| Dallas, TX | $4,762 | $2.96 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Chicago, IL to Santa Maria, CA?
A 48' flatbed from Chicago, IL to Santa Maria, CA is estimated at $7,851 all-in in October 2026, or $3.64 a mile over about 2,154 mi. Quotes typically land between $6,752 and $8,950.
How far is Chicago, IL from Santa Maria, CA by truck?
About 2,154 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 5 days of transit.
How much of the price is fuel?
About $2,104 of the $7,851 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $5,747 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Santa Maria, CA to Chicago, IL?
The reverse direction is estimated at $8,566, which makes Chicago, IL to Santa Maria, CA 8% cheaper. Direction matters because trucks are scarcer leaving some markets than others.
Lane history applies the current origin and destination adjustments to the national series back to December 2003. Methodology