Lane · REEF · Oct 2026

Des Moines, IA to Chicago, IL reefer rate

$1,807reefer

−0.2% from last month

Per mile: $5.01
Distance: 361 mi
Typical range: $1,572–$2,042
Transit: 1 day

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Reefer · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Des Moines to Chicago price history

3 months: +1.9%
1 year: +36.2%
5 years: +3.7%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $1,437
Fuel: $370
All-in estimate: $1,807

Return trip

Chicago → Des Moines$2,014

This direction runs 10% below the return trip. Leaving IA prices above the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.

Des Moines to Chicago by truck type

Estimated cost from Des Moines, IA to Chicago, IL by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$1,513	$4.19	$1,347 – $1,680
53' refrigerated	$1,807	$5.01	$1,572 – $2,042
48' flatbed	$1,892	$5.24	$1,627 – $2,157
Step deck	$2,075	$5.75	$1,743 – $2,407
Power only	$1,299	$3.60	$1,130 – $1,468
Hotshot	$979	$2.71	$813 – $1,145
26' box truck	$974	$2.70	$828 – $1,120
Sprinter van	$605	$1.68	$508 – $702

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 Des Moines

53' refrigerated lanes from Des Moines, IA
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,208 mi	$5,835	$4.83	$5,076 – $6,593	3 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,705 mi	$5,824	$3.42	$5,067 – $6,581	4 d
Houston, TX	968 mi	$3,762	$3.89	$3,273 – $4,251	2 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,357 mi	$5,286	$3.90	$4,598 – $5,973	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,145 mi	$5,312	$4.64	$4,622 – $6,003	3 d
San Antonio, TX	1,039 mi	$3,980	$3.83	$3,462 – $4,497	2 d
San Diego, CA	1,679 mi	$5,747	$3.42	$5,000 – $6,494	4 d
Dallas, TX	744 mi	$3,074	$4.13	$2,675 – $3,474	2 d

More lanes into Chicago

53' refrigerated lanes into Chicago, IL
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	847 mi	$2,918	$3.44	$2,538 – $3,297	2 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,063 mi	$8,194	$3.97	$7,129 – $9,260	4 d
Houston, TX	1,106 mi	$3,391	$3.07	$2,950 – $3,832	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,705 mi	$3,983	$2.34	$3,465 – $4,500	4 d
Philadelphia, PA	787 mi	$2,450	$3.11	$2,132 – $2,769	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,236 mi	$3,715	$3.01	$3,232 – $4,197	3 d
San Diego, CA	2,034 mi	$8,092	$3.98	$7,040 – $9,144	4 d
Dallas, TX	942 mi	$2,983	$3.17	$2,595 – $3,371	2 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Des Moines, IA to Chicago, IL?

A 53' refrigerated from Des Moines, IA to Chicago, IL is estimated at $1,807 all-in in October 2026, or $5.01 a mile over about 361 mi. Quotes typically land between $1,572 and $2,042.

How far is Des Moines, IA from Chicago, IL by truck?

About 361 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 1 day of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $370 of the $1,807 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $1,437 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Des Moines, IA?

The reverse direction is estimated at $2,014, which makes Des Moines, IA to Chicago, IL 10% cheaper. 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 →