Lane · STEP · Oct 2026

Merced, CA to San Diego, CA step deck rate

$2,810step deck

+3.5% from last month

Per mile: $6.55
Distance: 429 mi
Typical range: $2,360–$3,259
Transit: 1 day

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

Merced to San Diego price history

3 months: +8.6%
1 year: +18.7%
5 years: +25.0%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $2,377
Fuel: $433
All-in estimate: $2,810

Return trip

San Diego → Merced$2,810

Both directions price about the same. Leaving CA prices above the national average and arriving in CA prices below it.

Merced to San Diego by truck type

Estimated cost from Merced, CA to San Diego, CA by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$2,063	$4.81	$1,836 – $2,290
53' refrigerated	$2,462	$5.74	$2,142 – $2,782
48' flatbed	$2,565	$5.98	$2,206 – $2,924
Step deck	$2,810	$6.55	$2,360 – $3,259
Power only	$1,779	$4.15	$1,548 – $2,011
Hotshot	$1,341	$3.13	$1,113 – $1,569
26' box truck	$1,331	$3.10	$1,131 – $1,530
Sprinter van	$825	$1.92	$693 – $957

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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.

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More lanes from Merced

Step deck lanes from Merced, CA
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	2,928 mi	$16,704	$5.70	$14,031 – $19,377	7 d
Los Angeles, CA	301 mi	$2,316	$7.69	$1,945 – $2,686	1 d
Chicago, IL	2,081 mi	$9,041	$4.34	$7,595 – $10,488	5 d
Houston, TX	1,805 mi	$8,397	$4.65	$7,054 – $9,741	4 d
Phoenix, AZ	635 mi	$3,976	$6.26	$3,340 – $4,612	2 d
Philadelphia, PA	2,864 mi	$15,577	$5.44	$13,084 – $18,069	7 d
San Antonio, TX	1,621 mi	$7,663	$4.73	$6,437 – $8,889	4 d
Dallas, TX	1,620 mi	$7,659	$4.73	$6,434 – $8,884	4 d

More lanes into San Diego

Step deck lanes into San Diego, CA
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	2,864 mi	$9,128	$3.19	$7,668 – $10,589	7 d
Los Angeles, CA	131 mi	$1,660	$12.67	$1,394 – $1,926	1 d
Chicago, IL	2,034 mi	$8,123	$3.99	$6,823 – $9,423	5 d
Houston, TX	1,532 mi	$4,976	$3.25	$4,180 – $5,772	4 d
Phoenix, AZ	350 mi	$1,439	$4.11	$1,209 – $1,670	1 d
Philadelphia, PA	2,791 mi	$7,919	$2.84	$6,652 – $9,186	6 d
San Antonio, TX	1,325 mi	$4,413	$3.33	$3,707 – $5,119	3 d
Dallas, TX	1,394 mi	$4,601	$3.30	$3,865 – $5,337	3 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Merced, CA to San Diego, CA?

A Step deck from Merced, CA to San Diego, CA is estimated at $2,810 all-in in October 2026, or $6.55 a mile over about 429 mi. Quotes typically land between $2,360 and $3,259.

How far is Merced, CA from San Diego, CA by truck?

About 429 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 $433 of the $2,810 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $2,377 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from San Diego, CA to Merced, CA?

The two directions price within about 1% of each other on this lane.

Lane history applies the current origin and destination adjustments to the national series back to December 2003. Methodology