Lane · REEF · Oct 2026

Milwaukee, WI to Des Moines, IA reefer rate

$1,937reefer

−0.2% from last month

Per mile: $5.37
Distance: 361 mi
Typical range: $1,686–$2,189
Transit: 1 day

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Reefer · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Milwaukee to Des Moines price history

3 months: +1.9%
1 year: +36.4%
5 years: +3.7%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $1,567
Fuel: $370
All-in estimate: $1,937

Return trip

Des Moines → Milwaukee$1,894

This direction runs 2% above the return trip. Leaving WI prices above the national average and arriving in IA prices below it.

Milwaukee to Des Moines by truck type

Estimated cost from Milwaukee, WI to Des Moines, IA by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$1,622	$4.49	$1,444 – $1,801
53' refrigerated	$1,937	$5.37	$1,686 – $2,189
48' flatbed	$2,029	$5.62	$1,745 – $2,313
Step deck	$2,225	$6.16	$1,869 – $2,580
Power only	$1,393	$3.86	$1,212 – $1,574
Hotshot	$1,049	$2.91	$871 – $1,228
26' box truck	$1,044	$2.89	$887 – $1,200
Sprinter van	$649	$1.80	$545 – $753

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 Milwaukee

53' refrigerated lanes from Milwaukee, WI
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	873 mi	$4,723	$5.41	$4,109 – $5,337	2 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,063 mi	$7,226	$3.50	$6,286 – $8,165	4 d
Chicago, IL	101 mi	$1,099	$10.88	$956 – $1,242	1 d
Houston, TX	1,186 mi	$4,649	$3.92	$4,045 – $5,254	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,718 mi	$6,786	$3.95	$5,904 – $7,668	4 d
Philadelphia, PA	821 mi	$4,287	$5.22	$3,729 – $4,844	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,306 mi	$5,036	$3.86	$4,381 – $5,691	3 d
San Diego, CA	2,040 mi	$7,154	$3.51	$6,224 – $8,084	4 d

More lanes into Des Moines

53' refrigerated lanes into Des Moines, IA
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,208 mi	$3,955	$3.27	$3,441 – $4,469	3 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,705 mi	$7,081	$4.15	$6,160 – $8,001	4 d
Chicago, IL	361 mi	$2,014	$5.58	$1,752 – $2,276	1 d
Houston, TX	968 mi	$3,114	$3.22	$2,709 – $3,519	2 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,357 mi	$3,347	$2.47	$2,912 – $3,783	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,145 mi	$3,361	$2.94	$2,924 – $3,798	3 d
San Antonio, TX	1,039 mi	$3,295	$3.17	$2,866 – $3,723	2 d
San Diego, CA	1,679 mi	$6,987	$4.16	$6,078 – $7,895	4 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Milwaukee, WI to Des Moines, IA?

A 53' refrigerated from Milwaukee, WI to Des Moines, IA is estimated at $1,937 all-in in October 2026, or $5.37 a mile over about 361 mi. Quotes typically land between $1,686 and $2,189.

How far is Milwaukee, WI from Des Moines, IA 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 $1,937 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $1,567 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Des Moines, IA to Milwaukee, WI?

The reverse direction is estimated at $1,894, which makes Milwaukee, WI to Des Moines, IA 2% 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 →