Lane · REEF · Oct 2026
Novato, CA to Chicago, IL reefer rate
$8,625reefer
−0.3% from last month
- Per mile
- $3.95
- Distance
- 2,185 mi
- Typical range
- $7,504–$9,747
- Transit
- 5 days
Reefer · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Novato to Chicago price history
- 3 months
- +1.8%
- 1 year
- +36.2%
- 5 years
- +3.7%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $6,386
- Fuel
- $2,239
- All-in estimate
- $8,625
Return trip
Chicago → Novato$7,905This direction runs 9% above the return trip. Leaving CA prices above the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.
Novato to Chicago by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $7,242 | $3.31 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $8,625 | $3.95 | |
| 48' flatbed | $8,674 | $3.97 | |
| Step deck | $9,436 | $4.32 | |
| Power only | $6,442 | $2.95 | |
| Hotshot | $4,864 | $2.23 | |
| 26' box truck | $4,749 | $2.17 | |
| Sprinter van | $2,897 | $1.33 |
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 Novato
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $15,829 | $5.22 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $2,462 | $5.74 |
| Houston, TX | $8,186 | $4.20 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $4,113 | $5.26 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $14,780 | $4.97 |
| San Antonio, TX | $7,511 | $4.25 |
| San Diego, CA | $2,932 | $5.24 |
| Dallas, TX | $7,485 | $4.25 |
More lanes into Chicago
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $2,918 | $3.44 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $8,194 | $3.97 |
| Houston, TX | $3,391 | $3.07 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $3,983 | $2.34 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,450 | $3.11 |
| San Antonio, TX | $3,715 | $3.01 |
| San Diego, CA | $8,092 | $3.98 |
| Dallas, TX | $2,983 | $3.17 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Novato, CA to Chicago, IL?
A 53' refrigerated from Novato, CA to Chicago, IL is estimated at $8,625 all-in in October 2026, or $3.95 a mile over about 2,185 mi. Quotes typically land between $7,504 and $9,747.
How far is Novato, CA from Chicago, IL by truck?
About 2,185 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 $2,239 of the $8,625 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $6,386 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Novato, CA?
The reverse direction is estimated at $7,905, which makes Novato, CA to Chicago, IL 9% more expensive. 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