Lane · FLAT · Oct 2026
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA to Chicago, IL flatbed rate
$8,128flatbed
+3.6% from last month
- Per mile
- $4.01
- Distance
- 2,029 mi
- Typical range
- $6,990–$9,266
- Transit
- 5 days
Flatbed · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Rancho Santa Margarita to Chicago price history
- 3 months
- +8.7%
- 1 year
- +18.6%
- 5 years
- +24.9%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $6,146
- Fuel
- $1,982
- All-in estimate
- $8,128
Return trip
Chicago → Rancho Santa Margarita$7,450This direction runs 9% above the return trip. Leaving CA prices above the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.
Rancho Santa Margarita to Chicago by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $6,779 | $3.34 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $8,074 | $3.98 | |
| 48' flatbed | $8,128 | $4.01 | |
| Step deck | $8,844 | $4.36 | |
| Power only | $6,025 | $2.97 | |
| Hotshot | $4,549 | $2.24 | |
| 26' box truck | $4,444 | $2.19 | |
| Sprinter van | $2,712 | $1.34 |
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 Rancho Santa Margarita
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $15,060 | $5.26 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $1,263 | $20.05 |
| Houston, TX | $6,847 | $4.36 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $2,614 | $6.99 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $14,005 | $5.01 |
| San Antonio, TX | $6,100 | $4.47 |
| San Diego, CA | $1,302 | $17.60 |
| Dallas, TX | $6,299 | $4.44 |
More lanes into Chicago
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $2,984 | $3.52 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $8,247 | $4.00 |
| Houston, TX | $3,448 | $3.12 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $4,019 | $2.36 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,510 | $3.19 |
| San Antonio, TX | $3,769 | $3.05 |
| San Diego, CA | $8,145 | $4.00 |
| Dallas, TX | $3,044 | $3.23 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA to Chicago, IL?
A 48' flatbed from Rancho Santa Margarita, CA to Chicago, IL is estimated at $8,128 all-in in October 2026, or $4.01 a mile over about 2,029 mi. Quotes typically land between $6,990 and $9,266.
How far is Rancho Santa Margarita, CA from Chicago, IL by truck?
About 2,029 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 $1,982 of the $8,128 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $6,146 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Rancho Santa Margarita, CA?
The reverse direction is estimated at $7,450, which makes Rancho Santa Margarita, CA to Chicago, IL 9% 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 →