Lane · BOX · Oct 2026
Santa Maria, CA to Chicago, IL box truck rate
$4,689box truck
+3.3% from last month
- Per mile
- $2.18
- Distance
- 2,154 mi
- Typical range
- $3,985–$5,392
- Transit
- 5 days
Box truck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Santa Maria to Chicago price history
- 3 months
- +7.9%
- 1 year
- +17.8%
- 5 years
- +25.3%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $3,193
- Fuel
- $1,496
- All-in estimate
- $4,689
Return trip
Chicago → Santa Maria$4,297This direction runs 9% above the return trip. Leaving CA prices above the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.
Santa Maria to Chicago by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $7,150 | $3.32 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $8,516 | $3.95 | |
| 48' flatbed | $8,566 | $3.98 | |
| Step deck | $9,318 | $4.33 | |
| Power only | $6,359 | $2.95 | |
| Hotshot | $4,801 | $2.23 | |
| 26' box truck | $4,689 | $2.18 | |
| Sprinter van | $2,860 | $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 Santa Maria
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $8,639 | $2.88 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $788 | $5.05 |
| Houston, TX | $4,138 | $2.34 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,786 | $3.11 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $8,046 | $2.75 |
| San Antonio, TX | $3,730 | $2.37 |
| San Diego, CA | $1,040 | $3.68 |
| Dallas, TX | $3,804 | $2.36 |
More lanes into Chicago
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $1,592 | $1.88 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $4,510 | $2.19 |
| Houston, TX | $1,857 | $1.68 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $2,189 | $1.28 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,336 | $1.70 |
| San Antonio, TX | $2,036 | $1.65 |
| San Diego, CA | $4,454 | $2.19 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,630 | $1.73 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Santa Maria, CA to Chicago, IL?
A 26' box truck from Santa Maria, CA to Chicago, IL is estimated at $4,689 all-in in October 2026, or $2.18 a mile over about 2,154 mi. Quotes typically land between $3,985 and $5,392.
How far is Santa Maria, CA from Chicago, IL by truck?
About 2,154 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 $1,496 of the $4,689 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $3,193 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Santa Maria, CA?
The reverse direction is estimated at $4,297, which makes Santa Maria, 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 →