Lane · HOT · Oct 2026
Santa Maria, CA to Chicago, IL hotshot rate
$4,801hotshot
+3.2% from last month
- Per mile
- $2.23
- Distance
- 2,154 mi
- Typical range
- $3,985–$5,617
- Transit
- 5 days
Hotshot · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Santa Maria to Chicago price history
- 3 months
- +8.8%
- 1 year
- +18.6%
- 5 years
- +25.3%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $3,454
- Fuel
- $1,347
- All-in estimate
- $4,801
Return trip
Chicago → Santa Maria$4,401This 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 | $8,860 | $2.96 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $782 | $5.01 |
| Houston, TX | $4,232 | $2.39 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,807 | $3.15 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $8,252 | $2.82 |
| San Antonio, TX | $3,812 | $2.42 |
| San Diego, CA | $1,042 | $3.68 |
| Dallas, TX | $3,889 | $2.42 |
More lanes into Chicago
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $1,619 | $1.91 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $4,618 | $2.24 |
| Houston, TX | $1,892 | $1.71 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $2,238 | $1.31 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,357 | $1.72 |
| San Antonio, TX | $2,077 | $1.68 |
| San Diego, CA | $4,559 | $2.24 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,659 | $1.76 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Santa Maria, CA to Chicago, IL?
A Hotshot from Santa Maria, CA to Chicago, IL is estimated at $4,801 all-in in October 2026, or $2.23 a mile over about 2,154 mi. Quotes typically land between $3,985 and $5,617.
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 $1,347 of the $4,801 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $3,454 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Santa Maria, CA?
The reverse direction is estimated at $4,401, 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 →