Lane · STEP · Oct 2026
Waltham, MA to Chicago, IL step deck rate
$3,166step deck
+3.6% from last month
- Per mile
- $3.19
- Distance
- 994 mi
- Typical range
- $2,660–$3,673
- Transit
- 3 days
Step deck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly
Waltham to Chicago price history
- 3 months
- +8.9%
- 1 year
- +19.0%
- 5 years
- +25.1%
Cost breakdown
- Linehaul
- $2,164
- Fuel
- $1,002
- All-in estimate
- $3,166
Return trip
Chicago → Waltham$6,227This direction runs 49% below the return trip. Leaving MA prices below the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.
Waltham to Chicago by truck type
| Truck type | Relative cost | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53' dry van | $2,390 | $2.40 | |
| 53' refrigerated | $2,849 | $2.87 | |
| 48' flatbed | $2,903 | $2.92 | |
| Step deck | $3,166 | $3.19 | |
| Power only | $2,102 | $2.11 | |
| Hotshot | $1,586 | $1.60 | |
| 26' box truck | $1,558 | $1.57 | |
| Sprinter van | $956 | $0.96 |
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 Waltham
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $1,722 | $7.94 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $8,346 | $2.73 |
| Houston, TX | $5,613 | $2.98 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $8,212 | $3.05 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,927 | $6.26 |
| San Antonio, TX | $6,102 | $2.94 |
| San Diego, CA | $8,269 | $2.73 |
| Dallas, TX | $5,441 | $3.00 |
More lanes into Chicago
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $3,257 | $3.85 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $8,973 | $4.35 |
| Houston, TX | $3,759 | $3.40 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $4,375 | $2.57 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,741 | $3.48 |
| San Antonio, TX | $4,107 | $3.32 |
| San Diego, CA | $8,863 | $4.36 |
| Dallas, TX | $3,321 | $3.53 |
About this lane
How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Waltham, MA to Chicago, IL?
A Step deck from Waltham, MA to Chicago, IL is estimated at $3,166 all-in in October 2026, or $3.19 a mile over about 994 mi. Quotes typically land between $2,660 and $3,673.
How far is Waltham, MA from Chicago, IL by truck?
About 994 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 3 days of transit.
How much of the price is fuel?
About $1,002 of the $3,166 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $2,164 is linehaul.
Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Waltham, MA?
The reverse direction is estimated at $6,227, which makes Waltham, MA to Chicago, IL 49% cheaper. 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