Lane · STEP · Oct 2026

Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA step deck rate

$8,348step deck

+3.4% from last month

Per mile: $3.07
Distance: 2,720 mi
Typical range: $7,012–$9,684
Transit: 6 days

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Step deck · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Washington to Los Angeles price history

3 months: +8.9%
1 year: +18.5%
5 years: +24.8%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $5,605
Fuel: $2,743
All-in estimate: $8,348

Return trip

Los Angeles → Washington$15,890

This direction runs 48% below the return trip. Leaving DC prices below the national average and arriving in CA prices below it.

Washington to Los Angeles by truck type

Estimated cost from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$6,427	$2.36	$5,720 – $7,134
53' refrigerated	$7,654	$2.81	$6,659 – $8,649
48' flatbed	$7,678	$2.82	$6,603 – $8,752
Step deck	$8,348	$3.07	$7,012 – $9,684
Power only	$5,729	$2.11	$4,984 – $6,474
Hotshot	$4,326	$1.59	$3,591 – $5,062
26' box truck	$4,220	$1.55	$3,587 – $4,853
Sprinter van	$2,571	$0.95	$2,159 – $2,982

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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.

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More lanes from Washington

Step deck lanes from Washington, DC
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	240 mi	$2,000	$8.33	$1,680 – $2,320	1 d
Chicago, IL	704 mi	$2,731	$3.88	$2,294 – $3,168	2 d
Houston, TX	1,439 mi	$4,971	$3.45	$4,176 – $5,767	4 d
Phoenix, AZ	2,332 mi	$8,026	$3.44	$6,742 – $9,310	5 d
Philadelphia, PA	149 mi	$1,582	$10.62	$1,329 – $1,835	1 d
San Antonio, TX	1,636 mi	$5,535	$3.38	$4,649 – $6,420	4 d
San Diego, CA	2,675 mi	$8,223	$3.07	$6,908 – $9,539	6 d
Dallas, TX	1,393 mi	$4,840	$3.47	$4,065 – $5,614	3 d

More lanes into Los Angeles

Step deck lanes into Los Angeles, CA
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	2,902 mi	$9,238	$3.18	$7,760 – $10,716	7 d
Chicago, IL	2,063 mi	$8,224	$3.99	$6,908 – $9,540	5 d
Houston, TX	1,627 mi	$5,234	$3.22	$4,396 – $6,071	4 d
Phoenix, AZ	430 mi	$1,617	$3.76	$1,358 – $1,875	1 d
Philadelphia, PA	2,831 mi	$8,021	$2.83	$6,738 – $9,305	7 d
San Antonio, TX	1,425 mi	$4,685	$3.29	$3,935 – $5,435	4 d
San Diego, CA	131 mi	$1,660	$12.67	$1,394 – $1,926	1 d
Dallas, TX	1,474 mi	$4,818	$3.27	$4,047 – $5,589	4 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA?

A Step deck from Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA is estimated at $8,348 all-in in October 2026, or $3.07 a mile over about 2,720 mi. Quotes typically land between $7,012 and $9,684.

How far is Washington, DC from Los Angeles, CA by truck?

About 2,720 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 6 days of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $2,743 of the $8,348 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $5,605 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Los Angeles, CA to Washington, DC?

The reverse direction is estimated at $15,890, which makes Washington, DC to Los Angeles, CA 48% 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