Lane · REEF · Oct 2026

Wausau, WI to Chicago, IL reefer rate

$1,648reefer

−0.2% from last month

Per mile: $5.89
Distance: 280 mi
Typical range: $1,434–$1,862
Transit: 1 day

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Reefer · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Wausau to Chicago price history

3 months: +1.9%
1 year: +36.1%
5 years: +3.7%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $1,361
Fuel: $287
All-in estimate: $1,648

Return trip

Chicago → Wausau$1,795

This direction runs 8% below the return trip. Leaving WI prices above the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.

Wausau to Chicago by truck type

Estimated cost from Wausau, WI to Chicago, IL by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$1,379	$4.93	$1,228 – $1,531
53' refrigerated	$1,648	$5.89	$1,434 – $1,862
48' flatbed	$1,739	$6.21	$1,496 – $1,983
Step deck	$1,910	$6.82	$1,605 – $2,216
Power only	$1,176	$4.20	$1,023 – $1,328
Hotshot	$885	$3.16	$735 – $1,036
26' box truck	$884	$3.16	$751 – $1,017
Sprinter van	$552	$1.97	$463 – $640

Live market check

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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 Wausau

53' refrigerated lanes from Wausau, WI
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,001 mi	$5,258	$5.25	$4,574 – $5,941	2 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,003 mi	$7,039	$3.51	$6,124 – $7,954	4 d
Houston, TX	1,291 mi	$4,988	$3.86	$4,339 – $5,636	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,685 mi	$6,673	$3.96	$5,805 – $7,540	4 d
Philadelphia, PA	960 mi	$4,839	$5.04	$4,210 – $5,468	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,387 mi	$5,297	$3.82	$4,608 – $5,985	3 d
San Diego, CA	1,992 mi	$7,005	$3.52	$6,094 – $7,915	4 d
Dallas, TX	1,089 mi	$4,337	$3.98	$3,773 – $4,901	3 d

More lanes into Chicago

53' refrigerated lanes into Chicago, IL
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	847 mi	$2,918	$3.44	$2,538 – $3,297	2 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,063 mi	$8,194	$3.97	$7,129 – $9,260	4 d
Houston, TX	1,106 mi	$3,391	$3.07	$2,950 – $3,832	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,705 mi	$3,983	$2.34	$3,465 – $4,500	4 d
Philadelphia, PA	787 mi	$2,450	$3.11	$2,132 – $2,769	2 d
San Antonio, TX	1,236 mi	$3,715	$3.01	$3,232 – $4,197	3 d
San Diego, CA	2,034 mi	$8,092	$3.98	$7,040 – $9,144	4 d
Dallas, TX	942 mi	$2,983	$3.17	$2,595 – $3,371	2 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from Wausau, WI to Chicago, IL?

A 53' refrigerated from Wausau, WI to Chicago, IL is estimated at $1,648 all-in in October 2026, or $5.89 a mile over about 280 mi. Quotes typically land between $1,434 and $1,862.

How far is Wausau, WI from Chicago, IL by truck?

About 280 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 1 day of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $287 of the $1,648 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $1,361 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Wausau, WI?

The reverse direction is estimated at $1,795, which makes Wausau, WI to Chicago, IL 8% cheaper. 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 →