Lane · STEP · Oct 2026

West Des Moines, IA to Houston, TX step deck rate

$4,174step deck

+3.6% from last month

Per mile: $4.33
Distance: 965 mi
Typical range: $3,506–$4,842
Transit: 3 days

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

West Des Moines to Houston price history

3 months: +8.8%
1 year: +18.6%
5 years: +25.1%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $3,201
Fuel: $973
All-in estimate: $4,174

Return trip

Houston → West Des Moines$3,456

This direction runs 21% above the return trip. Leaving IA prices above the national average and arriving in TX prices below it.

West Des Moines to Houston by truck type

Estimated cost from West Des Moines, IA to Houston, TX by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$3,148	$3.26	$2,802 – $3,494
53' refrigerated	$3,753	$3.89	$3,265 – $4,241
48' flatbed	$3,827	$3.97	$3,291 – $4,362
Step deck	$4,174	$4.33	$3,506 – $4,842
Power only	$2,767	$2.87	$2,408 – $3,127
Hotshot	$2,088	$2.16	$1,733 – $2,443
26' box truck	$2,051	$2.13	$1,744 – $2,359
Sprinter van	$1,259	$1.30	$1,058 – $1,461

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 West Des Moines

Step deck lanes from West Des Moines, IA
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,218 mi	$6,498	$5.33	$5,458 – $7,537	3 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,694 mi	$6,362	$3.76	$5,344 – $7,380	4 d
Chicago, IL	372 mi	$2,110	$5.67	$1,772 – $2,447	1 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,346 mi	$5,794	$4.30	$4,867 – $6,721	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,156 mi	$5,929	$5.13	$4,980 – $6,878	3 d
San Antonio, TX	1,034 mi	$4,402	$4.26	$3,698 – $5,106	3 d
San Diego, CA	1,669 mi	$6,283	$3.76	$5,277 – $7,288	4 d
Dallas, TX	740 mi	$3,431	$4.64	$2,882 – $3,980	2 d

More lanes into Houston

Step deck lanes into Houston, TX
From	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	1,675 mi	$5,893	$3.52	$4,950 – $6,836	4 d
Los Angeles, CA	1,627 mi	$7,687	$4.72	$6,457 – $8,917	4 d
Chicago, IL	1,106 mi	$5,061	$4.58	$4,251 – $5,870	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	1,198 mi	$3,434	$2.87	$2,884 – $3,983	3 d
Philadelphia, PA	1,585 mi	$4,995	$3.15	$4,196 – $5,794	4 d
San Antonio, TX	224 mi	$1,471	$6.57	$1,235 – $1,706	1 d
San Diego, CA	1,532 mi	$7,308	$4.77	$6,139 – $8,477	4 d
Dallas, TX	263 mi	$1,580	$6.01	$1,327 – $1,833	1 d

About this lane

How much does it cost to ship a truckload from West Des Moines, IA to Houston, TX?

A Step deck from West Des Moines, IA to Houston, TX is estimated at $4,174 all-in in October 2026, or $4.33 a mile over about 965 mi. Quotes typically land between $3,506 and $4,842.

How far is West Des Moines, IA from Houston, TX by truck?

About 965 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 $973 of the $4,174 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $3,201 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Houston, TX to West Des Moines, IA?

The reverse direction is estimated at $3,456, which makes West Des Moines, IA to Houston, TX 21% 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 →