Lane · REEF · Oct 2026

Wilmington, DE to Chicago, IL reefer rate

$2,569reefer

−0.3% from last month

Per mile: $3.34
Distance: 769 mi
Typical range: $2,235–$2,903
Transit: 2 days

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Reefer · estimated all-in cost per load · monthly

Wilmington to Chicago price history

3 months: +1.8%
1 year: +36.3%
5 years: +3.4%

Cost breakdown

Linehaul: $1,781
Fuel: $788
All-in estimate: $2,569

Return trip

Chicago → Wilmington$4,320

This direction runs 41% below the return trip. Leaving DE prices below the national average and arriving in IL prices below it.

Wilmington to Chicago by truck type

Estimated cost from Wilmington, DE to Chicago, IL by truck type
Truck type	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range
53' dry van	$2,154	$2.80	$1,917 – $2,391
53' refrigerated	$2,569	$3.34	$2,235 – $2,903
48' flatbed	$2,633	$3.42	$2,265 – $3,002
Step deck	$2,876	$3.74	$2,415 – $3,336
Power only	$1,885	$2.45	$1,640 – $2,130
Hotshot	$1,422	$1.85	$1,180 – $1,664
26' box truck	$1,400	$1.82	$1,190 – $1,610
Sprinter van	$862	$1.12	$724 – $1,000

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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 Wilmington

53' refrigerated lanes from Wilmington, DE
To	Miles	Estimate	Per mile	Typical range	Transit
New York, NY	125 mi	$1,304	$10.44	$1,135 – $1,474	1 d
Los Angeles, CA	2,808 mi	$7,792	$2.77	$6,779 – $8,805	6 d
Houston, TX	1,553 mi	$4,760	$3.07	$4,141 – $5,379	3 d
Phoenix, AZ	2,426 mi	$7,525	$3.10	$6,546 – $8,503	5 d
San Antonio, TX	1,748 mi	$5,273	$3.02	$4,587 – $5,958	4 d
San Diego, CA	2,767 mi	$7,688	$2.78	$6,688 – $8,687	6 d
Dallas, TX	1,502 mi	$4,626	$3.08	$4,025 – $5,227	3 d
Jacksonville, FL	868 mi	$4,310	$4.97	$3,750 – $4,870	2 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 Wilmington, DE to Chicago, IL?

A 53' refrigerated from Wilmington, DE to Chicago, IL is estimated at $2,569 all-in in October 2026, or $3.34 a mile over about 769 mi. Quotes typically land between $2,235 and $2,903.

How far is Wilmington, DE from Chicago, IL by truck?

About 769 mi by road, estimated from the straight-line distance. A solo driver covers it in roughly 2 days of transit.

How much of the price is fuel?

About $788 of the $2,569 estimate is fuel at the current national diesel price; the remaining $1,781 is linehaul.

Is it cheaper to ship from Chicago, IL to Wilmington, DE?

The reverse direction is estimated at $4,320, which makes Wilmington, DE to Chicago, IL 41% 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 →