IA · BOX · Oct 2026
Box truck rates in Iowa
What it costs to move a 26' box truck out of and into Iowa, with rates for its largest cities and lanes.
$2.58/mi outbound
+3.2% from last month
- Inbound
- $1.92/mi
- vs national
- +13.7%
- 1 year
- +17.8%
- 52-week range
- $2.19–$2.58
Box truck · outbound from Iowa · monthly
Iowa box truck rate history
All-in rateFuel cost per mile
A 26' box truck leaving Iowa averaged $2.58 a mile all-in in October 2026, +13.7% against the national $2.27. Loads arriving averaged $1.92. Iowa is a headhaul market: trucks leaving cost more than trucks arriving, because more freight is looking for a ride out than there are trucks delivering in.
State history applies today's Iowa adjustment to the national series back to 2003.
Price a load from Des Moines
From Des Moines
| To | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $3,197 | $2.65 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $3,201 | $1.88 |
| Chicago, IL | $974 | $2.70 |
| Houston, TX | $2,056 | $2.12 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $2,900 | $2.14 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $2,909 | $2.54 |
| San Antonio, TX | $2,177 | $2.10 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,158 | $1.88 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,675 | $2.25 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $3,585 | $2.97 |
Into Des Moines
| From | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | $2,167 | $1.79 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $3,892 | $2.28 |
| Chicago, IL | $1,085 | $3.01 |
| Houston, TX | $1,702 | $1.76 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $1,836 | $1.35 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $1,841 | $1.61 |
| San Antonio, TX | $1,802 | $1.73 |
| San Diego, CA | $3,840 | $2.29 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,387 | $1.86 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $1,644 | $1.36 |
Box truck rates by city in Iowa
- Des Moines213,096
- Cedar Rapids137,904
- Davenport100,938
- Sioux City86,875
- Ankeny76,727
- Iowa City76,710
- West Des Moines73,664
- Ames69,026
- Waterloo67,477
- Council Bluffs62,665
- Dubuque58,987
- Urbandale47,759
- Marion42,542
- Cedar Falls41,417
- Bettendorf40,281
- Waukee34,420
- Marshalltown27,886
- Mason City26,948
- Ottumwa25,648
- Johnston25,022
- Fort Dodge24,886
- Clinton24,118
- Coralville23,959
- Burlington23,637
- Muscatine23,298
- Altoona22,598
- North Liberty21,904
- Clive19,508
- Grimes17,266
- Indianola16,297
- Newton15,709
- Norwalk15,396
- Boone12,461
- Pleasant Hill11,942
- Storm Lake11,627
- Oskaloosa11,575
Other truck types in Iowa
| Truck type | Per mile | 1 mo | 1 yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAN53' dry van | $3.96 | +5.3% | +24.9% | |
| REEF53' refrigerated | $4.73 | −0.2% | +35.9% | |
| FLAT48' flatbed | $4.85 | +3.4% | +18.6% | |
| STEPStep deck | $5.29 | +3.3% | +18.6% | |
| PWRPower only | $3.46 | +5.5% | +24.9% | |
| HOTHotshot | $2.61 | +3.2% | +18.6% | |
| BOX26' box truck | $2.58 | +3.2% | +17.8% | |
| SPRTSprinter van | $1.59 | +3.9% | +17.8% |