VAN · national · Oct 2026
Dry van rates per mile
The enclosed 53-foot trailer that moves most palletized US freight.
$3.49/mi
+5.4% from last month
- 3 months
- +14.1%
- 1 year
- +25.1%
- 52-week range
- $2.74–$3.49
- Fuel per mile
- $0.92
Dry van · national · monthly since 2003
Dry van rate history
All-in rateFuel cost per mile
53' dry van freight in the United States averaged $3.49 a mile all-in in October 2026, up 5.4% from the month before and up 25.1% from a year earlier. That is the highest point of the past twelve months. Fuel accounts for about $0.92 of each mile at current diesel prices.
Price a dry van load
Dry van rates by state
| State | Outbound | Inbound |
|---|---|---|
| California | $4.79 | $2.94 |
| Oregon | $4.71 | $2.94 |
| Washington | $4.39 | $2.94 |
| Illinois | $4.32 | $2.90 |
| Minnesota | $4.21 | $3.26 |
| Nebraska | $4.20 | $2.96 |
| Michigan | $4.19 | $3.05 |
| Indiana | $4.16 | $3.02 |
| North Dakota | $4.16 | $3.33 |
| South Dakota | $4.16 | $3.11 |
| Wisconsin | $4.16 | $3.04 |
| Kansas | $4.13 | $3.05 |
| Ohio | $4.10 | $3.08 |
| Missouri | $3.97 | $2.92 |
| Iowa | $3.96 | $2.96 |
| Alabama | $3.73 | $3.46 |
| Mississippi | $3.58 | $3.48 |
| New York | $3.58 | $3.95 |
| Tennessee | $3.57 | $3.35 |
| Kentucky | $3.53 | $3.18 |
| New Jersey | $3.53 | $3.69 |
| Arkansas | $3.48 | $3.11 |
| Maryland | $3.45 | $3.84 |
| District of Columbia | $3.43 | $4.01 |
| Virginia | $3.43 | $3.92 |
| West Virginia | $3.43 | $3.83 |
| Louisiana | $3.42 | $3.35 |
| Delaware | $3.40 | $3.83 |
| Oklahoma | $3.38 | $3.37 |
| Texas | $3.37 | $3.04 |
| Idaho | $3.31 | $3.63 |
| Maine | $3.29 | $4.44 |
| Georgia | $3.25 | $3.47 |
| New Hampshire | $3.20 | $4.26 |
| North Carolina | $3.20 | $3.52 |
| South Carolina | $3.19 | $3.58 |
| Pennsylvania | $3.18 | $3.76 |
| Massachusetts | $3.09 | $4.07 |
| Rhode Island | $3.09 | $4.25 |
| Vermont | $3.09 | $4.26 |
| Montana | $3.03 | $3.63 |
| Connecticut | $2.91 | $4.31 |
| Nevada | $2.86 | $3.33 |
| New Mexico | $2.81 | $3.63 |
| Arizona | $2.75 | $3.25 |
| Utah | $2.75 | $3.69 |
| Wyoming | $2.75 | $3.93 |
| Florida | $2.72 | $4.43 |
| Colorado | $2.60 | $4.11 |
Dry van rates on major lanes
| Lane | Estimate | Per mile |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles, CA → Dallas, TX | $5,392 | $3.66 |
| Chicago, IL → Atlanta, GA | $3,035 | $4.39 |
| Dallas, TX → Houston, TX | $1,138 | $4.33 |
| Atlanta, GA → Miami, FL | $2,994 | $4.18 |
| Los Angeles, CA → Phoenix, AZ | $2,279 | $5.30 |
| Chicago, IL → Dallas, TX | $3,369 | $3.58 |
| New York, NY → Chicago, IL | $2,447 | $2.89 |
| Seattle, WA → Los Angeles, CA | $3,840 | $3.38 |
| Houston, TX → Atlanta, GA | $2,707 | $3.28 |
| Memphis, TN → Chicago, IL | $1,822 | $3.21 |
| Columbus, OH → New York, NY | $2,841 | $5.03 |
| Denver, CO → Dallas, TX | $1,752 | $2.25 |
| Los Angeles, CA → Seattle, WA | $4,186 | $3.69 |
| Charlotte, NC → Philadelphia, PA | $2,038 | $3.80 |
| Kansas City, MO → Denver, CO | $3,167 | $4.86 |
About the 53' dry van
- Deck
- 53 ft × 8.5 ft, 110 in inside height
- Payload
- 45,000 lb
- Pallet positions
- 26
- Typical freight
- Packaged consumer goods, paper, beverages, retail replenishment
Annual averages
| Year | Average | Low | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 YTD | $3.05 | $2.74 | $3.49 |
| 2025 | $2.71 | $2.51 | $2.86 |
| 2024 | $2.65 | $2.42 | $2.87 |
| 2023 | $2.81 | $2.62 | $3.06 |
| 2022 | $3.07 | $2.96 | $3.19 |
| 2021 | $2.48 | $2.21 | $2.84 |
| 2020 | $2.07 | $1.94 | $2.23 |
| 2019 | $2.08 | $2.06 | $2.13 |
| 2018 | $2.05 | $1.98 | $2.12 |
| 2017 | $1.90 | $1.87 | $1.97 |
| 2016 | $1.87 | $1.85 | $1.88 |
| 2015 | $1.91 | $1.89 | $1.92 |
| 2014 | $1.96 | $1.93 | $1.98 |
| 2013 | $1.93 | $1.91 | $1.93 |
| 2012 | $1.91 | $1.87 | $1.93 |
| 2011 | $1.82 | $1.76 | $1.86 |
| 2010 | $1.71 | $1.67 | $1.75 |
| 2009 | $1.68 | $1.66 | $1.71 |
| 2008 | $1.80 | $1.74 | $1.87 |
| 2007 | $1.72 | $1.70 | $1.75 |
| 2006 | $1.69 | $1.67 | $1.71 |
| 2005 | $1.64 | $1.59 | $1.69 |
| 2004 | $1.55 | $1.52 | $1.59 |
| 2003 | $1.51 | $1.51 | $1.51 |
Compare truck types
| Truck type | Per mile | 1 mo | 1 yr | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VAN53' dry van | $3.49 | +5.4% | +25.1% | |
| REEF53' refrigerated | $4.16 | −0.2% | +35.9% | |
| FLAT48' flatbed | $4.27 | +3.4% | +18.6% | |
| STEPStep deck | $4.66 | +3.3% | +18.6% | |
| PWRPower only | $3.05 | +5.5% | +25.0% | |
| HOTHotshot | $2.30 | +3.1% | +18.6% | |
| BOX26' box truck | $2.27 | +3.2% | +17.6% | |
| SPRTSprinter van | $1.40 | +3.7% | +17.6% |
Dry van rate questions
What is the average dry van rate per mile?
The Lane Cost Index puts the national average 53' dry van rate at $3.49 per mile all-in for a 750-mile full load in October 2026. Short hauls cost more per mile and long hauls less, because pickup, delivery and wait time are spread over fewer or more miles.
Are dry van rates going up or down?
They are up 5.4% over the past month, up 14.1% over three months and up 25.1% over twelve months.
How much does it cost to ship a 53' dry van load 500 miles?
Use the calculator for an estimate on your exact lane. As a guide, per-mile cost at 500 miles runs higher than the $3.49 national figure, which is quoted at 750 miles.
What does a 53' dry van carry?
The enclosed 53-foot trailer that moves most palletized US freight. Deck: 53 ft × 8.5 ft, 110 in inside height. Legal payload is about 45,000 lb, or 26 standard pallets. Typical freight: packaged consumer goods, paper, beverages, retail replenishment.
Where do these numbers come from?
Rate levels are fitted to live all-in truckload quotes. Month-to-month history follows US Bureau of Labor Statistics trucking price indexes, and the fuel portion comes from Energy Information Administration diesel prices. They are estimates, not quotes.