Los Angeles to Chicago Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL (2015 miles). Chicago's intermodal hub status extends LA's Midwest reach via I-40.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Los Angeles to Chicago?
Los Angeles to Chicago is a 2,015-mile lane paying about $3,828 - $4,634 per load, near $1.90 - $2.30 a mile. The lane data lists transit as 3-4 days, one of the longest on this list. Freight is mostly consumer goods, manufacturing equipment and retail distribution.
- Distance
- 2015 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $3,828 - $4,634
- Rate per mile
- $1.90 - $2.30
- Transit time
- 3-4 days
- Deadhead risk
- 40-45%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices over this long haul. See our dispatch fee structure.
Los Angeles to Chicago
Los Angeles to Chicago is a 2,015-mile, 3-to-4-day run east, one of the longest lanes on this list. Chicago is where six of North America's major freight rail companies converge: BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific all meet there, and the region handles nearly 25% of all US rail freight traffic. BNSF's Logistics Park Chicago in Elwood is North America's largest inland port, moving over 3 million TEU a year, and BNSF's Cicero terminal alone processes more than 1 million intermodal lifts annually. A haul this long needs at least one full 34-hour restart, and most drivers split it into clear daily legs rather than trying to push through.
Origin
Los Angeles, CA
Destination
Chicago, IL
Distance
2015 miles
Transit Time
3-4 days
Average Rate
$3,828 - $4,634
Rate per Mile
$1.90 - $2.30
2,015-mile lane, typically a 3-4 day run
Chicago is where six major North American freight railroads converge
BNSF's Logistics Park Chicago (Elwood) is North America's largest inland port, moving over 3 million TEU a year
Los Angeles to Chicago: route facts a driver should know
CARB's Clean Truck Check now runs twice a year
California's Clean Truck Check program requires most diesel trucks over 14,000 pounds to pass emissions testing twice a year, with deadlines tied to DMV registration, applying to out-of-state trucks operating in California too.
Source: California Air Resources Board, Clean Truck Check overview. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
A very long lane: plan multiple days
FMCSA requires a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving without one. This 2,015-mile lane runs well beyond a single driving day, so plan multiple rest breaks and overnight stops into your route.
Source: FMCSA, Summary of Hours of Service Regulations. Checked 29 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Los Angeles to Chicago?
About $2262.07 this week. The lane is 2,015 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 310 gallons, and diesel is averaging $7.30 a gallon on this lane (week of October 19, 2026). The U.S. average diesel price is up 10 cents this week.
An estimate. It uses EIA's weekly average for the two regions this lane connects, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 2,015 mi
- Diesel needed
- 310 gal
- Price used
- $7.30/gal
- Fuel cost
- $2262.07
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, manufacturing equipment and retail distribution fill the trailers on this cross-country run.
- Consumer Goods
- Manufacturing Equipment
- Retail Distribution
What makes the Los Angeles to Chicago lane difficult?
The length requires a full multi-day HOS plan, typically including a 34-hour restart
The length requires a full multi-day HOS plan, typically including a 34-hour restart.
Chicago-area traffic, especially near the rail intermodal terminals, can be heavy
Chicago-area traffic, especially near the rail intermodal terminals, can be heavy.
Weather along a route this long varies widely by season, from desert heat to Midwest winter
Weather along a route this long varies widely by season, from desert heat to Midwest winter.
What freight moves on the Los Angeles to Chicago lane?
What travels between Los Angeles and Chicago, and when the busy weeks fall.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Manufacturing Equipment
- •Retail Distribution
Secondary Commodities
- •BNSF and Union Pacific intermodal freight
- •Manufacturing equipment
- •Import cargo transloaded from LA-area ports
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Manufacturing equipment (steady)
- •Retail distribution (steady)
When is the Los Angeles to Chicago lane busiest?
Retail timing sets the main peak on this long haul.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays, cushioned by steady manufacturing and rail-intermodal freight.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods and retail distribution climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
Not a major factor on this long cross-country lane.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Steady manufacturing-equipment freight
- •Port import surges
Seasonal Strategy Summary
Distribution freight on this transcontinental lane runs steady year-round, with winter Midwest weather on the eastern leg worth planning around from November through March.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Los Angeles to Chicago lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need extra HOS planning.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
4-6 days out is typical for a haul this long.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical rail-intermodal connector freight through Chicago's terminals tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a fast delivery through Chicago during a winter storm without a weather contingency.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Los Angeles to Chicago
- •
Plan your multi-day route with fuel, rest stops and overnight stays mapped out before you leave Los Angeles.
- •
Confirm your truck's Clean Truck Check status before departing California.
- •
Consider a mid-route reload near Denver or Kansas City if a full round trip doesn't pencil out on one load.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Los Angeles to Chicago lane?
Chicago's scale as North America's largest rail hub makes a westbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the westbound load:
- •Chicago, IL
- •Regional distribution hubs near Chicago
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 40-45%
Check BNSF's Elwood and Cicero terminals along with Union Pacific's facilities; each has its own reload freight.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Chicago is the nation's top intermodal hub, so westbound freight is usually plentiful. Carriers rarely deadhead this lane because freight moves both ways.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Chicago's massive intermodal distribution network gives this lane strong backhaul options despite the distance.
- •
Consider a mid-route reload on the way back given the length of this transcontinental run.
- •
Book your Chicago-area return load a few days ahead given the length of the trip back to Los Angeles.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Los Angeles to Chicago lane?
Three notes before this cross-country run.
Plan your 34-hour restart and daily legs before you leave LA on a run this long.
If reloading through Chicago, check which terminal (Elwood, Cicero, or another) has the freight you need.
Watch weather forecasts across the whole route; conditions can shift from desert heat to Midwest snow within the same trip in winter.
Check weigh station and permit requirements for each state you cross; rules vary more on a haul this long.
Before you book Los Angeles to Chicago, plan your multi-day route with overnight stops, since this lane runs well beyond a single driving day.
Los Angeles to Chicago Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, HOS planning, and Chicago's rail hub.
The lane data shows about $3,828 - $4,634 per load, or $1.90 - $2.30 a mile, across 2,015 miles, one of the longest and highest-paying lanes on this list.
Typically 3-4 days, which requires a full HOS plan, usually including a 34-hour restart at some point.
Six of North America's major freight railroads meet there, and the region handles nearly 25% of all US rail freight traffic. BNSF's Logistics Park Chicago in Elwood alone moves over 3 million TEU a year.
Yes, generally. Chicago's scale as the largest rail hub in North America gives strong odds on a westbound reload from one of its several major intermodal terminals.
Other California freight lanes we dispatch
- Los Angeles to Reno
- Los Angeles to Sacramento Valley/Stockton
- Los Angeles to Portland
- Los Angeles to Phoenix
- Los Angeles to Las Vegas
- Los Angeles to San Francisco
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, West Coast: +$2,010/week after moving to $2.62/mi on general freight / consumer goods freight.
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