Des Moines to Chicago Truck Dispatch
Freight route connecting Des Moines, IA to Chicago, IL (330 miles). Chicago's intermodal hub status extends Des Moines's Midwest reach via I-80.
What do truck dispatch rates run from Des Moines to Chicago?
Des Moines to Chicago is a 330-mile lane paying about $809 - $941 per load, near $2.45 - $2.85 a mile. Freight is mostly consumer goods, agricultural freight and rail-intermodal-connected freight.
- Distance
- 330 miles
- Avg. rate / load
- $809 - $940
- Rate per mile
- $2.45 - $2.85
- Transit time
- Same day / 5-6 hrs
- Deadhead risk
- 20-25%
Lane rates reviewed September 2026. These numbers follow 2026 spot-market pricing and shift with fuel prices and winter weather. See our dispatch fee structure.
Des Moines to Chicago
Des Moines to Chicago is a 330-mile, roughly 5.5-hour run east on I-80, connecting Iowa's capital and agribusiness hub to the nation's largest rail-intermodal freight market. Des Moines sits at the crossroads of I-80 and I-35, and Chicago is where six of the seven Class I railroads meet, giving this corridor real truck-to-rail reload options.
Origin
Des Moines, IA
Destination
Chicago, IL
Distance
330 miles
Transit Time
Same day / 5-6 hrs
Average Rate
$809 - $940
Rate per Mile
$2.45 - $2.85
330-mile lane, about 5.5 hours on I-80
Des Moines sits at the crossroads of I-80 and I-35
Chicago is where six of the seven Class I railroads meet
Des Moines to Chicago: route facts a driver should know
Des Moines sits at the I-35/I-80 crossroads
Des Moines sits where I-35 (north-south) and I-80 (east-west) meet, giving trucks direct routes toward Canada, Mexico, and both coasts. Iowa's interstates carried 62% of the state's large-truck traffic in 2015.
Source: Federal Highway Administration, Roundtable on the Freight Economy: Des Moines. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Chicago is the only US metro where all six Class I railroads meet
Chicago is the only US metro area where all six Class I railroads converge, handling about 25% of all US rail freight traffic and roughly half of all intermodal trains nationwide.
Source: Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. Checked 30 Sep 2026.
Diesel for this lane
How much is the diesel for Des Moines to Chicago?
About $322.49 this week. The lane is 330 miles. A truck that gets 6.5 miles per gallon uses about 51 gallons, and diesel is averaging $6.35 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 this region, not the price at each pump. Your mpg and fuel card discounts change it.
- Distance
- 330 mi
- Diesel needed
- 51 gal
- Price used
- $6.35/gal
- Fuel cost
- $322.49
Common Freight Types
Consumer goods, agricultural freight and rail-intermodal-connected freight fill the trailers heading east.
- Consumer Goods
- Manufacturing Equipment
- Pork Products
What makes the Des Moines to Chicago lane difficult?
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range
A medium-length lane keeps per-load rates in a moderate range.
Winter weather along I-80 through Iowa and Illinois can affect road conditions
Winter weather along I-80 through Iowa and Illinois can affect road conditions.
Rail-truck competition on this corridor can pressure spot rates
Rail-truck competition on this corridor can pressure spot rates.
What freight moves on the Des Moines to Chicago lane?
What travels between Des Moines and Chicago, and why the rail-intermodal connection matters here.
Primary Commodities
- •Consumer Goods
- •Manufacturing Equipment
- •Pork Products
Secondary Commodities
- •Rail-intermodal-connected freight
- •Agribusiness and food-processing-connected freight
- •Consumer goods
Seasonal Cargo
Peak seasons for this lane:
- •Consumer goods (holiday surge)
- •Agricultural freight (planting and harvest seasons)
- •Rail-intermodal-connected freight (steady)
When is the Des Moines to Chicago lane busiest?
Retail timing and Iowa's agricultural calendar both shape this lane.
Q1 (Jan-Mar): Slow Period?
A modest dip after the holidays and during winter weather.
Q4 (Oct-Dec): Peak Period?
Consumer goods climb from October through December.
Produce Season?
A real factor tied to Iowa's spring planting and fall harvest seasons.
- •Q4 holiday retail season
- •Summer manufacturing freight
- •Winter freight slowdown around weather
Hurricane Risk?
None. Winter weather along I-80 is this corridor's real seasonal risk.
Seasonal Strategy Summary
This lane runs steady year-round, with a seasonal bump during fall harvest as grain freight picks up out of Des Moines.
How do I negotiate the best rate on the Des Moines to Chicago lane?
When to book, who pays extra, and which loads need a weather plan.
When to Book
Suggested booking window:
1-2 days out is typical for this haul.
What Brokers Pay More
Loads that command more:
Time-critical rail-intermodal-connected freight tends to pay a premium.
When to Avoid
Loads to price carefully:
Be careful committing to a winter delivery into Chicago without a weather contingency plan.
Rate Negotiation Tips for Des Moines to Chicago
- •
Illinois is already one of Des Moines's top outbound freight partners by tonnage, so this lane tends to stay busy.
- •
At 330 miles, this is a solid one-day run.
- •
Chicago's rail competition can affect truckload rates, so shop your quote before committing.
How do I find a backhaul load on the Des Moines to Chicago lane?
Chicago's massive distribution network makes a westbound load realistic.
Best Return Cities
Where to look for the return load:
- •Chicago, IL
- •Regional distribution hubs near Chicago
Deadhead Risk %
Deadhead risk on this lane: 20-25%
With six of the seven Class I railroads meeting in Chicago, there is real backhaul variety.
Alternative Routes
If the first load falls through, try these:
- •Chicago is a big freight hub, which keeps this a fairly low-deadhead-risk lane.
Backhaul Optimization Tips
- •
Chicago's rail convergence gives you backhaul options heading almost anywhere.
- •
Des Moines's own freight base, backed by grain and manufacturing, keeps westbound loads flowing too.
- •
This lane connects two genuinely major freight markets, so backhauls are rarely hard to find.
What do experienced dispatchers know about the Des Moines to Chicago lane?
Three notes before this rail-corridor run.
This lane pairs well with a same-day or next-day return load.
Check Iowa and Illinois winter conditions before a late-fall through early-spring run.
Compare rail-intermodal options if your freight has flexible timing.
Illinois is one of Des Moines's biggest freight partners by tonnage, so this lane sees steady, real demand in both directions.
Des Moines to Chicago Lane FAQs
Answers on drive time, Chicago's rail hub, and winter weather.
The lane data shows about $809 - $941 per load, or $2.45 - $2.85 a mile, across 330 miles.
About 5.5 hours for the 330 miles on I-80.
It's the nation's largest rail hub, where six of the seven Class I railroads meet.
Yes, generally, given Chicago's massive distribution and rail-intermodal network.
Other Iowa freight lanes we dispatch
- Des Moines to Minneapolis
- Des Moines to Rockford
- Des Moines to Kansas City
- Des Moines to St. Louis
- Des Moines to Omaha
- Des Moines to Milwaukee
Local resources
Also serving the other end of this lane
Dry Van owner-operator, Midwest: +$1,950/week after moving to $2.65/mi on produce / auto parts freight.
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