Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metro → Chicago–Naperville–Elgin metro · 2,015 miles
| Route | Los Angeles, California → Chicago, Illinois |
|---|---|
| Distance | 2,015 miles |
| Lane Type | cross country |
| Lane Direction | ⚖️ Balanced (strong bi-directional demand) |
| Peak Season | Q3–Q4 holiday import season (Aug–Nov) |
| Active Carriers | ~1,200 carriers serving this lane |
The LA–Chicago lane is one of the highest-volume freight corridors in North America, linking the nation's largest import gateway (Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, handling ~40% of US containerized imports) with the Midwest distribution hub. This lane sees over 200,000 dry van loads per year. Rates on this lane closely track import container volumes and are a key leading indicator for broader freight market conditions. The westbound backhaul (Chicago→LA) is typically 15–25% cheaper due to lower backhaul demand.
Book 5–7 days in advance for standard transit. Rates spike 20–35% in October–November during peak import season. Intermodal rail (BNSF/Union Pacific) offers 15–20% savings for 3-day transit; ideal for non-urgent freight. Transload opportunities exist at LA/LB container ports to convert ocean containers to domestic trailers.
The following carriers maintain regular capacity on the Los Angeles–Chicago corridor:
The all-in FTL cost for this lane is calculated as:
This estimate excludes accessorial charges (liftgate, inside delivery, residential surcharges, detention, and driver layover). Use our landed cost calculator for a comprehensive total cost of ownership.
Get matched with verified carriers and 3PLs that operate the Los Angeles–Chicago corridor.
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