410 miles · Est. 6.2 hours · Avg $2.35/mile · Gross $964
Lane Overview
410
Miles
$2.35
Avg rate/mile
$964
Avg gross rate
moderate
Competition
Minneapolis to Chicago southbound on I-35 to I-90 is the agricultural heartland's pipeline to the Midwest's largest city. Cargill, General Mills, and Land O'Lakes all have major Minneapolis facilities generating food and beverage freight, agricultural products, and consumer goods heading south toward Chicago's 9 million consumers. Reefer demand peaks in harvest season (August–November) when grain and produce processing output surges.
I-35 through Wisconsin requires navigating the Tomah/LaCrosse area interchange — allow extra time. Winter conditions on I-35 through southern Minnesota and northern Iowa are serious — November through March expect at least one weather delay per season. I-90 east connects to I-39 south for the cleanest run into Chicago. Tolls add $10 through Illinois. Return loads Chicago to Minneapolis (Lane 15) bring consumer goods and retail merchandise northbound — this is a solid two-way corridor with consistent moderate rates of $2.25–$2.45/mile.
Driver Tip
Use our Load Profitability Calculator to check if this lane covers your operating costs before accepting a load.
Trip Costs
Fuel Estimate
$152
Based on avg diesel price
Toll Estimate
$10
Varies by route and state
Net After Costs
$802
Before your other costs
What Moves on This Lane
Common Equipment
Return Freight
Chicago to Minneapolis
410 miles · $2.35/mile avg
Similar Routes
Driver's Complete Guide
Minneapolis doesn't get enough credit as a freight origin. The city is home to some of the largest food processing operations in the world — Cargill, General Mills, Land O'Lakes, Hormel nearby — and they all need trucks heading south toward Chicago's 9 million consumers on a daily basis. Add Best Buy's corporate campus in Eden Prairie and Target's Minneapolis headquarters, and you've got a city generating consumer goods and food freight simultaneously. The challenge is the route — 410 miles through Wisconsin that turns difficult the moment winter arrives.
Food and beverage is the foundation. General Mills' Golden Valley operations ship breakfast cereals, baking products, and packaged food south. Land O'Lakes dairy products require reefer capability and run year-round. Cargill's grain processing and food ingredient operations generate both dry-van and tanker loads depending on the commodity. Consumer goods from Minneapolis's massive retail distribution infrastructure — Target and Best Buy between them operate enormous distribution centers — add dry-van volume. Harvest season from August through November amplifies all of it as processing output peaks across Minnesota's agricultural sector.
The primary routing takes you east on I-94 to I-90 east through Madison, Wisconsin, then south on I-39 into Illinois and the Chicago metro. Some operators run I-35 south through Iowa — longer and hillier through Wisconsin terrain. The I-94/I-90 through Madison is the cleaner commercial vehicle route. Wisconsin's Black River Falls area on I-90 has a weigh station that catches a significant volume of Midwest agricultural freight — have your weight distribution confirmed before you reach it. Illinois I-39/I-55 south into Chicago adds about $10 in Illinois tolls near Bloomington. Chicago approach from the south on I-55 puts you into the southside distribution corridor near Joliet and the I-55/I-80 interchange.
At $2.25–$2.45/mile, moderate difficulty reflects consistent demand without the intensity of a coastal corridor. Harvest season (September–October) is when rates push toward the top of the range as reefer capacity gets absorbed by agricultural processing freight. Standard dry-van consumer goods loads run the middle of the range year-round. Carriers with direct shipper relationships with General Mills or Land O'Lakes contract carriers earn above-spot rates through the food production cycle's predictable rhythms.
Chicago to Minneapolis northbound (Lane 15) brings consumer goods and retail merchandise toward the Twin Cities market. Chicago's manufacturing sector also sends industrial goods north. Rates northbound run $2.20–$2.40/mile. Pre-book the return from Chicago before delivering southbound — the Chicago area market moves fast and dwell time costs money.
How serious is winter driving on this route through southern Minnesota and Wisconsin?
Very serious from November through March. I-90 through Wisconsin can see lake-effect snow and ice conditions with minimal notice. Minnesota I-94 and I-90 get treated but wind-driven snow reduces visibility quickly. Budget for at least one weather delay per winter season on this lane — it's not if, it's when.
What's the Wisconsin Black River Falls weigh station looking for on southbound trucks?
Standard commercial vehicle compliance. The station on I-90 eastbound near Black River Falls is active for weight, log book, and equipment inspection. Agricultural loads get attention during harvest season when overweight grain movements increase enforcement activity. Have your paperwork and ELD compliant.
Is reefer required for Land O'Lakes dairy freight or does some of it move dry?
Land O'Lakes ships both temperature-controlled dairy (butter, cheese) and dry packaged products. The dairy loads require reefer with verified temperature capability. Dry packaged goods (flour, baking mixes produced through their partnerships) move standard dry-van. Reefer operators will see more Land O'Lakes freight because it's the higher-value commodity.
Dispatch Service
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