As a box truck owner are you often looking for loads to fill your truck so that you can operate more efficiently? Or are you are shipper that needs a small truck to move your goods? Then a load board could be a great solution for you.
A load board provides a fast and simple way to search for suitable loads for your truck or fleet. It brings together carriers and shippers on a single platform to make connections to deliver goods more effectively as it can assist carriers in filling their vehicles when they have partial loads or fill them on return trips to increase the revenue on journeys.
Load boards can also help to provide a platform to post your truck in some cases so that shippers can contact you with loads. They can also provide a wealth of information to help you understand the current marketplace and industry to help you with managing your business and making decisions.
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The table below shows a quick price comparison of all the load board solutions that we’ve researched:
| Company name | Monthly cost | Free plan |
|---|---|---|
| 123 Loadboard | From $35/mo | Free trial for 10 days |
| Direct Freight Services | From free | Free account & free to post loads |
| Amazon Relay | Not stated | No |
| Doft | From free | Free plan |
| Loadup | From free | Free for shippers and some carriers |
| Freight Finder | From free | Free to use |
| Atlantic Logistics | Not stated | No |
| Jones Logistics | Not stated | No |
| Online Freight Services | Not stated | No |
| FindFreightLoads | Not stated | Free for brokers and shippers, a free three day trial for carriers |
| Flock Freight | From free | Free to use |
| Expedite | From $50/mo | No |
| Group One | Not stated | No |
| Trucker Tools | Not stated | No |
*The prices in the table above (where available) come directly from each company’s website and were accurate at the time of writing. Since then, those prices may have changed.
We’ve listed the results of our load board research and the features of each company’s product in a bit more detail below. You’ll be able to see the benefits of their service and some general information about the company as well.
*companies are ranked in no particular order.
Topics
1. 123 Loadboard
123 Loadboard provides freight solutions with a range of vehicles including box vans. They provide coverage across the US and Canada.
- Their load board provides a range of loads which include those suitable for vans
- Provides a choice of plans for carriers and brokers
- Offers a 10-day trial on carrier plans
- They provide a free demo of their software
- The load board is searchable by city, zip or GPS
- Alerts can be set up for new loads that meet your criteria
- You can use their Rate Check tool to help estimate your rates
- They offer additional tools to help with mileage and routing
- They provide a mobile app to make it accessible from anywhere
- Additional services include credit checking and compliance services
Website: https://www.123loadboard.com/
2. Direct Freight Services
Direct Freight Services offers freight services across the US which connects drivers, shippers and brokers to deliver loads.
- They offer a load board that handles a range of equipment types including box trucks
- They offer over 300,000 loads daily
- Accounts are free and loads can be posted for free
- Free accounts are available for carriers to contact shippers and brokers
- The load board can be accessed without an account but you can view it only
- Provides load filtering with custom columns and categories
- You can set up alerts for suitable loads by email or text
- The Driver App provides remote access and helps with route planning
- You can store and send documents through the load board
- They provide access to full credit reports and credit scores
Website: https://www.directfreight.com/
3. Amazon Relay
Amazon Relay is the carrier arm of the Amazon business that delivers customer parcels and they provide a load board for their parcels and third parties.
- Offers a load board that caters for box trucks and trailer-provided
- They offer thousands of additional loads
- They cater for carriers and drivers
- They provide a choice of contracts for single and multiple weeks
- The Amazon Relay app provides additional tools to support drivers
- Provides commercial navigation assistance and allows you to add stopping points on the route
- Real-time alerts about job changes
- Offers easy carrier payments
- Offers a carrier reward and discount scheme
Website: https://relay.amazon.com/
4. Doft
Doft provides a load board that brings together drivers and shippers to ship goods across the US, Canada and Mexico.
- They provide a free load board with many of the key features
- They also offer a premium plan with additional features
- Offers over 150,000 loads per day which includes box trucks
- The load board can be searched to find loads that match your criteria
- Bids can be placed easily and quickly
- Notifications can be set up for nearby loads
- Confirmation of rates will be sent instantly to carriers
- Tracking is available for vehicles that are fitted with GPS trackers
- You can be paid quickly within 24 hours for loads delivered
Website: https://doft.com/
5. Loadup
Loadup provides several load boards that cater for an international market with one for the US and Canadian markets and another for all other countries.
- Their load board is free for shippers
- Some carrier types can benefit from free membership
- Carriers need to register and a membership fee may apply
- The load board is designed for individuals, freight brokers, manufacturers, house and furniture movers
- You can easily search for suitable loads
- Posts detail everything about the load including identifying the equipment from 35 types
- You can set up email alerts for suitable loads
- Members can take part in bids and auctions
- They also provide access to tenders
- Includes a listing in their member directory
Website: http://www.usacanadaloadup.com/
6. FreightFinder.com
FreightFinder.com provides freight services to help match freight brokers with trucking companies and owner-operators through a load board which is integrated with the LoadBoardNetwork.
- Provides a free to use load board
- You don’t need an account to access the load board
- Offers thousands of loads daily
- They provide a secure load board for posting loads
- They allow you to search for loads by origin or destination, radius to location, and equipment type
- You can personalise your load board experience
- Carriers can post their truck availability
- They provide support with mileage and routing information
- Includes an industry directory
- Offer additional services including an industry refined search engine and trucking job site
Website: https://www.freightfinder.com/
7. Atlantic Logistics
Atlantic Logistics is a load board provider that is a 3PL company that aims to improve supply chains and provide better access to carriers.
- Offers a load board that has a network of carriers and shippers
- Carriers need to register and be vetted before they can access the load board
- They provide a variety of loads including truckloads, LTL, flatbed, refrigerated, specialised and government loads
- Their load board covers North America
- They have completed over 250,000 shipments
- They enable users to filter and search by origin, destination, mileage, rates, dates and equipment types
- They provide advanced tools to enable users to accept and schedule loads
- They have a dedicated support team
- They offer Quick Pay options
- They were named a top freight broker for the 5th time in 2021
Website: https://www.shipatlantic.com/
8. Jones Logistics
Jones Logistics is a freight services company that offers freight brokerage, managed transportation, dedicated operations and more.
- They offer a load with over 26,000 carriers
- Carriers need to be vetted before they can access the load board
- They help carriers maximise their trucks and increase their income including vans
- It helps shippers find trusted carriers and optimise their spend
- Load information includes origin, destination, equipment type, weight and distance
- You can search the load board by filtering the location, day available and equipment
- They provide a load tracking system
- They provide communication tools to improve delivery
- Also assist with managing schedules, billing and claims management
- They offer Quick Pay options for carriers
Website: https://www.joneslogistics.com/
9. Online Freight Services
Online Freight Services provides freight systems that are backed by Echo Global Logistics and they help businesses to improve shipment efficiency.
- Offers a load board with over 50,000 carriers including box trucks that provide LTL services
- They provide a self-service web portal
- They have made it easy to search for suitable loads
- They claim to offer competitive loads
- They provide a variety of customers with a range of goods and locations
- They provide services including full and LTL, flatbed, heavy haul, temperature-controlled, hot shot, car haulers, tankers, dump trucks and boat haulers
- They provide freight by road, rail, air and ocean
- They utilise TMSPro software that assists with handling collections, issuing invoices and paying carriers
- Quick payment options are available
- They provide out-of-hours support
Website: https://onlinefreight.com/
10. FindFreightLoads.com
FindFreightLoads.com offers a load board for shippers, brokers and carriers that utilises artificial intelligence and machine learning to help find better load matches.
- Provides a load board called RighNowLoad.com which includes loads for box trucks
- Brokers and shippers can use the load board for free
- There is no contract for the load board but a monthly fee applies
- They offer a free three-day trial for carriers
- You can search for loads based on date, origin, destination, radius of location, equipment and full/partial load
- It allows direct contact between all parties to improve communication
- Credit report facilities are available
- A bulk load facility is available for shippers and brokers
- Offers additional services including mileage and routing, weather and load conditions, and fuel discounts
- They also offer factoring solutions
Website: https://findfreightloads.com/
11. FlockFreight
FlockFreight specialises in freight solutions for partial and less than truckloads as well as full truckloads so that they can assist carriers in maximising their trucks and revenue.
- Provides freight options suitable for box trucks, Sprinters, dry vans and refrigerated trucks
- Offers a specialist service for partial loads
- It is designed to match shared loads
- Carriers can sign up quickly online
- They provide a vetting process before carriers can access the load board
- You can search for suitable loads
- You can choose to book loads instantly or submit a bid
- They offer load suggestions to match your requirements
- The load board is available online and through the app
- Shippers can get reduced shipping costs from sharing loads
Website: https://www.flockfreight.com/
12. Expedite
Expedite provides a load board that is dedicated to expedited loads in the US and Canada that supports independent businesses and large companies.
- Offers a specialist expedited load board
- They have over 2,000 carriers and brokers in their network
- Their loads are suited best to box trucks, cargo vans and Sprinters
- They support independent contractors, small companies and freight companies
- Two plans are available depending on your vehicle type which works for you
- To become one of their carriers you need to meet the requirements
- They provide an easy to use bidding system
- Brokers can quickly post their loads
- Access is available through the web and mobile app
- Support is provided by email to users
Website: https://expediteloadboard.com/
13. Group One Inc
Group One Inc is a logistics and transportation company that provides a combined fleet of their own vehicles and a carrier network which covers the Continental US and Canada.
- Their load board caters for carriers and shippers
- They offer services which include heavy haul, drive away, customised logistics, tradeshows and events, and warehousing
- Carriers need to register with them if they want to book loads
- They vet carriers before providing access to the load board
- They provide an easy search functionality
- Post details include origin, destination and instructions
- Carriers can request suitable loads
- Load types include box trucks, transit vans, heavy loads and flatbeds
- Helps carriers find loads to fill their trucks and improve revenue
- Assists shippers in making loads more cost-effective and efficient
Website: https://grouponetransport.com/
14. Trucker Tools
Trucker Tools offers a range of freight management tools to help manage and optimise fleets and supply chains which include TMS, ELD and telematics, load board and dispatch system.
- Their load board is called Book It Now
- They have a network of 165,000 carriers and 13 million truckers which includes box trucks
- Carriers need to sign up through the website to access the load board
- You can search for suitable loads and book them
- Quotes can be sent and negotiated through the load board quickly
- You can save your preferred lanes and brokers
- They provide recommendations for loads based on your preferences
- The load board allows you to manage and view loads
- Provides a load tracking system
- Also provides additional tools to help truckers
Website: https://www.truckertools.com/
Box truck load board Q&As
What are box trucks?
A box truck is a small truck with a chassis cab truck with an enclosed cargo area in the shape of a box and they can feature a tail lift. Box trucks are also known as box vans, cube vans bob trucks, cube trucks or Luton vans.
The shape of a box truck load area is larger with straighter sides than other vehicles such as a Sprinter van. They are a secure form of transport with protection from the elements.
The average commercial box truck is 26 feet and can transport approximately 10,000 pounds.
They are designed to carry a variety of goods such as retail and consumer products, dry goods, palletised freight, machine parts and much more. They are great at delivering less than truckload freight due to their size and also for parcel and furniture delivery.
Why should you use box trucks?
Box trucks are a great choice for many load types, especially for less than truckloads, parcel and furniture delivery as a semi-truck or flatbed is not required as they would be too large for the goods and uneconomical.
Small vehicles such as a Sprinter or smaller van may also be uneconomical as they may not be able to accommodate the amount of goods to make the load efficient or the vehicle may not be big enough to accommodate all the possible items.
Box trucks will be more economical for fuel efficiency for smaller loads and easier to maneuver than a larger semi-truck or other large truck in built up areas to make deliveries.
As they have square sides they are practical and with a tail lift they can manage many types of loads including panelised loads which can be easily loaded and unloaded.
Do all box truck load boards show rates?
Some load boards do show the rates for the loads but the majority of load boards don’t show the rates. This is done intentionally as the load boards are often designed to be a competitive platform to help shippers get the best rates for transporting their goods so they operate a bidding process. To display the rates on these competitive bidding load boards would be counterproductive.
Some load boards use other tools to help their users calculate their rates by providing a rate calculator and historical rate information which can be utilised to assist with estimating your rates.
Which load board pays the most?
It is not down the load board which pays the most as the load board itself doesn’t determine what the rates for the loads are. The carrier has a great say in the rate as they decide which loads they want to pursue whether that is accepting an advertised rate, negotiating a rate or bidding for a load using a quote. They also have the opportunity to accept or decline the load once the shipper or broker chooses their offer.
The only factor that the load board plays on the price and how much you can earn from a load is the charges that apply to the load that you take through their load board. Each load board has its own fees and charges which can include a joining fee, subscription fee, and a charge applied to every load won through the load board, this could be a fixed fee or percentage charged on top of the quote to the shipper or carrier, or be incorporated into the quote.
You need to understand the fees and charges that apply to the load board you are using so that you can factor this into your quotes and profit calculations.
Are there any restrictions around using a box truck?
Box trucks have a weight and size limit for their contents, for example, the average box truck is 26 feet in length so the goods can not exceed this length. The average weight limit for a box truck is around 10,000 pounds so the total weight of the goods will need to be under this amount.
The other consideration to make is the size of the vehicle and whether there are any access restrictions as the box truck although more agile than their semi-truck counterpart, can still be restricted in terms of manoeuvrability in tight areas and height restricted areas might prevent them from accessing them.