As a trucker, one of the most important things is keeping your truck on the road and moving as well as keeping it full with paying loads. Having dead miles with no paying loads is the worst as you still have all the overheads of your truck, fuel for the mileage on return trips and your wages to pay. This is where a load board could make a difference for a trucking business.
A load board can help you find loads to fill the capacity of your truck on smaller loads to make them more profitable or help fill your truck on the return trip. You can use the load board to search for suitable loads that match your needs and book or bid for them. It makes it quick and simple to fill your truck and can be done from your phone in most cases through an app.
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The table below shows a quick price comparison of all the load board solutions that we’ve researched:
| Company name | Cost to join | Year founded |
|---|---|---|
| DAT Load Board | Plans start at $45/mo | 1978 |
| 123 Loadboard | Plans start at $35/mo | 2004 |
| Direct Freight | Free plans available | 1997 |
| Omnitracs | Not stated | 1998 |
| Amazon Relay | Not stated | 2017 |
| Landstar | Not stated | 1968 |
| JB Hunt | Free plans available | 1961 |
| Truckstop | Plans start at $39/mo | 1995 |
| Trucker Path | Free plans available | 2013 |
| Trulos | Free plans available | 2003 |
| NextLoad | Free plans available | 2014 |
| Convoy | Free plans available | 2015 |
| Doft Load Board | Free plans available | Not known |
| Uber Freight | Not stated | 2016 |
*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. DAT Freight & Analytics
DAT Freight & Analytics offers one of North America’s largest freight marketplaces with a range of freight tools to help manage freight and gain insight from analytics
- Offers a load board with a fast freight finder
- Unlimited searches and load match alarms
- Includes instant refresh and automated filters
- Provides a TriHaul tool to find higher paying routes
- They claim to offer more loads than other load boards
- Includes company reviews and credit scores to aid selection
- Provides a combined mobile app to increase efficiency
- Includes an interactive map in the app to assist with route planning and stops for fuel that can save money
- Gain market insights on conditions and truckload rates
- Monthly fees start at $45
Website: https://www.dat.com/
2. 123 Loadboard
123 Loadboard is a freight solutions company that operates in the US and parts of Canada with offices in Houston, Montreal and Toronto.
- Offers a choice of three load board plans for carriers
- They offer a 10-day free trial
- Available on a website portal or mobile app
- Easy to search for loads 24/7
- Set up real-time load alerts
- Some plans include document capture and storage
- Incorporates mileage and maps as well as tolls on some plans
- You can check the industry freight rates on the Premium Plus plan
- You can access additional benefits on some plans including load planner, credit scores and free fuel card
- Plans start at $35 per month
Website: https://www.123loadboard.com/
3. Direct Freight Services
Direct Freight Services is a freight management company that provides services across the US helping connect truckers, shippers and brokers to deliver loads.
- Offers a load board that enables truck drivers to search over 300,000 loads daily
- Unlimited searches and truck posts
- They have improved load filtering and alert scheduling
- Clear information on days to pay
- Includes custom columns and categories to improve load information and searching
- Set up alerts by email and text for loads
- View credit scores and full credit reports
- Store and send documents to streamline processes
- Caters for flatbeds, vans, reefers and box trucks
- Offers a free account for carriers to contact brokers and shippers
Website: https://www.directfreight.com/
4. Omnitracs
Omnitracs is an international software provider that specialises in fleet services and offers tools that optimise your operations and connect drivers, back-office teams and customers.
- Offers a TMS with a leading load board
- Their combined platform enables you to manage your fleet, dispatch, track loads and manage finances
- They offer a choice of two combined plans
- They specialise in expedited freight
- Catering for dry van, partial loads, refrigerated, flatbeds and truckload freight
- Search for loads from a network of trusted brokers
- Loads are available across the US, Canada and Mexico
- It allows you to run reports and gain insight into your fleet
- They provide an app that can improve driver experience
- They offer an integration with a fuel card
Website: https://www.omnitracs.com/
5. Amazon Relay
Amazon Relay is a carrier network that is part of Amazon and was created to deliver customer parcels but also ships parcels on behalf of other shippers through their load board.
- Specialist load board for small parcels
- Caters for both trailer-provided and box trucks
- They offer short-term contracts for single or multiple weeks
- They offer transparent auctions showing the lowest bid and time remaining
- They offer a post a truck function to allow shippers to book your truck
- Set up alerts for changes to assigned work
- The Amazon Relay app provides commercial navigation and enables fast on-site check-ins
- Through the app, you can also add stopping points for food, fuel and parking
- They provide hassle-free carrier payments
- They provide carriers with a discount and reward scheme
Website: https://relay.amazon.com/
6. Landstar
Landstar is a transportation company that provides technology-enabled and asset-light solutions that are integrated for the logistics and transportation industries.
- They provide a load board for independent agents and owner-operators
- Access thousands of loads every day
- They have over 1,100 independent agents posting loads
- Search for loads with a range of short and long hauls in the US and into Mexico and Canada
- Set up load alerts for suitable loads
- You can post your truck availability so that it can be booked
- Caters for equipment including truckload vans, step deck, heavy load, specialise, LTL, expedited, emergency, border crossing, air freight, rail intermodal, hazmat, and temperature-controlled
- You can register to become a carrier by calling them
- They offer fast pay with Savingsplus
- Access to discounts on fuel and other essentials
Website: https://www.landstar.com/
7. JB Hunt
JB Hunt is a freight transportation provider that is a Fortune 500 company that caters for owner-operators, small and large fleets.
- Offers a single platform to manage the transportation process
- Their carrier platform is called Carrier 360
- Provides a mobile app to help stay connected on the move
- Provides fast searches to help fill your truck
- Make check calls and view assignments
- The app can help plan routes with fuel stops
- Upload documents to share and save
- Post your available truck to find loads
- Create invoices for loads and send them to clients
- Offers Quick Pay options on eligible loads
Website: https://www.jbhunt.com/
8. Truckstop
Truckstop provides practical business solutions to help freight shipments from matching loads through to payments by providing technology enhancements.
- Offers a choice of three paid load board plans for carriers
- Offers over 80 million loads per year
- Caters for flatbeds, reefers, vans, LTL, heavy haul and specialised
- You can search for suitable loads
- They offer a Book It Now option
- The Truckstop Go app gives extra functionality and support on the move
- Some plans include enhanced functionality such as best paying load search, load comparisons, heat maps and rate insights
- They provide carrier ratings to encourage good performance
- They offer market tools to provide insight
- Also offers factoring services and insurance
Website: https://truckstop.com/
9. Trucker Path
Trucker Path is a freight management solution provider that offers trucking tools which include fleet management, freight matching services, fleet monitoring and navigational assistance.
- Offers a load board with unlimited access
- Offers over 150,000 loads per day
- Over 800 brokers posting loads
- They offer three load board plans
- Search for loads fast that meet your needs
- They provide over 10 trailer types such as flatbeds, dry vans and reefers
- They provide planning assistance and help in calculating charges
- Provide rate checking tools on some plans
- They also offer load density reports, capacity indicators and historical trends information
- Plans start at $29.99 per month
Website: https://truckerpath.com/
10. Trulos
Trulos is a load board provider that helps owner-operators and small fleets compete with larger companies for freight contracts.
- Offers a free load board
- Specialises in LTL and partial truckloads as well as hotshot loads
- Offers an open access load board with no sign-up required
- Search for freight fast and easy based on truck type and location
- Their load board includes rates for the loads
- Provides thousands of loads daily
- Cater for a range of equipment types including dry vans and flatbeds
- Can assist with fuel-efficient routing
- Provides advice to truckers to increase their profitability
- They offer a range of information to support users
Website: https://trulos.com/
11. NextLOAD
NextLOAD is part of Apex Capital which provides tools to support carriers, trucking companies, shippers and brokers such as a load board, factoring and fuel card.
- Offers a free load board
- Requires carriers to have an established credit relationship with Apex Capital to book loads
- Thousands of loads are available daily
- You can search easily for loads using a range of filters to find suitable loads
- Unlimited accounts for drivers and dispatchers
- Set up notifications for new loads that match your needs
- It is accessible through a desktop or mobile app
- Check for the Apex Capital blue chevron to see that there is a credit relationship
- Fast payments available including factoring
- The load board can be integrated with TMS systems
Website: https://www.nextload.com/
12. Convoy
Convoy offers a digital freight network and they claim to be one of the leading providers in America. They have a large network of carriers which they assist in finding loads and improving their efficiency.
- Offers a free load board with no sign-up charges or monthly fees
- Caters for carriers of all sizes
- Search the load board to find suitable loads
- You can accept the displayed rate or bid on the load
- Set up alert notifications for suitable loads on your preferred routes
- Access the load board through a desktop or mobile app
- Track fleet locations and arrival times
- Streamline processes and reduce operating costs
- Offers QuickPay options for faster payments
- Benefit from their discount program for fuel, tyres, road assistance, ELD devices and more
Website: https://convoy.com/
13. Doft
Doft is a load board provider that brings together shippers and truckers to deliver loads in the US, Canada and Mexico.
- They offer two tiers of load board plans
- Their free load board plan includes most of the key features
- The premium plan gives enhanced features
- Access over 150,000 available loads per day
- Provides an easy search functionality and a bidding process
- Set up notifications for nearby loads
- Receive instant rate confirmation on loads
- Real-time truck tracking is available where GPS trackers are fitted
- Offers a mobile app to give you access from anywhere
- Payment for completed loads can be made in as little as 24 hours
Website: https://doft.com/
14. Uber Freight
Uber Freight is a freight solution provider that offers a range of options for shippers and carriers that provide greater transparency and visibility.
- Offers a large digital platform for booking loads
- Provides rate information for loads
- Allows carriers to instantly book loads with ease and speed
- You can search for loads by trailer type, pickup date, location, length of haul, rate per mile, price, weight, and deadhead
- Offers customised load suggestions that meet your search criteria
- You can set up alerts for loads on preferred routes and locations
- Utilise the platform to manage your loads
- Provides facility ratings to aid decision making
- Offers real-time pricing information
- Provides freight market insight to support users
Website: https://www.uberfreight.com/
Load boards for truckers Q&As
Are there any free load boards for truckers?
Many load boards are free to join and some are free to use. Many load boards are free for shippers or brokers to post loads and fees are paid on loads by the carrier taking the load. Some load boards charge a monthly subscription fee.
Some specialist load boards provide their services for free to truckers as they are designed to support the industry or the load type that the load board promotes.
Why should you use a load board for truckers?
There are many reasons why truckers should use a load board which is largely focused on improving the efficiency and profitability for truckers. It is a simple and quick method of finding loads to help keep your truck full and on the road. It can assist in finding loads for return journeys and filling partial loads to increase the amount of money made for the trip. The online portals or mobile apps can be easily accessed and searched to find matching loads to meet your load requirements.
By maximising the loads that your truck carries it will increase the revenue from the truck and enable you to run more cost-effectively and efficiently.
Do load boards for truckers show rates?
Many load boards do not include rates for the loads as a lot are designed to be competitive load boards where truckers compete for the loads by bidding for them, therefore displaying the rates doesn’t enable this.
Some load boards aren’t competitive and may include rates to help carriers negotiate rates or choose appropriate loads. Some load boards may also include rate calculators to help both shippers and carriers calculate how much a load will cost to ship.
Which load board for truckers pays the most?
There isn’t a particular load board that pays truckers more than other load boards as the price for the loads is determined by either the carrier bidding or negotiating the rate, or by the shipper or broker setting the rate on the load board and the carrier accepting the rate.
The load board you use won’t determine how profitable the load is, although it may impact it slightly depending on whether the load board has a fee or subscription basis. The important thing is that you are fully aware of what charges apply to the loads you take and that you can factor these into your bids or quotes so that your profitability isn’t reduced by unexpected fees.