Load boards are the digital marketplaces where carriers find the large majority of their freight, especially in a company's early months before broker and shipper relationships develop. DAT and Truckstop are the two dominant platforms by volume and reputation, but several other platforms carve out useful niches worth knowing about.
In This Guide
1. The Load Board Landscape
A load board aggregates available freight posted by brokers and shippers and lets carriers search, filter, and book loads directly or express interest in hauling them. Pricing across major platforms commonly runs $40 to $150 per month depending on the plan tier and included features, like broker credit checks or rate trend data.
2. DAT
It is widely considered the largest and most established load board in the industry, with a long operating history and a large volume of daily postings. Its broader feature set includes rate trend analytics and broker credit and payment history tools, which many carriers find useful for the broker-vetting process covered in our guide to vetting a freight broker.
3. Truckstop
It is DAT's main competitor, offering a comparable scale of postings along with its own broker credit tools, load matching features, and integrations with dispatch and accounting software. Many carriers choose between the two largely based on interface preference and existing broker relationships, since both platforms carry a substantial volume of freight.
4. Other Notable Platforms
123Loadboard offers a lower-cost entry point with a smaller but still meaningful volume of postings, appealing to carriers watching subscription costs closely. Some platforms specialize further, catering specifically to flatbed, reefer, or regional freight, which can be worth exploring for carriers focused on a specific equipment type or lane.
The same load is often posted to more than one board simultaneously, so subscribing to multiple platforms doesn't necessarily multiply the unique freight available, it mostly multiplies the views of overlapping postings.
5. Features Worth Comparing
Beyond raw posting volume, carriers should compare broker credit and payment history tools, mobile app quality (since most drivers search from the cab), rate trend data for negotiating, and integration with any dispatch or accounting software already in use. A platform with a clunky mobile experience can be a real daily friction point for a solo driver searching for the next load from the truck.
6. Which One Should You Choose
For most new carriers, a single subscription to either DAT or Truckstop covers the large majority of available freight and broker-vetting needs without the added cost of multiple subscriptions. Growing fleets with dedicated dispatch staff sometimes maintain accounts on more than one platform to maximize visibility, but this isn't necessary for a carrier just getting started.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DAT or Truckstop better for a new carrier?
Both are comparable in scale and feature set, and the choice often comes down to interface preference. A single subscription to either platform is generally enough for a new carrier rather than needing both from the start.
How much do load board subscriptions typically cost?
Most major load board subscriptions run $40 to $150 per month depending on the plan tier and included features like broker credit tools and rate trend analytics.
Do I need more than one load board subscription?
Not usually. Since many brokers post the same load to multiple boards, a single subscription to a major platform typically provides enough freight visibility for most carriers, especially when starting out.
This guide is for informational purposes. Regulations, fees, and requirements change — always verify current information directly with the FMCSA, your state DOT, and qualified professional advisors before making business decisions.