Breaking into trucking is tough, especially for new authorities and first-time owner-operators. Many shippers rely on long-standing carrier relationships and are cautious about shifting freight to an unknown. Load boards for truckers can bridge that gap by helping you locate shipments, demonstrate reliability, and build relationships with reputable brokers and shippers.
Best Load Boards for Truckers
Here are the top load boards that are frequently used by truckers looking for their next load.
- Best overall load board for truckers: DAT One
- Best for specialized vehicles or loads: Truckstop
- Best for setting your own rate: uShip
- Best for last-minute loads: Uber Freight
- Best for free load board: TruckSmarter
- Best for cost value: 123Loadboard
- Best for customized features: Direct Freight
- Best for LTL loads: Trucker Path
DAT One
Best Overall Load Board for Truckers
DAT Load Board is part of the DAT One marketplace and gives truckers access to freight-matching tools plus add-ons like market data, credit scores, and reviews (availability can vary by plan). A DAT One subscription also includes the DAT One mobile app, which combines load search with trip-planning features and an interactive map (truck stops, parking, weigh stations, rest stops, and fuel prices).
- Network size: Access to over 1.7 million trucks
- Access to loads: Access to over 722,500 loads posted daily
- Sort by state: Yes
- Unlimited search and posting: Yes (plan-level details can vary)
- Real-time notifications: Yes
- Company reviews: Yes
- View pay cycles: DAT One provides average days-to-pay information as part of its credit data.
- Company credit score visibility: DAT One includes broker/company credit scores as part of its credit tools.
Special Features
- DAT One mobile app is included with a DAT Load Board subscription
- Interactive trip-planning map with truck stops, truck parking, weigh stations, rest stops, and fuel price information
- Credit tools that can include credit scores and average days to pay (plan dependent)
- Reviews to help vet brokers/partners (plan dependent)
- Alerts/alarms for matching freight (plan dependent)
- Additional tools like LaneMakers and other market data features are available on select plans
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Combines load search with business tools like credit data, reviews, and market data (availability varies by plan)
- Mobile app is included with subscription, with trip-planning and map features
- Alerts/alarms can help you respond faster to loads that match your lanes
Cons
- Tool access varies by plan level, so some features may require a higher-tier subscription
- Credit and review data may not be included at every plan tier
Truckstop.com
Best for: Specialized vehicles or loads
If you want access to a large quantity of quality loads, this easy-to-use trucking board is the one. See new loads in real time, compare up to ten at once, and negotiate directly with brokers via the app.
- Network size: More than 600,000 load listings
- Sort by state: Yes
- Unlimited search and posting: Yes
- Real-time notifications: Yes (Pro Plan)
- Company reviews: Yes
- View pay cycles: Yes
- Company credit score visibility: No (in-app credit features available)
Special Features
- Reputation of excellence
- Helps newcomers break into the industry
- Large broker and load network
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Hassle-free searching by load or truck type
- Highly rated by carriers
- Fast payment options
- Market insights available with advanced tiers
Cons
- Higher cost than some competitors
uShip
Best for: Setting your own rates and negotiating with shippers
uShip’s user-friendly marketplace lets you set your own rates, bid on freight, and communicate directly with shippers. The mobile app streamlines browsing, messaging, and completing deals on the go.
- Network size: Hundreds of thousands of shipments annually
- Sort by state: Yes
- Unlimited search and posting: Yes
- Real-time notifications: Yes
- Company reviews: Yes
- View pay cycles: Yes
- Company credit score visibility: No
Special Features
- Flexible bidding system
- Direct communication with shippers
- Designed for independent carriers
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Set your own rates
- Great for owner-operators and small carriers
- Simple, effective mobile app
- Transparent shipper reviews
Cons
- Competitive bidding can lower rates
- Per-load match fees apply
- Fewer premium tools than top boards
Uber Freight
Best for: Last-minute loads
Uber Freight excels at fast, on-demand booking with real-time availability and transparent, upfront rates. Ideal for time-sensitive operations that need quick turnarounds.
- Network size: Thousands of shippers and carriers across North America
- Sort by state: Yes
- Unlimited search and posting: Yes
- Real-time notifications: Yes
- Company reviews: Yes
- View pay cycles: Yes
- Company credit score visibility: No
Special Features
- Instant booking without negotiations
- Transparent pricing
- Streamlined app experience
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Excellent for urgent capacity
- Upfront rates reduce friction
- Fast payments for most loads
- Integrated shipment tracking
Cons
- Limited rate negotiation
- Fewer specialized freight options
- Less advanced tooling vs. premium boards
TruckSmarter
Best for: Free load board
TruckSmarter provides a no-subscription, free load board with access to thousands of brokered loads plus built-in payment management—ideal for owner-operators and small fleets maximizing margins.
- Network size: Thousands of loads from top brokers
- Sort by state: Yes
- Unlimited search and posting: Yes
- Real-time notifications: Yes
- Company reviews: Yes
- View pay cycles: Yes
- Company credit score visibility: Yes
Special Features
- 100% free access
- Integrated payment management
- Top broker connectivity
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Robust zero-cost search
- Transparent broker reviews and credit scores
- Quick, in-app payments
- Clean, intuitive UI
Cons
- Smaller network than major paid boards
- Fewer advanced analytics and routing tools
123Loadboard
Best for: Low-cost access to high-value features
123Loadboard delivers affordable subscriptions with real-time loads, route planning tools, and profit calculators—strong functionality for budget-minded carriers and small fleets.
- Network size: 150,000+ loads posted daily
- Sort by state: Yes
- Unlimited search and posting: Yes
- Real-time notifications: Yes
- Company reviews: Yes
- View pay cycles: Yes
- Company credit score visibility: Yes
Special Features
- Profit calculator for load assessment
- Route planning and efficiency tools
- Broker credit checks and reviews
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong features at low cost
- Real-time updates and alerts
- Good fit for small fleets and O/Os
- Reliable broker data
Cons
- Smaller network vs. top boards
- Some advanced tools require higher tiers
- Limited multi-truck management features
Direct Freight
Best for: Customizable search and notification features
Direct Freight provides tailored searches and alerts, pairing flexible filters with email notifications and broker credit reports—great for carriers who value personalization.
- Network size: Thousands of daily load postings
- Sort by state: Yes
- Unlimited search and posting: Yes
- Real-time notifications: Yes
- Company reviews: Yes
- View pay cycles: Yes
- Company credit score visibility: Yes
Special Features
- Customizable load alerts
- Flexible search filters
- Broker credit reports and reviews
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Highly configurable tools
- Email alerts for fresh loads
- Reliable broker/credit info
- Easy interface
Cons
- Fewer advanced features than premium boards
- Smaller daily volume than the biggest platforms
- Limited integrations
Trucker Path
Best for: LTL loads and route optimization
Trucker Path pairs an LTL-friendly load board with tools to optimize routes and reduce deadhead. It also integrates parking, fuel, and other trucking services into one platform.
- Network size: Thousands of LTL loads across North America
- Sort by state: Yes
- Unlimited search and posting: Yes
- Real-time notifications: Yes
- Company reviews: Yes
- View pay cycles: Yes
- Company credit score visibility: No
Special Features
- Tailored LTL freight options
- Route optimization
- Integrated trucking tools (parking, fuel, more)
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Focused on LTL carriers
- Real-time app updates
- Consolidated tools reduce app switching
- Helps minimize deadhead
Cons
- Advanced features may require paid plans
- Limited broker credit visibility
What Is a Load Board for Truckers?
A trucker load board is an online marketplace that connects shippers and brokers with carriers. Shippers post available loads, and carriers search those listings, then bid or negotiate to haul them. Most platforms allow detailed postings and searches—by equipment type, weight, origin and destination, pickup windows, and more—so the right freight pairs with the right truck.
Learn more, read our full Guide to Load Boards for Truckers.
How Does a Load Board Work?
Shippers or brokers post freight along with required equipment (for example, reefer, flatbed, or dry van) and key delivery information. Carriers search the board for loads that match their capacity, lanes, and timing. After connecting, both parties confirm details, negotiate the rate, and finalize pickup and delivery arrangements. Many boards offer in-app messaging, document exchange, and rate confirmations to speed up booking.
Advantages of Load Boards for Truckers
Used well, load boards do more than fill empty miles. They can become a prospecting engine, a pricing reference, and a pathway to steadier relationships. Consider these benefits:
- Broader access to freight: Centralized listings expose you to thousands of opportunities across regions and equipment types, increasing your chances of finding freight that fits your truck and schedule.
- Reduced deadhead and wasted time: Filters and saved searches help you line up backhauls and triangulate routes, cutting empty miles and fuel costs.
- On-ramp for new carriers: If you lack a customer base, boards help you book early loads, prove on-time performance, and build references that lead to direct work.
- Real-time visibility: Alerts and live updates surface fresh opportunities quickly so you can respond before a rival does.
- Targeting higher-paying lanes: Advanced tools show rate trends and seasonal patterns, helping you focus on profitable lanes and avoid underpriced freight.
- Relationship building: Consistently delivering on board-sourced loads can convert broker contacts into repeat business and longer-term contracts.
Disadvantages of Load Boards for Truckers
Load boards are powerful, but they are not a silver bullet. Keep these trade-offs in mind as you build your strategy:
- Rate pressure from competition: Many carriers chase the same loads, which can push prices down and squeeze margins—especially on common lanes.
- Lower-quality postings exist: Some loads are priced below cost or lack crucial details, forcing extra calls and increasing the risk of unprofitable hauls.
- Income variability: Seasonality and market cycles affect availability; relying solely on boards can lead to inconsistent work and cash flow.
- Time investment to sift and negotiate: Vetting listings, verifying counterparties, and haggling rates takes time you could spend driving.
- Subscription and add-on fees: While often worthwhile, monthly costs add up—especially if you pay for credit data, lane analytics, or multiple seats.
- Counterparty risk: Poor communication or slow pays from some brokers can create operational and financial headaches if you do not check credit and reviews.
Paid vs. Free Load Boards for Truckers
Paid platforms usually include robust filters, live alerts, broker credit data, and route or rate tools that help you book faster and avoid poor-fit freight. Free load boards reduce upfront cost but often limit searches, alerts, or contact visibility, and freight quality can vary. If a paid board consistently saves you time and improves rates, the subscription often pays for itself in fewer empty miles and better utilization.
Research Trucking Load Boards to Find the Perfect Match
Do not default to the first board you see. Compare features, daily volume in your lanes, and broker vetting, then read reviews and talk with experienced drivers who run similar equipment. Trial a platform for a month and track results—loads booked per hour spent searching, average rate per mile, and days to pay—to decide if it is truly moving your business forward.
FAQ
How do truckers find loads?
Truckers source freight through a mix of channels: direct shippers, freight brokers, load boards, and load-matching apps. The most resilient strategy blends board-sourced spot freight with growing direct accounts. Over time, prioritize steady lanes that fit your hours and equipment while keeping one or two boards active for backhauls and gaps.
How much do load boards cost?
Pricing ranges from free tiers to more than $200 per month for premium plans. Higher-priced options typically include unlimited searching, live rate tools, credit data, and saved alerts—features that can reduce deadhead and booking time. Weigh subscription cost against time saved and rate quality in your actual lanes.
Are load boards for truckers worth it?
For new carriers and owner-operators, yes—boards provide immediate access to freight and a way to prove reliability. As you gain experience, shift more volume toward trusted brokers and direct shippers to stabilize rates and reduce bidding wars. Keep a board in your toolkit for backhauls, seasonal spikes, and new-market testing.
How do I get access to load boards?
Most platforms require basic company details, your MC and DOT numbers, proof of insurance, and operating authority. After verification, choose a plan, set up search filters for your equipment and lanes, and enable alerts. Keep documents current to streamline bookings and avoid delays during onboarding with brokers.
Is there a free load board for box trucks?
Some platforms offer free posting or trial access to load boards for box trucks. For example, uShip allows free listings and charges a fee per transaction, while Truckstop periodically offers trial periods so you can test features before subscribing. Evaluate the quality of freight in your lanes during a trial to decide whether a paid plan will improve your earnings and efficiency.
