What is a load board and how do truckers use it?
A load board is an online marketplace where brokers and shippers post truck loads and carriers search for freight that fits their equipment and lanes. Carriers filter by origin, destination, equipment and date, check the broker's credit and payment history, then call or message to negotiate and book. Paid boards like DAT and Truckstop add more loads and tools, while free boards have fewer features.
For most small carriers, the search for truck loads starts on a load board. It is often the first place a new authority finds freight, and it remains a daily tool for many experienced owner-operators. This guide explains what a load board is, how carriers use one, and how to judge the loads for trucks you see posted.
If you are working out how to find loads for trucks you own or drive, the load board is where most carriers start.
What a load board is
A load board is an online marketplace. Freight brokers, and sometimes shippers, post loads that need a truck. Carriers and dispatchers search those posts and contact the poster to book.
A typical load post shows:
- Origin and destination
- Pickup date and sometimes a delivery window
- Equipment type (van, reefer, flatbed, step deck, power only, hotshot and so on)
- Weight and length
- Posted rate, or no rate at all
- The broker's company name, contact and MC number
- Sometimes the broker's credit score and average days to pay
Carriers can also post their truck: where it will be empty and when. Brokers search those posts and call carriers with matching loads.
Common load boards
These are some of the well-known names. We describe them only in general terms, because features and prices change. Check each provider's website for current details.
- DAT load board. One of the largest load board networks in the US, with load search, truck posting, market rate data and broker credit information depending on the plan.
- Truckstop load board. Another large, long-running network, with load search, rate tools and broker payment and credit information on its plans.
- 123Loadboard. A load board often used by smaller carriers, with load search and related tools.
- Amazon Relay. Not a traditional broker board. It is Amazon's own platform for booking Amazon freight with carriers who hold their own authority.
Each of these has paid plans with different levels of access. We compare features in more detail in our guide to the best load boards for owner-operators.
Free load boards: what to expect
A free load board can be a good way to start, especially for a brand-new carrier with a tight budget. Free options include free tiers of some boards and brokers' own load portals.
Typical trade-offs:
- Fewer loads and less coverage of some lanes
- Fewer search filters
- Little or no broker credit and payment data
- More competition for each posted load
If you use a free board, take extra care checking the broker before you book.
How carriers use a load board, step by step
- Set your search. Choose your equipment, empty location, search radius and date.
- Set the destination. Search to a specific market, a region, or anywhere, depending on your plans.
- Sort and filter. Look at deadhead to pickup, total miles and rate. Hide brokers you will not work with.
- Check the broker. Look up its MC number on FMCSA, and review credit score and days to pay if the board shows them.
- Call or message. Confirm the details and ask about anything missing: appointment times, commodity, tarps, lumpers, detention policy.
- Negotiate. Use market data and your own cost per mile to counter.
- Book and get the rate confirmation. Read it before pickup.
How to judge a posted load
The posted rate per loaded mile is not the whole story. What matters is the rate on every mile you drive, including empty miles to the pickup.
Worked example: two dry van posts (assumptions labelled)
- Load A: $2,400 for 700 loaded miles, 90 miles deadhead
- Load B: $2,250 for 680 loaded miles, 15 miles deadhead
Rate per loaded mile:
- Load A: $2,400 / 700 = $3.43
- Load B: $2,250 / 680 = $3.31
Rate per total mile:
- Load A: $2,400 / (700 + 90) = $2,400 / 790 = $3.04
- Load B: $2,250 / (680 + 15) = $2,250 / 695 = $3.24
Load B pays less on paper but more on every mile driven. Then ask where each load leaves you. A slightly lower rate into a strong freight market can beat a high rate into a dead one. Try your own numbers with the deadhead miles calculator and the load profitability calculator. For more on empty miles, read what deadhead is and how to reduce it.
Load board safety tips
Fraud is a real problem on open marketplaces. Protect yourself:
- Verify the broker's MC number and contact details independently
- Be cautious if the phone number or email does not match the company's official records
- Never pay anyone to "release" a load
- Do not share login details for your load board, ELD or factoring account
- Watch for double brokering signs, such as a load that suddenly changes hands
Limits of load boards
Load boards are useful, but they have limits:
- Competition. Many carriers see the same post, which can push rates down.
- Time. Searching and calling can take hours a day, often while you should be driving or resting.
- Spot only. Most posts are one-off loads, not repeat lanes.
That is why many carriers combine boards with broker relationships and direct freight. See how to find loads for your truck for a broader plan.
Using a dispatcher instead of searching yourself
A truck dispatch service uses load boards and broker networks on your behalf. Texas Solutions searches, calls and negotiates while you drive, then sends you the details to approve. We dispatch dry van, reefer, flatbed, step deck, power only, hotshot, box truck and straight truck, with remote dispatchers available 24/7 across the USA.
Fees for OTR are 5% of weekly gross for semi trucks, 8% for hotshots and 10% for box trucks and straight trucks, with no setup fee and no long-term contract. See how our owner-operator dispatch service works or get a free estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free load board for owner-operators?
Yes. Some load boards offer free plans or free limited access, and some brokers post their own loads on free portals. Free options usually have fewer loads, fewer filters and less broker credit information than paid plans.
What is the difference between DAT and Truckstop?
Both are large, established load board networks with load search, truck posting, rate information and broker credit tools. Their plans, features and pricing change over time, so compare current versions on their own websites.
Can I book loads on a load board without calling?
Some loads offer online booking at a set rate, but many still require a call or message. Calling lets you ask questions and negotiate the rate.
Do I need a load board if I use a dispatcher?
Usually not for yourself. A dispatch service searches load boards and broker networks for you. Texas Solutions searches and negotiates loads under your authority, and you approve every load.
