Free options worth having
| Board or app | What it is | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| TruckSmarter | Free app that pulls postings from many brokers into one search | One place to scan many brokers at once |
| Trucker Path | Free tier load board inside a popular trucking app | A quick read on what's moving near you |
| Direct Freight | Limited free tier with load search and broker contacts | Extra coverage on top of other boards |
| J.B. Hunt Carrier 360 | J.B. Hunt's free app for approved carriers | Their own freight, some loads book in the app |
| Other broker apps | Large brokers such as C.H. Robinson and Uber Freight run their own carrier apps | Steady freight from brokers you're set up with |
Free terms change. Check each app's current plan before you rely on it.
What free gets you, and what it doesn't
- Fewer loads. Free boards only show what their brokers post. DAT and Truckstop have the most postings.
- Less detail. Paid boards show credit scores, days to pay and lane rates. That's how you avoid slow payers and lowball offers.
- More competition. Free postings get swarmed. Speed matters: the first good call or email usually wins.
When a paid board earns its fee
DAT's entry plan runs about $45 to $59 a month. If it gets you one better load a month, or keeps you off one slow paying broker, it pays for itself. Pay for it once you know your lanes. Before that, free boards and broker apps cover a lot.
Whatever board you use, judge every load on rate per total mile, deadhead included. Our cost per mile calculator gives you the number to work to.
Book more with less
- Get set up with brokers before you need them. A setup packet sent this week is a load you can take next week.
- Use broker apps for repeat freight. Brokers who like your service post to their own app first.
- Check the broker on every load: active authority, a real email domain, and their pay history.
- Plan the reload before you book the first leg. A great rate into a dead market costs you on the way out.
How TenFour works your boards
We search your load board and the broker apps you're set up with, call and email brokers, negotiate, and book only at or above your minimum. Every truck gets its own dispatcher. If you already pay for DAT or Truckstop, we work from your account. Brokers pay you directly.
Questions
Is there a completely free load board?
Yes. Apps like TruckSmarter pull postings from many brokers into one free app, Trucker Path and Direct Freight have free tiers, and big brokers like J.B. Hunt run free carrier apps for approved carriers. Free boards usually have fewer loads and less detail than DAT or Truckstop.
How much does DAT cost?
DAT One's entry plan runs about $45 to $59 a month, and the plans with lane rate data run higher. Prices change, so check DAT's site. DAT and Truckstop sometimes run trials or first month deals.
Should a new authority pay for a load board?
Start with the free boards and broker apps while you get set up with brokers. Pay for DAT or Truckstop once you know your lanes and need more loads or rate data. Many dispatchers work on the carrier's own board, so ask yours.
Do broker apps book loads directly?
Many do. Once you're set up with the broker, their app shows their own loads and some can be booked in the app. Each broker approves your MC first.
Want a dispatcher who works for your margin?
Every truck gets its own dispatcher. We judge every load on rate per total mile, deadhead included, and never book under your minimum. Brokers pay you directly.