Finding the best load board is essential for ensuring a smooth and profitable journey in the fast-paced trucking industry. With a wide variety of options available, truckers and owner-operators need a trusted platform that not only simplifies the process of finding loads, but also provides access to the largest load transportation marketplace available.
That’s where the DAT freight load board comes in. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take a deep dive into why DAT offers the best load board choice for carriers and owner-operators. From its user-friendly interface to its robust load posting capabilities, we’ll explore every facet of DAT’s transportation marketplace, demonstrating why it’s the preferred choice for those seeking the best load board experience, whether they’re a seasoned pro or just starting in the industry.
Why choosing the right load board matters
For carriers, the best load boards can stimulate business growth and drive higher profits for your trucking company.
Truck load boards like DAT have proven to be a vital resource for many fleets across the country looking to find greater success in the trucking industry. By offering a range of value-add features and helpful industry tools, DAT can help you take the next step.
With the best truck load boards, carriers can operate their business at the optimal level. Carriers are able to rapidly find high-quality trucking loads that match the specific needs of their business. By tapping into an online freight marketplace, preferably an industry-leading transportation marketplace, trucking companies are better able to find diversified specialty freight to keep hauling without interruption.
The best load boards also enable carriers to maximize their bargaining power by leveraging comprehensive freight data and real-time analytics. This is valuable for high-demand areas, so owner-operators can ensure they’re getting the best rates available. Top load boards can let trucking companies broaden their reach by breaking into new markets and forming industry connections with shippers and brokers.
Freight load boards make life easier for trucking companies as well. With a team of dedicated experts to support your business, carriers can reduce back-office burden and maximize fleet-wide uptime by passing off administrative work, so you can focus on keeping your trucks out on the road.
Many of these benefits and features are expected from industry-leading online load boards, but the best load boards also go above and beyond with extra features that bring efficiency to every part of your operations. Some examples include leveraging geo-triangulating technology to avoid empty backhauls, eliminating cash flow gaps with customized freight factoring services, and maintaining compliance with governing regulatory bodies.
The most important benefit of the best load boards, which helps tie all these features together, is the ability to access your online freight marketplace while on the go with a free mobile app.
Key features of the DAT load board
DAT stands out as the leading freight solution in North America, boasting the largest on-demand freight marketplace. With nearly 1 million new loads daily and 400 million annually, our load boards provide a comprehensive view of the market, including advanced metrics derived from analyzing $150 billion in real transactions each year.
Carriers and owner-operators leverage DAT, the foremost truck load board, for unparalleled fleet success. Offering over 70 varieties of freight loads, comprehensive listings, and money-saving features, DAT ensures maximum value for your investment. Exclusive access to more than 130.5 million loads annually underscores DAT’s industry-leading position.
Our cutting-edge mapping services and real-time market analytics empower carriers to stay ahead in dynamic freight markets. DAT’s demand maps identify high-demand areas, while the TriHaul™ feature optimizes freight journeys. State-specific load volume filtering provides strategic insights for maximizing bargaining power and securing competitive rates.
What makes DAT a trusted network?
With DAT, you know exactly what you’re getting, and our straightforward subscription model is part of what makes DAT the best load board option available. No matter what stage your business is at, DAT offers a wide variety of truck load board packages that are tailor-made to help you find success for the long haul.
DAT’s load boards all have a simple fee structure — a flat monthly rate with no hidden fees in exchange for full access to the largest freight marketplace in North America. In addition, the DAT Directory contains user reviews and accurate credit score data so you can confidently do business with proven and trusted brokers, forming long-lasting connections that empower your business to thrive for the long term.
We also have DAT Authority, which provides our carriers with the round-the-clock back-office support they need to decisively navigate changing market conditions. You can trust our experts to fulfill your administrative needs so you can spend more time on the road. With a DAT membership, carriers can also access OTR Solution’s freight factoring services — so you can have peace of mind knowing you will be paid on time for every factorable load.
DAT’s unlimited vehicle posting and load searching capabilities allow carriers to successfully scale their businesses, while our free and intuitive DAT One mobile app lets carriers tap into the DAT network wherever they are. DAT One instantly notifies carriers any time a broker or shipper in the nearby area posts a new load that matches their freight criteria. In addition to our free app, carriers can take advantage of our free trials and begin familiarizing themselves with DAT’s one-of-a-kind freight platform.
What’s included in a DAT One subscription?
DAT offers a range of subscription options, each designed to cater to the unique needs of carriers, owner-operators, brokers, and shippers. Let’s take a closer look at what’s included in a DAT One subscription and how it can benefit your business.
- Unlimited Load Search & Post: Get unlimited access to post your vehicle and search for loads on the largest load marketplace. Efficiently search for available loads that match your equipment, location, and preferences.
- Load Match Alarms: DAT’s advanced load matching algorithm ensures that you’re among the first to see the most relevant load opportunities, giving you a competitive edge in securing the best loads. With a DAT One subscription, you’ll receive priority access to load recommendations that are finely tuned to your specific criteria.
- Mileage & Routing: Optimize your routes with mapping services tailored for a wide variety of trucks.
- Broker Credit Data: Ensure that you work with trusted brokers by getting access to information like average days to pay, credit scores, and customer reviews from other carriers. On average, DAT’s most trusted brokers pay within 28 days and have a credit rating of 94 out of 100.
- Load Counts by State: Load searches can be filtered by state so carriers are able to pinpoint profitable locations. Carriers can see inbound and outbound load volume to hone in on specific markets where they have the most bargaining power and can get the most competitive rates.
Every DAT One subscription comes with these game-changing features suited to help carriers of all kinds give their trucking business a boost. But as carriers grow, so do their needs for deeper, data-driven benefits featuring real-time market rates and insights. Here are some of the advanced features best suited for owner-operators looking to grow their business:
- Average Lane Rates: Unlock advanced rate view market metrics like average lane rates across periods of time, including 90, 30, and 15 days, powered by analyzing over $150 billion in real transactions per year. Carriers can find the best spot market rates for every lane and every market they search.
- Call to Post & Search: When you subscribe to DAT One, you’re not just gaining access to a load board; you’re also gaining access to exceptional customer support. Carriers and owner-operators can call our award-winning team while they’re on the road to post their trucks and search for loads, allowing them to stay focused on hauling loads.
- TriHaul: Find better-paying markets and optimize your journeys with automatic triangulated routes. Make your hauls more profitable and get back home faster.
- DAT Assurance: Take the headache out of collecting past-due payments. Carriers can find qualified loads on the DAT load board featuring the Assurance icon and register their load. This ensures that if something goes wrong, carriers and owner-operators can have peace of mind that they’ll still receive the money they’ve earned.
Don’t forget that truckers with a DAT load board subscription get access to our free and intuitive DAT One mobile app, which enables you to tap into the DAT network wherever you are. Access one of the best load board apps on the market, combining 15 apps into one convenient set of tools and features for managing your business while on the road.
With the wide variety of features and plans available, DAT aims to provide truckers with the best load board options on the market. In addition, all of DAT’s load boards come with the same fee structure — a flat monthly rate and no hidden fees for immediate access to the largest freight network in North America. Carriers at every level and with every type of truck are guaranteed to find value in a DAT load board subscription.
Discover the best load board with DAT
When it comes to finding the best trucking load boards, DAT aims to offer competitive benefits and value that make us stand out from other offerings out there. DAT provides carriers with the largest and most trusted network for finding freight in the entire industry. Whether you’re operating a vehicle like a box truck, reefer, cargo van, or more, the DAT load board has everything you need to make your business successful. Unlock your competitive advantage today!
