- Load boards side by side
- Eleven load boards worth a look
- Which load board to start with
- Plan every load around the 14-hour window
- Free boards versus subscription boards
- Questions to ask before you join a load board
- Signs a load board would help your business
- My plain advice on choosing a load board
- Frequently asked questions
The best load boards connect trucks with freight, so owner-operators and small fleets can find loads near them and brokers can post the freight they need moving. Some are free boards, while others are big subscription networks with lane data and payment protection. Eleven options follow in no particular order, covering the US, Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia.
Every empty mile is a mile you drive for nothing. A load board is how most small carriers fill the gaps between regular customers, and how brokers find a truck at short notice when a carrier lets them down.
The eleven boards below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the board's own website, read this week. If you're also thinking about how to get invoices settled faster, my guide to choosing a freight factoring plan sits well alongside this list.
Load boards side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| 123Loadboard | Load board app | Drivers finding loads on the road | Not stated |
| Courier Exchange | Freight exchange for couriers | UK couriers and same-day drivers | Not stated |
| DAT | Load board | Mid-size and larger trucking fleets | Not stated |
| Direct Freight | Free load board | Owner-operators wanting a free board | Yes |
| Doft | Freight matching platform and load board | Carriers wanting an AI rate check | Not stated |
| FreightFinder | Free load board | Free truck and load listings | Yes |
| Haulage Exchange | Freight exchange platform | UK hauliers finding work and subcontractors | Not stated |
| Loadlink | Canadian load board | Canadian brokers and carriers | Not stated |
| Loadshift | National freight platform | Australian drivers looking for loads | Not stated |
| TIMOCOM | Freight exchange and logistics platform | European road freight and tenders | Not stated |
| Truckstop | Load board and freight management software | Carriers wanting boards by trailer type | Not stated |
Eleven load boards worth a look
123Loadboard
Best for: Drivers and owner-operators who want a highly rated load board app for finding capacity, covering freight and cutting empty miles.
Courier Exchange
Best for: UK couriers and van drivers who want backloads and a steady workload from a busy freight exchange with a trading directory included.
DAT
Best for: Fleets that want a large load board, with lane data showing which companies post loads on the lanes they run.
Direct Freight
Best for: Owner-operators and small carriers who want a free load board account, plus extras like a truck map, freight rate tool and mileage calculator.
Doft
Best for: Carriers who want daily loads with an AI rate check, and shippers who want a private branded load board on their own website.
FreightFinder
Best for: Trucking companies, fleets and brokers who want free truck and load listings on a long-running board that has been online since 1998.
Haulage Exchange
Best for: UK hauliers and freight forwarders who want one platform to find work, move loads, connect with subcontractors and handle payments.
Loadlink
Best for: Canadian carriers and brokers who want a home-grown load board with a rate index, from a company operating since 1990.
Loadshift
Best for: Australian drivers and transport companies who want loads from a national transport platform covering machinery, cars, pallets, livestock and general freight.
TIMOCOM
Best for: European transport companies who want a freight exchange, tenders, route planning and shipment tracking inside one logistics platform.
Truckstop
Best for: Dry van, reefer and heavy haul carriers who want load boards split by trailer type, plus rate insights and faster payment.
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Which load board to start with
- A free account in the US: Direct Freight or FreightFinder.
- A big North American network: DAT, Truckstop or 123Loadboard.
- Canada: Loadlink.
- UK hauliers and couriers: Haulage Exchange or Courier Exchange.
- Europe: TIMOCOM.
- Australia: Loadshift.
- An AI rate check on every load: Doft.
Plan every load around the 14-hour window
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's hours of service summary says a property-carrying driver may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, and may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty.
That second rule is the one that catches people out. A load that looks good on the board can still be the wrong load if a long wait at the shipper eats into the 14-hour window, so check pickup times and dock reputations before you book.
Free boards versus subscription boards
Free boards are a sensible place to start when you're new, running one truck or filling the odd gap. You get listings without a monthly commitment, and you learn which lanes are busy.
Subscription networks earn their place once you're running regular lanes. They usually carry more loads, more broker information and tools for checking lane activity, which helps you say no to freight that won't work for you.
Questions to ask before you join a load board
- How many loads are posted on my regular lanes?
- Can I see broker credit or payment history?
- Does it work well on a phone in the cab?
- Can I set alerts for my lanes and trailer type?
- Is there a mobile app for drivers as well as office staff?
- Can I cancel easily if it doesn't suit me?
Signs a load board would help your business
- You run empty on the way home. Look for backloads.
- One customer supplies most of your work. Spread the risk.
- Brokers keep calling you at short notice. Search for freight yourself.
- You don't know what your lanes pay. Compare posted loads first.
Do you make load board or freight exchange software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a load board
Start with one board that covers your home region and trailer type, and give it a fair month before adding another. Two boards you check carefully beat five you skim, and you'll learn your lanes faster.
Treat the board as a lead source, not a guarantee. Check every broker before you haul, keep your paperwork tidy, and read my tips to keep your trucking business safe and secure so a bad load doesn't turn into a bad month.
Frequently asked questions
What is a load board?
A load board is an online listing service where brokers and shippers post freight and carriers search for loads to haul.
Are there free load boards?
Yes. Two of the boards in this list describe themselves as free load boards on their own websites, so you can start without a subscription.
What should I check before booking a load from a board?
Check the broker's authority and payment history, the pickup and delivery times, and whether the run fits your driver's hours.
Are load boards only for the US?
No. This list includes freight exchanges for Canada, the UK, Europe and Australia as well as the US.
How many hours can a truck driver drive in a day?
Under FMCSA rules, up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour on-duty window.
Should I use more than one load board?
Start with one that covers your lanes, then add a second only if you keep running empty.
