If you are looking for some great load boards for your box truck business, you are in the right place.
In this article, we are going to cover 9 load boards you can explore to get more loads for your box truck (and make more money in the process). I will cover both paid and free options, so I think you will find the information here relevant to you regardless of your budget.
We’ve got a lot to cover, so let’s get into it!
If you would like to see a condensed version of this article in video format, check out my YouTube video on the topic below.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you click on a link and complete a transaction, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The information contained in this post is for informational purposes only. It is not a recommendation to buy or invest, and it is not financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. You should seek the advice of a qualified professional before making any investment or other decisions relating to the topics covered by this article.
Paid Load Boards For Box Trucks
1. DAT
When it comes to load boards, DAT is a clear market leader, with nearly 900,000 loads posted daily (including tons of box truck loads as well).
Because of their size and scope, they also have leading edge tech and info, including unlimited searching, instant alarm match notifications, broker credit scores, days to pay, market rates, mileage routing and much more.
Despite their dominant place in the market, I think their pricing is reasonable and it’s actually in line with other premium paid load boards. As of this writing, DAT offers the following plans:
- DAT TruckersEdge: Standard ($45/month) – includes unlimited truck posts and load searches, load match alarms, month to month billing, mileage and routing features, broker credit data and load counts by state.
- DAT TruckersEdge: Enhanced ($85/month) – includes all standard features plus the ability to call and search for loads (for when you are on the road), and average rates for lanes you are searching (30 day).
- DAT TruckersEdge: Professional ($135/month) – includes all Enhanced features plus average rates for past 15 days, access to Tri-Haul (which suggests higher paying routes with triangular route suggestions), DAT Assurance (which helps you collect past due accounts), and North American database (which includes Canadian loads)
There are higher tier plans available for companies with multiple trucks (Power Select Carrier) and multiple dispatchers (Power Office Carrier).
There are no long terms contracts, so you can stop at any time.
Check out this helpful video from DAT on how to find box truck loads using their platform.
I have an affiliate relationship with DAT and secured a deal where if you use my link, you can get a free 30 day trial for any of their plans. So, you get to try out this industry-leading load board for a full month for free. I would note that this deal is only for new subscribers.
If you are interested, just click on the banner below to take advantage of this no-risk offer.
2. Truck Stop
Truck Stop also has a robust load board that caters to box trucks. They have three options, with the most affordable plan coming in at $39/month. The more expensive options are $125 and $149 per month, but you get access to more features, such as broker credit and days to pay information.
If you want to learn more, check out their website here.
3. 123 Load Board
These guys claim to have hundreds of LTL/Box Truck loads available for their members. They also provide a nice tutorial on how to find such loads on their load board. Source.
Their pricing is as follows:
- Standard Plan: $35 (includes access to load board, real time load alerts, website and mobile access)
- Premium Plan: $45 (includes everything that the standard plan includes, plus mileage and maps and document capturing and storage)
- Premium Plus: $55 (includes everything that the premium plan includes, plus enhanced mileage and maps & tolls, industry freight rates, etc.)
They offer a 10 day trial for all of their plans, so you can try them out without risk and see if their platform works for you.
Free Load Boards For Box Trucks
4. Trucker Path
You can use Trucker Path to get box truck loads for free. You simply go on their website and search for loads (remember to check box trucks under “Trailer Type”). You get a limited number of searches per day, but can upgrade your account to a paid account and get more robust features, as well as access to the best loads.
Most loads that I found for box trucks needed an upgraded paid subscription for you to unlock them, so I think you should be prepared for that.
If you want to check them out, here is the link to their website.
5. Shiply
Shiply is another free load board that you can access.
You won’t be charged any fees to access their load board. They will tack on their fee when you actually book a load. That way, you don’t pay them unless you actually book a load with them.
They offer a wide variety of loads, but their website specifically mentions box trucks, so they are definitely catering to box truck operators.
If you want to learn more about Shiply, check out their website here.
6. UShip
Another free load board that uses this type of pay-as-you-go pricing structure is Uship. They offer their customers LTL shipping options, which they then fulfill using box trucks, cargo vans, pickup trucks (with trailers) and the like.
They also have tools that allow you to set your rate, schedule and routes. You can also market your trucking business by filling out a carrier profile, which will allow people to search for you and find reviews and ratings for your business.
7. Flock Freight
These guys are a relative newcomer to the industry, but they have received a lot of attention (and venture funding) for their innovative “shared” freight model. It is basically like car-pooling for freight.
I called them to see if they accept box trucks on their platform and they confirmed that they do. They also confirmed that there is no fee to get access to their load board.
Here’s a link to their website if you want to learn more.
8. Direct Freight
Direct Freight is a well-known load board, which offers a permanent free option. You will not get access to their premium loads, but if you are looking to save some money, this can be a platform you can add to your arsenal.
According to their FAQs, the majority of the loads posted on their load board are for full size 48 or 53 foot trailers, but they do have partial loads listed as well.
To search for load(s) for smaller vehicles like box trucks, choose all trailer types that would potentially fit your type of trailer keeping in mind that partial loads can vary from 1 pallet to 35,000 lbs. Just remember to be sure and click (LTL) partial on the load size.
If you want to get access to a larger selection of loads, you can sign up for their paid subscription, which is $34.95 per month. However, when I checked their website at the time of writing, they were offering a 15 day free trial. Go to this page and click on “Create Free Account” to see more details.
9. C.H. Robinson
C.H. Robinson is another free load board you can check out. They claim they are the largest carrier load board in North America.
Although their website is short on details, I gave them a call and confirmed that they offer box truck loads and that their load board is free to use. But you will need to apply and register as a carrier with them to take advantage of their load board.
There are some basic qualifications you must meet, which are in line with what many other load boards require, including having adequate insurance coverage and safety ratings.
If you want to learn more about C.H. Robinson’s load board, check out the link to their site here.
Conclusion
So there you have it – 9 great load boards for box truck business owners, with both paid and free options for you to explore.
If you are interested in other ways to get loads for your box truck, check out my article on How to Get Box Truck Contracts [9 strategies that work]
