Load boards, compared

Automatic monthly billing until you cancel; 'Refunds will only be given if you cancel within 15 days of the date the charge was processed.' iOS IAP auto-renews unless turned off 24h before period end. Web price ($34.95) differs from App Store IAP prices. No public pricing/compare page - pricing lives in FAQ.

Price: Premium account (web) $34.95/month ('The current rate for a premium account is $34.95 per month.'); iOS in-app tiers Basic $39.00; Premium $45.00; Enhanced $49.00; Professional $69.00 (App Store IAP list; period not stated on listing)

Free tier: Free account exists but 'limited (no load search access)' per FAQ. Trial length: not published on provider FAQ (third-party/app listings mention 14-15 day trials; unverified on directfreight.com).

Before MC is active: None published. FAQ: 'You do not have to have MC # to use our service.'

Broker credit: Yes - broker/shipper 'credit scores, days to pay and reviews'. FAQ: credit scores appear after 10 postings, updated monthly on the 1st, scale 0-100+. Factoring flags: not published.

App: iOS and Android (Direct Freight Load Board app)

Pays us: Yes · Not published. Source: ['https://www.directfreight.com/home/help/faq', 'https://www.directfreight.com/home/pricing', 'https://www.directfreight.com/home/compare-plans', 'https://www.directfreight.com/home/user/subscribe', 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/direct-freight-load-board/id1271135115', 'https://www.directfreight.com/home/partners']

Premium auto-renews by default (cancel at least one day before billing date); '$0.99 load booking fee per transaction' on Premium; App Store prices/tier names differ from web pricing page.

Price: Basic $0 (free, no credit card); Premium (web pricing-driver page) $19.99/month; Business (App Store IAP) $39.99/month

Free tier: Yes - permanent free Basic; Premium has a '10-day trial' for eligible users that auto-converts to paid

Before MC is active: None published. Signup form marks 'MC/FF/MX#(optional)' and 'DOT#(optional)'.

Broker credit: Broker credit scores / days-to-pay: not published. Doft offers its own factoring ('Doft freight factoring is a flat 2.49%') and 'Free 1-3 Day Pay' / instant payouts; factoring-approved flags not published.

App: iOS and Android (Doft Load Board app)

Pays us: No. Source: ['https://doft.com/pricing', 'https://loadboard.doft.com/pricing-driver', 'https://loadboard.doft.com/signup', 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/doft-load-board-truck-loads/id1455744098']

'Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period.' Multiple overlapping SKUs/prices between web pricing page, help center, and App Store - confirm before quoting a number. Trucker Path's main /pricing page is for the navigation app ($29.99/mo Individual Driver), not the load board.

Price: Free $0; Essential $19.99/month (Trucker Path help center + App Store IAP; App Store also lists a $29.99 Essential Monthly SKU); Preferred $49.99/month; Ultimate $89.99/month (App Store IAP only)

Free tier: Yes - permanent free load board; paid plans have a 7-day free trial

Before MC is active: not published (no MC/DOT or authority-age requirement stated on load board pages; Truckloads marketing says 'no sign up, subscriptions, or trials required' to search)

Broker credit: Yes - 'Unlike other load boards, we show broker's credit score for all truck loads at no cost.' 'Days to Pay & Credit Score' listed as a paid-plan feature. Factoring via InstaPay (terms not published).

App: iOS and Android (Trucker Path Load Board app)

Pays us: Yes · Not published. Source: ['https://truckerpath.com/pricing/load-board', 'https://truckerpath.com/pricing/', 'https://truckerpath.com/truckloads/load-board-features/', 'https://truckerpath.com/truckloads/free-load-board', 'https://apps.apple.com/us/app/trucker-path-loadboard/id1007287939', 'https://helpcenter.truckerpath.com/hc/en-us/articles/38761336610701-Essential-Membership-Features', 'https://truckerpath.com/company/partnerships', 'https://affiliate.websit.truckerpath.com/']

Niche board (hopper/end dump/grain/fertilizer/liquid bulk) - only relevant if the truck is bulk equipment. No public pricing page (bulkloads.com/pricing returns 404); Pro pricing only visible after signup.

Price: Load Board Only 'Free to Sign Up' (BulkTMS pricing page); Pro Member not published (forum posts confirm a paid monthly Pro Member subscription exists; price not on any fetched provider page); Business Bundle / Enterprise (BulkTMS) 'Get a Quote'

Free tier: Yes - 'Sign Up Free' / 'Load Board Only - Free to Sign Up'; trial length for Pro: not published

Before MC is active: not published

Broker credit: Broker credit scores / days-to-pay: not published. In-house factoring advertised ('24-Hour Quick Pay', 'Rates at 3%', 'No Contracts', 'Free Invoicing').

App: iOS and Android ('Download BulkLoads on Google Play' / 'on the App Store')

Pays us: Yes · Not published. Source: ['https://www.bulkloads.com/', 'https://www.bulktms.com/pricing', 'https://www.bulkloads.com/forum/one-year-of-bulkloads/', 'https://www.bulkloads.com/forum/membership/']

Cancellation takes effect at end of current billing cycle, no usage refunds ('DAT is a subscription based service and, therefore, does not issue refunds based on usage'); annual terms not published on pricing page; the tier DAT labels for 'New owner-operators' (Enhanced) is $149/mo, not the $59 Standard.

Price: DAT One Standard $59/month; DAT One Enhanced $149/month; DAT One Pro $169/month; DAT One Select $259/month; DAT One Office $339/month

Free tier: Free DAT One account/app exists: 'search for a limited number of loads based exclusively on your current location' (no rates, no credit scores). Paid-plan trial length: not published on pricing page (DAT help/news pages reference occasional 7-30 day promotional trials; auto-converts to paid if not cancelled).

Before MC is active: DAT FAQ: DAT verifies 'a valid Motor Carrier (MC) number, Federal Identification number or agent agreement' before providing service; 'You don't have to have it handy when you first sign up, but you'll need to add it later.' No published days-since-authority minimum. DAT sells a Copilot Authority bundle ($399: MC authority + BOC-3 + 50% off DAT One for 6 months) aimed at brand-new authorities.

Broker credit: Yes. 'See brokers' average days to pay, credit scores and customer reviews. On average, our brokers pay within 28 days and have credit scores of 94 out of 100.' Factoring-eligible loads flagged in DAT One app ('easily identify loads eligible for factoring') via DAT Outgo factoring.

App: iOS and Android (DAT One app; App Store + Google Play badges on dat.com/load-boards)

Pays us: Yes · Not published. Source: ['https://www.dat.com/load-boards/pricing', 'https://www.dat.com/load-boards', 'https://www.dat.com/free-load-board', 'https://www.dat.com/resources/faq', 'https://www.dat.com/authority', 'https://one.support.dat.com/4-account-billing-84e74143/billing-invoices-9664e9a1/terminate-or-cancel-service-with-dat-7c05789b']

$42 non-refundable application fee before you know if you're approved; Pro ($159) is the cheapest tier that shows CreditStop broker credit; contract/auto-renewal terms not published on pricing page; factoring offer only while subscription is 'active and in good standing'.

Price: Basic $42/month; Advanced $135/month; Pro $159/month; Heavy Haul Pro $299/month (up to 3 users); Dry Van Basic $35/month (3 users); Dry Van Pro $129/month (3 users)

Free tier: No free tier or free trial published. '$42 non-refundable Application Fee applies. If approved, your Application Fee will be credited toward your first month's subscription.'

Before MC is active: Account is application/approval-based (non-refundable $42 application fee). Explicit MC-age or days-active minimum: not published. Truckstop's Partner Referral terms define a qualified customer as one that 'has an active FMCSA Authority'. Truckstop markets a 'New Authority Program' (loads from brokers who work with new authorities, 24-hour pay via factoring, fuel card) - pricing for that program not published.

Broker credit: Yes - 'CreditStop Broker profile (Pro feature)'; 'Broker ratings' from Advanced tier up. Factoring via Truckstop Factoring ('subject to underwriting approval'; 'a per-invoice fee applies') for active subscribers only.

App: iOS and Android (Truckstop Go; 'free with your Truckstop Load Board subscription')

Pays us: Yes · 'Earn up to 20% per active customer you…. Source: ['https://truckstop.com/product/load-board/pricing/', 'https://truckstop.com/product/load-board/carrier/', 'https://truckstop.com/carriers/new-authority-program/', 'https://truckstop.com/mobile/', 'https://truckstop.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/20240710-Partner-Referral-Program-Terms-of-Participation.pdf', 'https://market.partnerstack.com/page/truckstop', 'https://marketplace.truckstop.com/']

'No contracts. No hidden fees. Guaranteed.' Auto-renewal after trial: not published on pricing page. Promo/referral codes entered on signup step 2 unlock different membership prices.

Price: Standard $39/month; Premium $59/month; Premium Plus $79/month

Free tier: 10-day free trial ('10 day free trial included' on all carrier plans)

Before MC is active: Per 123Loadboard help center article 'Do I need authority to sign up and use 123Loadboard?': authority (MC#/DOT#) is NOT required to register, but brokers/shippers will often request it when booking. (Article returned HTTP 403 on direct fetch; text taken from the provider's own help-center page as surfaced in search results.) Optional carrier identity verification adds a 'confirmed identity' icon shown to brokers.

Broker credit: Yes - 'Credit Scores & Days-to-Pay' included on all plans; 'Favorite & Blocked Companies'. Factoring-approved flags: not published.

App: iOS and Android ('Website & Mobile App Access' on all plans)

Pays us: Yes · Not published. Source: ['https://www.123loadboard.com/pricing/', 'https://www.123loadboard.com/signup/', 'https://help.123loadboard.com/hc/en-us/articles/360036407254-Do-I-need-authority-to-sign-up-and-use-123Loadboard', 'https://www.123loadboard.com/press-releases/123loadboard-adds-carrier-identity-verification-to-streamline-and-accelerate-digital-freight-booking/', 'https://get.123loadboard.com/', 'https://www.123loadboard.com/about/partners/brand-ambassador/']

Gated behind factoring - not a standalone product. Loads come from TMS partner feeds (Ascend, McLeod, Transport Pro, LoadBoard Network).

Price: NextLOAD $0 - 'exclusive, free load board for Apex Capital factoring clients'

Free tier: Free, but only for active Apex Capital factoring clients (Apex/trade coverage: after Oct 13, 2025 only active Apex factoring clients have access)

Before MC is active: Must be an Apex Capital factoring client; Apex's own carrier approval/underwriting requirements are not published on nextload.com.

Broker credit: Partial - 'The Apex chevron indicates which brokers and shippers have established credit with Apex Capital'; Apex clients 'can run unlimited, free credit checks on the brokers and shippers'. Days-to-pay: not published.

App: Mobile-friendly web ('works the same when you are searching for freight on a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smart phone'); 2015 Apex blog cites Android and iOS access; current native app: not published

Pays us: No. Source: ['https://www.nextload.com/', 'https://www.nextload.com/about/', 'https://www.apexcapitalcorp.com/tools/nextload/', 'https://www.apexcapitalcorp.com/blog/nextload-free-load-board/']

180-day active-authority rule means a brand-new MC cannot join on day one; $1M/$2M general liability and $100K cargo exceed FMCSA minimums (extra insurance cost); ~3-week processing; requirements page redirects to Amazon sign-in (public copy is on the Relay blog/FAQ).

Price: Amazon Relay load board $0 ('free freight marketplace'; application 'is free')

Free tier: Free (no subscription); application 'typically be approved or rejected within 1-3 weeks'

Before MC is active: STRICT. 'A DOT number, with interstate authority and that has been active for a minimum of 180 days, and a valid MC number.' 'A "Carrier" entity type that is Authorized for Property and for Hire.' 'FMCSA Safety Rating of "Satisfactory," "None," or "Not Rated".' BASIC thresholds: Unsafe Driving below 60%, HOS Compliance below 60%, Vehicle Maintenance below 75%, Controlled Substances/Alcohol below 75%, Driver Fitness below 75%; driver violation rate at or below 35%, vehicle violation rate at or below 50%. Insurance: Commercial General Liability '$1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 in the aggregate'; Auto Liability '$1,000,000 per occurrence, including a trailer replacement coverage of $50,000'; Cargo 'at least $100,000'; Workers' Compensation in all operating jurisdictions; Employer Liability '$100,000 per occurrence'. Equipment: day cabs, sleepers, 53' dry vans, 53' reefers, 26'/16' box trucks with lift-gates, 28' trailers, containers; no fleet-size minimum.

Broker credit: N/A - single shipper (Amazon) marketplace; no broker credit scores. Relay Rewards / safety rewards ('$0.01 and $0.04 extra per collision-free mile' with approved dash cams) instead.

App: iOS and Android (Amazon Relay app)

Pays us: No. Source: ['https://relay.amazon.com/', 'https://relay.amazon.com/blog/how-to-become-a-carrier-for-amazon-relay', 'https://relay.amazon.com/faq', 'https://relay.amazon.com/requirements']