Compare Load Boards
DAT, Truckstop and 123Loadboard set against One Load Board: what each publishes for carrier access, when we read it, and where each of them is stronger than we are.
- One Load Board vs DAT OneLooking for a DAT alternative? An honest comparison: where DAT is genuinely better, what each board costs, and why a free tier and no commission may suit you.
- One Load Board vs TruckstopA Truckstop alternative with a free tier, no application fee and no commission. An honest comparison of what each costs and where Truckstop is still better.
- One Load Board vs 123LoadboardA 123Loadboard alternative with a free tier that never expires, flat pricing and no commission. What each board does well, and how to compare them yourself.
Published carrier prices, side by side
Each figure below was read from that board's own pricing page on the date shown, and the full list of plans, fees and the source link are on the comparison page for each one. Prices change; the date is there so you know how old a number is. Where a board's figures could not be read at source, none is quoted.
| Board | Carrier plans | Price read on | Full comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| DAT One | From $59 / month | Aug 27, 2026 | One Load Board vs DAT One |
| Truckstop | From $42 / month | Aug 27, 2026 | One Load Board vs Truckstop |
| 123Loadboard | Not quoted: figures could not be read at source | Aug 27, 2026 | One Load Board vs 123Loadboard |
| One Load Board | Free plan; Pro $49 and Fleet $120 a month | Our own prices | Plans and what each includes |
Where each of them is stronger
Every comparison page opens with what the other board does better, before anything about us, because they are larger and older and that matters. The first point from each:
- DAT One. Load volume. DAT is the largest load board in North America and it is not close. On a thin lane on a thin day, that difference is the whole product.
- Truckstop. Volume and reach. Truckstop is one of the two boards almost every brokerage posts to, and that scale is real.
- 123Loadboard. A longer track record and a larger established user base than a board our age.
What to weigh when you compare load boards
- Freight on your lanes, for your equipment. Volume in general matters less than volume where you run. Search each board for your own lanes before you pay for any of them.
- What you can see before you pay. A free plan, a free trial or neither, and whether there is a fee to apply.
- How the price is structured. Per user or per company, monthly or annual, and which tier carries the feature you actually want.
- How you hear about loads. Alerts, and how soon after a load posts they arrive.
- Whether anything is taken from the freight. A subscription and a share of each load are very different costs over a year.
For the general question behind all of this, free vs paid load boards works through when a subscription pays for itself, and how load boards work covers posting, searching and booking.
Comparing Load Boards
What is the best load board?
There is no single best one. The largest boards carry the most freight overall, which matters most on thin lanes; smaller boards compete on price and terms. The best board for you is the one with freight for your equipment on your lanes at a price your margin supports, so search your own lanes on each before you commit.
Which load boards can carriers use for free?
Of the boards compared here, One Load Board has a free plan with no card, and 123Loadboard offers a free trial. DAT and Truckstop publish paid carrier plans, and Truckstop charges an application fee. The dated details and sources are on each comparison page.
How were these prices checked?
Each figure was read from the board's own public pricing page on the date shown, and that page is linked from the full comparison. Where a pricing page could not be read at source, no figure is quoted. Prices change, so check the date and follow the link before you decide.
Can I use more than one load board?
Yes, and many carriers do: one as the main search and another to fill gaps on lanes the first is thin on. A free plan makes that cheap to try.
Why is there no rating or winner on this page?
Because One Load Board is one of the boards being compared. A comparison that scores its own author first is not worth reading, so this page sets out published facts and where each board is stronger, and leaves the decision to you.
Still deciding? Ask us anything - a person answers.