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Paid load boards like DAT and Truckstop dominate the freight matching market for good reason: they offer massive load volume, rate analytics, and deep broker networks built over decades. But their subscription fees of $42 to $199 per month add up to $500 to $2,400 a year, money that stings when margins are already thin. The good news is that several platforms now offer genuinely useful free tiers or completely free access, giving owner-operators and small fleets real options for finding freight without a monthly bill.
Digital freight matching platforms like Amazon Relay, Uber Freight, and CH Robinson Navisphere are truly free because they make money on the broker or shipper side, not from carrier subscriptions. Meanwhile, traditional boards like DAT and 123Loadboard offer limited free tiers that let you search loads and get a feel for the platform before committing. The trade-off with free access is almost always rate transparency: free platforms rarely give you the historical lane rate data that helps you negotiate confidently, and some consistently pay below market rates.
Below, we rank the best free load board options based on what their free tier actually includes, how many loads you can access, whether you get rate data, and how well their mobile apps work from the cab. If you are just starting out with new authority, trying to cut overhead, or looking for supplemental freight sources alongside a paid board, these platforms deserve a close look.
Our Top Picks
Top Pick
Amazon Relay
★★★★★4.3
Best truly free platform with carrier discount programs worth up to $23,000/year
Best truly free platform with carrier discount programs worth up to $23,000/year
Amazon Relay is 100% free with no subscription or per-load fees. The platform posts 15,000 to 25,000 daily loads, and carrier discount programs for fuel, insurance, tires, and equipment can save established carriers thousands annually. Drop-and-hook operations minimize detention time, and the mobile app is the highest-rated in trucking at 4.7/5 on iOS. The 180-day DOT requirement locks out brand-new authorities, and rates run $200 to $300 below comparable broker freight, but the efficiency gains and discount programs often close that gap.
Pros
Completely free with no hidden costs or subscription fees
Carrier discount programs save up to $23,000/year on fuel, insurance, and equipment
Highest-rated trucking app at 4.7/5 iOS and 4.6/5 Android
Drop-and-hook efficiency eliminates unpaid detention time
Reliable payment backed by Amazon financial strength
Largest free load board with 300,000+ loads and 24/7 instant booking
CH Robinson Navisphere gives carriers free access to over 300,000 active loads at any time, making it the largest free single-broker load board in North America. The 119-year-old company processes $17.7 billion in freight annually and has an A+ BBB rating for payment reliability. The Carrier Advantage Program rewards consistent performers with better rates and reduced Quick Pay fees. Rates tend to run below market and negotiation room is limited, but the sheer volume and payment certainty make Navisphere a strong supplemental source.
Pros
Free access to 300,000+ loads from the largest North American broker
A+ BBB rating and rock-solid payment reliability
24/7 booking lets you secure loads at any hour
Carrier Advantage Program unlocks better rates for consistent performers
Cons
Rates typically run below market compared to paid boards
Rate negotiation is difficult with take-it-or-leave-it pricing
Free access to Fortune 500 shippers with fast 2-day payment
Uber Freight charges zero platform fees while connecting carriers with loads from 30% of Fortune 500 companies. The upfront pricing model means you see exactly what a load pays before booking, and qualifying carriers get free 2-day payment without factoring fees. The facility ratings from 100,000+ drivers help you avoid detention traps. Customer service and below-market rates are the main drawbacks, but as a free supplemental load source with strong shipper relationships, Uber Freight earns its spot.
Pros
Completely free with no subscription or per-load fees
Access to 30% of Fortune 500 shippers via a single platform
Free 2-day payment for carriers completing 15+ loads/quarter
Facility ratings from 100,000+ drivers help you avoid bad locations
Cons
Rates reportedly run about $300 below traditional broker offerings
Customer service relies on offshore support with long wait times
Detention pay disputes are a recurring complaint from carriers
No rate negotiation since all pricing is take-it-or-leave-it
Best free tier from a premium board with limited load search access
DAT is the industry heavyweight with 644,500 to 700,000 loads posted every business day. While DAT is primarily a paid platform starting at $49/month, their free DAT One app gives carriers a limited preview of the marketplace. The free tier is significantly stripped down compared to paid plans, but it lets you see that the volume is there before committing to a subscription. DAT also includes free AscendTMS access for paying carrier customers. For carriers who want the largest freight network and can afford to upgrade later, starting with the free tier is a reasonable entry point.
Pros
Unmatched load volume with 700,000 daily postings
Free DAT One mobile app provides a limited preview of available freight
Rate analytics on paid tiers give you real negotiating leverage
Free AscendTMS access included for paying carrier customers
Cons
Free tier is heavily stripped down with limited functionality
Paid plans run $49-$199/month per user with reported renewal increases
Fake loads and fraudulent broker postings remain an ongoing issue
Most affordable paid board with the best mobile app and a low-cost entry point
123Loadboard is not fully free, but at $35 to $39 per month it is the most affordable major load board and deserves mention for carriers who want a budget-friendly step up from free platforms. The mobile app is the best in the industry at 4.9/5 on iOS, the no-contract model lets you cancel anytime, and the 10-day free trial gives you full access before paying a dime. With 123,000+ daily loads, free broker credit checks, and strong cross-border US-Canada coverage, 123Loadboard is the natural upgrade when free platforms are not enough.
Pros
Most affordable major load board at $35-39/month with no contracts
Best mobile app in trucking rated 4.9/5 iOS and 4.8/5 Android
10-day free trial with full platform access before paying
Free broker credit checks included at every tier
Cons
Not free, though much cheaper than DAT or Truckstop
Smaller load volume at 123,000 daily loads compared to larger platforms
Fewer major brokers actively posting compared to DAT or Truckstop
Free carrier TMS and competitive 2.5% factoring with fuel card savings
Loadsmart offers free platform access with a unique combination of a free CarrierTMS, 2.5% QuickPay factoring, and ONRAMP fuel card savings of $7,000 to $9,000 per truck annually. The platform is shipper-focused, so carrier tools exist to support their brokerage operations, but the free TMS alone saves $50 to $200 per month compared to paid alternatives. Load availability varies by region, and factoring only applies to Loadsmart freight, but carriers who regularly haul Loadsmart loads get genuine value from the integrated ecosystem at zero platform cost.
Pros
Free CarrierTMS eliminates monthly software costs
Factoring at 2.5% undercuts the industry average of 3%
ONRAMP fuel card saves 53-56 cents per gallon on fuel
Achieved operating profitability with SoftBank and BlackRock backing
Cons
Shipper-focused company where carrier tools support brokerage operations
Limited carrier reviews make it hard to verify typical experience
Factoring only available for loads booked through Loadsmart
Amazon Relay is the best truly free load board for established carriers. It charges zero subscription or per-load fees, posts 15,000 to 25,000 loads daily, and offers carrier discount programs worth up to $23,000 per year on fuel, insurance, and equipment. For carriers who want the highest free load volume, CH Robinson Navisphere provides access to over 300,000 active loads at no cost. Both platforms are completely free because they make money from shippers and brokers, not from carrier subscriptions.
Can you find good loads on free load boards?
Yes, but with caveats. Free load boards like Amazon Relay, Uber Freight, and CH Robinson Navisphere offer legitimate freight from creditworthy companies. The trade-off is that rates on free platforms typically run $200 to $300 below what you would find on paid boards like DAT or Truckstop. Free platforms also generally lack the historical rate data that helps you negotiate confidently. Most experienced carriers use free boards to supplement their primary load sources, filling backhauls and gaps in their schedule rather than relying on them exclusively.
Is DAT free for carriers?
DAT offers a limited free version of their DAT One mobile app, but the free tier is significantly stripped down. You get basic load search access but miss out on rate analytics, TriHaul route optimization, Book It Now, and the advanced filters that make DAT worth using. Paid plans start at $49 per month for Standard and go up to $199 per month for Select. Most carriers who try the free tier find the limitations push them toward a paid subscription fairly quickly. If you need a truly free option, Amazon Relay, CH Robinson Navisphere, and Uber Freight offer full platform access at no cost.
What is the difference between free and paid load boards?
The biggest differences are load volume, rate data, and broker network breadth. Paid boards like DAT (700,000 daily loads) and Truckstop (500,000+ daily loads) aggregate freight from thousands of brokers and provide historical rate analytics that help you negotiate. Free platforms like Amazon Relay and Uber Freight connect you with a single shipper or broker, offer no rate comparison data, and generally pay lower rates. Paid boards also tend to have better fraud prevention tools and broker credit check features. The decision comes down to whether the higher-paying loads on paid boards generate enough extra revenue to justify the $420 to $2,400 annual subscription cost.
How many load boards should a trucker use?
Most experienced owner-operators use two to three load boards. A common setup is one paid board like DAT or 123Loadboard as a primary source for rate data and high-volume load access, plus one or two free platforms like Amazon Relay or CH Robinson Navisphere for supplemental freight and backhauls. Using multiple boards increases your freight options and reduces the risk of depending on a single platform. The key is not to spread yourself too thin. Pick platforms that complement each other rather than overlap, and invest time learning each one well enough to use it efficiently.
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