Finding freight for a box truck is a different problem than finding freight for a semi. Most national load boards are built around 53-foot van and reefer loads, so a straight-truck operator ends up scrolling past freight that does not fit. The boards that work best for box trucks either post straight-truck freight directly or give you filters that cut the van loads out of the way.
By Small Fleet HQ | Updated
| Company | Box Truck Loads | Monthly Cost | Free Tier | Mobile App | Best Lane Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1 Amazon Relay | Heavy | Free | Dedicated middle-mile | ||
#2 123Loadboard | Strong | $35 - $80 | Partial and LTL freight | ||
#3 DAT Load Board | Moderate | $45 - $200+ | Spot-market partials | ||
#4 Truckstop Load Board | Moderate | $40 - $150+ | Vetted broker spot freight | ||
#5 Uber Freight | Moderate | Free | Booked-rate metro freight | ||
#6 C.H. Robinson Navisphere | Moderate | Free | Repeat broker lanes |
Run the rate, the miles, and your cost per mile before you book. A board full of loads is no help if the math does not work.
Box trucks live on last-mile and middle-mile delivery, furniture and appliance work, retail restocking, and LTL or partial freight. Amazon Relay is the center of gravity for a lot of operators because it posts box-truck work directly and pays fast. The general boards earn their keep on the partial and regional freight you book one load at a time. If you are still setting the business up, our box truck business guide covers authority, insurance, and what to line up first.
The six options below all produce real box-truck freight, and most operators run two of them: a steady base source plus a second app to fill empty slots. Before you book anything, run the rate against your cost per mile. A full board is worthless if the loads do not clear your break-even. Compare the wider field on our load boards hub.
There is no single winner. Amazon Relay is the heaviest source of dedicated box-truck freight and costs nothing to access, which is why most box truck operators start there. 123Loadboard is the best general board because it has filters built specifically for straight trucks. DAT carries the most total volume and the best rate data if you are willing to filter through van freight. Most operators run two: Relay or a paid board for the base, plus a second app to fill empty slots.
Yes. Amazon Relay, Uber Freight, and the C.H. Robinson Navisphere carrier app are all free to use. 123Loadboard and DAT offer limited free tiers, though the useful filtering and rate tools sit behind the paid plans. A workable setup for a single box truck is one free source like Amazon Relay or Uber Freight, paired with a paid board such as 123Loadboard when you need more lane choice.
Box trucks run last-mile and middle-mile delivery, furniture and appliance moves, retail restocking, and LTL or partial freight that does not need a full 53-foot trailer. The common thread is shorter radius and lighter, lower-value loads than over-the-road work. Amazon Relay leans heavily on middle-mile dedicated runs. The general boards are stronger for partial freight, local retail, and regional delivery lanes you book one at a time.
It ranges from free to roughly $200 a month. Amazon Relay, Uber Freight, and the C.H. Robinson app cost nothing. 123Loadboard runs about $35 to $80 a month depending on the plan. DAT and Truckstop run higher, anywhere from $40 to over $150 a month for the full toolset. For a single box truck, one paid board plus a free app usually covers it without paying for overlapping subscriptions.
You can, but the margins are tighter than over-the-road, so the math has to be right on every load. Box truck rates per mile are often lower than semi rates, and the shorter lanes mean fewer revenue miles per day. The operators who do well treat it like a numbers game: known cost per mile, no deadhead they can avoid, and a hard rule about not booking a load that does not clear their break-even. Run the rate before you accept it, not after.
For most boards, yes. Booking freight from brokers on DAT, Truckstop, 123Loadboard, or C.H. Robinson generally requires your own MC and DOT numbers and active insurance, because you are contracting as a motor carrier. Amazon Relay also requires a DOT number and Relay-compliant insurance. If you do not have authority yet, our box truck business guide covers what you need to get set up before you start booking.
A board full of loads is no help if the math does not work. Before you accept anything, run it against your cost per mile and check it through the load profitability calculator. Box truck rates per mile are often lower than semi rates, so the margin is tighter and the discipline matters more.
If you are still building the operation around the truck, the box truck business guide covers authority, insurance, and what to line up before you start booking freight. Comparing the box truck to a different setup? See box truck vs hotshot.
