DAT vs Truckstop Load Board: Plans, Prices & Features Compared
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Short answer
- Lowest entry price: Truckstop Basic, $42/month (dry-van-only $35).
- With rate data: Truckstop Pro $159 vs DAT One Enhanced $149 (15-day rates) or Pro $169 (7-day rates).
- DAT pitches network size, rate data and payment-support credits on higher tiers. Truckstop pitches “the price you see is the price you pay,” a free TMS and broker ratings.
Plan-by-plan prices
| Level | DAT One | Truckstop Load Board |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Standard $59 (for partial-load owner-operators) | Basic $42 per user (for new owner-operators); dry van only $35 |
| Middle | Enhanced $149 (for new owner-operators; 15-day lane rates) | Advanced $135 (broker ratings, Book It Now, FuelDesk) |
| Rate data | Pro $169 (1-3 trucks; 7-day lane rates; $250 payment-support credit) | Pro $159 (rate insights, real-time loads, alerts) |
| Fleet | Select $259 (3+ trucks); Office $339 (10+ trucks) | Up to 3 users per plan; Heavy Haul Pro $299 |
| Sign-up fee | None listed | Application fee = first month, credited if approved |
| Mobile app | DAT One app included with every plan | Mobile access (see vendor) |
| Extras | TriHaul routing, Market Conditions, LaneMakers | Free Truckstop TMS, authority-age filter, broker factorability data |
From each vendor’s own pricing page, checked October 31, 2026. Feature placement by tier changes often, so check the vendor chart before buying.
Choose DAT if…
- You want the board that says it has the largest load network, and you’re in lanes where volume matters most.
- You want lane rate history on a cheaper-than-Pro plan (Enhanced, $149, includes 15-day averages).
- You like the idea of payment-support credits for chasing late brokers (Pro $250, Select $500, Office $1,000).
Choose Truckstop if…
- You want the cheapest paid entry to a major board, especially as a dry van carrier ($35).
- You want a free TMS included for invoicing and load tracking.
- You want broker ratings and Book It Now without paying for full rate data (Advanced, $135).
Before you pay for either
Load boards don’t vet brokers for you. Check a broker’s authority and bond, and use your factor’s free credit checks before booking. If you’re still setting up, see our startup checklist, the full load board price guide, and free load boards.
Frequently asked questions
Is DAT or Truckstop cheaper?
Truckstop’s entry plan is cheaper ($42 vs $59), and its dry-van-only Basic is $35. At the rate-data level they are close: Truckstop Pro is $159 and DAT One Pro is $169 per month (prices checked October 31, 2026).
Which has more loads, DAT or Truckstop?
DAT says it has “more loads than any other load board” and the industry’s largest network. Truckstop does not publish a competing load count on its pricing page. Neither number is independently audited, so test both in your lanes if you can.
Can I use DAT and Truckstop together?
Yes. Many carriers run one paid board and check a second one or free broker apps. Both bill monthly, so you can try one for a month, then the other.
Does Truckstop charge a sign-up fee?
Truckstop lists a non-refundable application fee equal to the plan’s first month (for example $42 for Basic). If you are approved, it is credited toward your first month.
What do new authorities see on Truckstop?
Truckstop says loads shown match your operating authority, and it offers an authority-age filter that brokers use. Some brokers won’t work with very new authorities on any board.
Sources
- DAT load board plans (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Truckstop load board pricing (checked Oct 31, 2026)
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