How Much Do Load Boards Cost? 2026 Price Guide (DAT, Truckstop, 123Loadboard)
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Short answer (prices checked October 31, 2026)
- DAT One: $59 / $149 / $169 / $259 / $339 per month.
- Truckstop Load Board: $42 / $135 / $159 per month, $299 Heavy Haul Pro. Dry-van-only plans from $35.
- 123Loadboard: $39 / $59 / $79 per month, 5-day free trial, no contracts.
- Free: Direct Freight free search, FreightFinder, DOFT Basic. See free load boards.
Every carrier plan in one table
| Board & plan | Price / month | Vendor says it’s for | Notable inclusions (per vendor) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 123Loadboard Standard | $39 | All carrier plans: fleets up to 10 trucks | Unlimited search and truck posting, web and mobile app; 5-day free trial |
| 123Loadboard Premium | $59 | “Most popular” | More tools from the shared feature chart (see vendor for the exact split) |
| 123Loadboard Premium Plus | $79 | “Best value” | Top tier of the same chart (see vendor for the exact split) |
| Truckstop Dry Van Basic | $35 (per 3 users) | Dry van only | Load search, truck post, private loads, broker factorability data |
| Truckstop Basic | $42 (per user) | New owner-operators | Unlimited load search, truck posting, private loads, backhaul search, free Truckstop TMS |
| DAT One Standard | $59 | Partial-load owner-operators | Search and truck posting, DAT One app |
| Truckstop Dry Van Pro | $129 (per 3 users) | Experienced dry van carriers | Broker ratings, Book It Now, rate tools, SONAR insights |
| Truckstop Advanced | $135 | Experienced carriers | Adds broker ratings, Book It Now, FuelDesk, AI voice assistant |
| DAT One Enhanced | $149 | New owner-operators | Adds 15-day average lane rates, 2 web search tabs |
| Truckstop Pro | $159 | Carriers who want rate data | Adds real-time live loads, rate insights, load alerts, RPM heat map |
| DAT One Pro | $169 | Owner-operators with 1-3 trucks (“most popular”) | 7-day lane rates, 3 search tabs, $250 DAT Assurance payment-support credit |
| DAT One Select | $259 | Small fleets, 3+ trucks | Best available rates, 10 search tabs, $500 payment-support credit |
| Truckstop Heavy Haul Pro | $299 | Oversize freight, up to 3 users | Heavy-haul search, permit quotes with escort details |
| DAT One Office | $339 | Fleets of 10+ trucks | Premium LaneMakers, $1,000 payment-support credit |
Prices exclude taxes and fees. Truckstop charges a non-refundable application fee equal to the plan’s first month, credited toward your first month if you’re approved. Truckstop shows only loads that match your operating authority (intrastate-only carriers see intrastate loads).
What you actually get for more money
- Rate data. The biggest jump in price on both DAT and Truckstop buys lane rate history. If you negotiate every load, it pays for itself fast. If you mostly haul for a few regular brokers, you may not need it.
- Broker credit and ratings. Knowing a broker’s days-to-pay and credit is the cheapest insurance against non-payment. On Truckstop, broker ratings start at Advanced ($135). Your factoring company usually runs free broker credit checks too.
- Book-now loads and alerts. These save time but don’t change how much freight you can see.
A sensible setup for a new owner-operator
- Start with one mid-tier paid board plus free sources (broker apps and free boards).
- Use your factoring company’s free broker credit checks before booking unknown brokers.
- After 60-90 days, look at where your best-paying loads actually came from and drop what you don’t use. All three big boards bill monthly.
Head-to-head: DAT vs Truckstop. Or see all load boards in our directory.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a load board cost per month?
In October 2026, carrier plans ranged from $0 (free boards such as Direct Freight’s free search, FreightFinder and DOFT Basic) to $39-$79 for 123Loadboard, $42-$159 for Truckstop’s main plans, and $59-$339 for DAT One. Most owner-operators end up on a $40-$170 plan.
How much is DAT per month?
DAT lists five carrier plans: Standard $59, Enhanced $149, Pro $169 (marked most popular, recommended for 1-3 trucks), Select $259 and Office $339 per month.
How much is Truckstop per month?
Truckstop lists Basic at $42, Advanced at $135 and Pro at $159 per month (per user, up to 3 users), plus Heavy Haul Pro at $299. There are cheaper dry-van-only plans ($35 Basic, $129 Pro). A non-refundable application fee equal to the first month applies and is credited if you are approved.
Do load boards have free trials?
123Loadboard lists a 5-day free trial on all three carrier plans. Check each vendor for current trial offers; DAT and Truckstop did not advertise a trial on their pricing pages when we checked.
Which load board tier does a new authority need?
At minimum you want unlimited search and broker credit or days-to-pay data, because getting stiffed by a broker costs more than any subscription. DAT lists broker credit data (days-to-pay, credit scores, reviews) as a plan feature, so confirm your tier includes it; on Truckstop, broker ratings start at the $135 Advanced plan, while Basic includes broker factorability data. Rate data is the next most useful upgrade.
Sources
- DAT load board plans (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- Truckstop load board pricing (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- 123Loadboard carrier pricing (checked Oct 31, 2026)
- DOFT driver pricing (checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Direct Freight (checked Oct 30, 2026)
- FreightFinder (checked Oct 30, 2026)
- Trucker Path pricing (checked Oct 30, 2026)
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