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Over the last few years, the inland freight industry has experienced a digital shift. Instead of dealing with freight brokers, many inland freight shippers have eliminated the middleman by embracing online load boards.
Online loads are quickly becoming the best way to efficiently and economically move your cargo. Instead of paying freight brokers a percentage to find you a reliable carrier, you can save money by finding a reputable carrier on your own.
For those unfamiliar with the concept, a load board is an online system that allows shippers to post loads they want to ship. Shippers input all details about the load they want transported. These include pick-up and drop-off locations, freight type and size, and other pertinent information.
Carriers checking for online loads who meet the shippers' requirements can then apply or place a bid to do the job.
What's great about using online load boards is that they are a great supplement to your current list of carriers. If there's a problem with a driver or your capacity increases, a load board is a useful tool to turn to.
Better yet, some load boards require extensive screening of the carriers using their platform, ensuring you partnering with an insured, safe, reliable, and adequately licensed carrier. Depending on the load board, you could have your postings viewed by hundreds, if not thousands of carriers vying to move your shipments.
Selecting the optimal load board platform can make or break your shipping operations. With dozens of options available, understanding what to evaluate ensures you invest in a solution that drives real results for your freight operations.
When assessing load boards, prioritize these critical factors:
Carrier Network Size and Quality: look for platforms with extensive, vetted carrier networks. A board with 50,000+ active carriers provides better coverage than one with only 5,000. However, quantity means nothing without quality - ensure the platform requires proper licensing, insurance verification, and safety ratings.
Geographic Coverage: match the platform's strength to your shipping lanes. Some load boards excel in specific regions while others offer nationwide coverage. If you primarily ship coast-to-coast, choose platforms with strong carrier presence in both origin and destination markets.
Equipment Type Availability: verify the platform supports your specific equipment needs. Whether you need flatbeds, reefers, dry vans, or specialized trailers, the load board should have adequate carrier coverage for each equipment type you regularly use.
User Interface and Ease of Use: a complex platform that requires extensive training reduces efficiency. Test the posting process, search functionality, and communication tools during trial periods. Your team should be able to post loads and communicate with carriers intuitively.
Customer Support Quality: evaluate response times, availability hours, and support expertise. When loads need immediate attention or disputes arise, responsive support becomes crucial. Look for platforms offering 24/7 support with dedicated account managers.
Understanding pricing structures helps optimize your load board investment:
Free Load Board Models:
Premium Subscription Models ($50-$500+ monthly):
Transaction-Based Pricing (2-8% of load value):
Hybrid Models:
Modern load boards should seamlessly integrate with your existing transportation management system:
API Integration Options:
EDI Compatibility:
File Import/Export Features:
Cloud-Based Connectivity:
Here are five popular online load boards where shippers, like yourself, can safely and reliably place their online loads.
Cargobot's innovative app puts the power of maximum efficiency into the hands of shippers, allowing them to connect directly to carriers. Their free, easy-to-use platform provides an abundance of unique, productive features including:
DirectFreight.com gives shippers the ability to post their loads for free. This step can be done by creating an online account to post loads, or by sending the list to the service for them to put up. Direct Freight has an easy to use online interface that allows shippers to:
Trulos.com also provides shippers with a free posting account for online loads. Shippers can use the Trulos Dispatch System to easily find carriers in your area, set up carriers, manage loads, and work directly with carriers instead of going through a broker.
Shippers post their load, and the rate they are willing to pay. Then interested carriers will connect to learn more details about the shipment.
Convoy matches shippers and carriers for traditional loads and spot shipments in their app. Shippers are assured high-quality coverage for their spot freight even if on short notice or during difficult weather situations.
Online loads are hauled by high-quality and compliant carriers.
Note: Convoy recently announced they were going out of business. You can learn more here.
With NextLOAD, shippers create an account and after being approved, are then able to post loads through an online form. NextLOAD integrates with various TMS systems that can be connected to your account to allow you to post your online loads automatically.
The traditional approach of shippers frantically calling dozens of brokers and carriers is rapidly becoming obsolete. Today's successful shippers looking for carriers leverage digital platforms to build robust, reliable transportation networks that scale with their business needs.
Shippers looking for carriers face unprecedented challenges in today's freight market. Capacity constraints, rising costs, and reliability issues have forced smart logistics managers to rethink their carrier sourcing strategies.
1. Cast a wide net initially: when shippers looking for carriers first transition to load boards, post on multiple platforms simultaneously. This maximizes exposure and helps identify which platforms generate the highest-quality responses for your specific lanes.
2. Develop carrier scorecards: track performance metrics for every carrier you work with:
3. Build your preferred carrier database: the most successful shippers looking for carriers use load boards not just for spot freight, but to discover carriers they can develop into long-term partners. Save contact information and performance data for carriers who exceed expectations.
4. Leverage technology for efficiency: use load boards with API integration to automatically post to multiple platforms, receive consolidated bids, and manage carrier communications from a single interface.
Experienced shippers looking for carriers know that the lowest bid isn't always the best value. Watch for these warning signs:
By following these strategies, shippers looking for carriers can build robust transportation networks that provide reliable, cost-effective freight movement while minimizing risk and maximizing operational efficiency.
The essential function of any shipper's workload is finding the best options to haul cargo. Building a consistent, reliable carrier base is critical - and load boards can help with both networking and expanding your available pool of drivers.
Having such an accessible online option is a gift only today's technology can provide. Use an efficient strategy to streamline your workflow today by signing up for a load board that best fits your needs.