New business owners are always looking for the best load boards for box trucks. To be clear, there are lots of ways to keep your box truck full—direct shipper contracts, working with brokers, networking with local businesses, or running dedicated routes.

Starting a box truck business means learning to use every tool available to you. Load boards are just one of those tools. While you don’t want to depend on them 100% for your freight, they can be a valuable resource—especially when you’re building your business, filling backhauls, or covering gaps in your schedule.

In a previous post, we shared five tips for booking loads for your box truck. One of those tips was to understand how load boards work and when to use them. Below, we’ll break down some of the most popular load boards for box trucks, with pros and cons to help you decide which ones make sense for you.

💡 Save on Fuel Everywhere You Go
The Bobtail fleet card can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted and tracks expenses on an easy-to-use app. That means you aren’t locked into a single fuel chain—you can shop for the best price on your route and keep your operating costs lower.

Sylectus

Visit Sylectus

Pro: Specifically designed for smaller equipment sizes like box trucks, cargo vans, and sprinters. This makes it easier to find freight that fits your equipment without scrolling through irrelevant postings.

Con: One of the most expensive load boards on the market. Many small carriers find it tough to justify the cost unless they already have steady freight volume.

DAT One

Visit DAT

Pros:

• The industry leader with the largest load board network in North America.
• Technology is relatively easy to use compared to some competitors.
• Filters available for 26’ box trucks and straight trucks, so you can target loads that fit your business.
• Includes powerful market data tools that can help you understand freight trends, rates, and lanes.

Cons:

• The sheer size of the marketplace can be overwhelming. With so many loads and so many carriers using it, competition is intense.
• To access the most valuable market data, you’ll need a higher-tier subscription—often $200+ per month.

123Loadboard

Visit 123Loadboard

Pro: Very simple to use. You can filter specifically for box truck loads, making it easier to get started if you’re new to the business.

Con: Like DAT, it’s a large, general board covering all types of freight. That means box truck operators can sometimes feel lost in the crowd of postings for semi-trailers and other equipment.

💡 Keep Cash Flow Steady
Bobtail offers factoring services with no up-front contracts, no hidden fees, and one of the highest-rated services on Trustpilot. That means you get paid faster—without being tied down to rigid agreements.

TruckSmarter

Visit TruckSmarter

Pro: 100% free. You can search, filter, and book loads without paying a subscription fee, which is a huge advantage for smaller operations or new businesses trying to control costs.

Con: Because it’s newer and free, the load selection may not always be as broad as established boards like DAT. Loads can also disappear quickly since many carriers are using the platform.

C.H. Robinson (Navisphere Carrier)

Visit C.H. Robinson

Pro: Offers consistent freight directly from one of the biggest 3PLs in the world. If you’re approved as a carrier, you’ll get access to short-haul and regional loads that are often a good fit for box trucks.

Con: You’ll need to be an approved carrier with C.H. Robinson, which can take time. Since it’s tied to one broker, you won’t see the same breadth of options that you’d find on independent load boards.

Trucker Path (TruckLoads)

Visit Trucker Path

Pro: Mobile-first platform that’s easy to use on the road. It combines load searches with other useful features like parking, fuel stops, and routing. A solid all-in-one option for box truck operators.

Con: While convenient, it’s not as specialized as boards like Sylectus. You may still need to sift through freight postings that aren’t a good fit for box trucks.

Final Thoughts

Load boards for box trucks are a powerful resource, but they’re not the whole strategy. The most successful box truck businesses build a diverse mix of freight sources: direct shipper contracts that provide steady work, relationships with brokers that can unlock better-paying opportunities, and local partnerships that keep your truck running close to home.

Think of load boards for box trucks as a safety net and a supplement. They’re great for filling empty miles, testing new lanes, or staying busy when other freight sources slow down. But long-term stability comes from balancing what you find on a load board with stronger, more consistent partnerships off of it.

Use them wisely, and they’ll be a valuable part of your toolkit—not the entire toolbox.

Quick Comparison: Load Boards for Box Trucks

👉 Want to learn more? Check out Bobtail’s guides to starting your box truck business and tips for booking box truck loads.