If you run the freight spot market, two load boards dominate the conversation: DAT and Truckstop. Both connect carriers and brokers with available freight, both are established and reliable, and both cost real money every month. The decision comes down to what you value most: raw load volume and rate history, or instant booking and rate transparency.
Here is how they compare from a carrier's seat, and why a lot of operators end up subscribing to both.
The short version:
Choose DAT if you want the largest raw load volume and the deepest historical rate data (RateView).
Choose Truckstop if instant booking (Book It Now) and clear, current rate insight matter most, especially at a lower entry price.
Many carriers run both for the widest coverage, then favor one as the daily driver.
Truckstop vs DAT at a glance
| Truckstop | DAT | |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier entry price | ~$42/mo (Basic) | $49/mo (DAT One Standard) |
| Mid / top tiers | Pro ~$79 to $99, Premium ~$149 | Enhanced $99, Pro $149 |
| Broker pricing | Tiered by plan | $159 to $499/mo |
| Load volume | Very high | Largest in the market |
| Rate data | Rate Insights (current lane rates) | RateView (deep rate history) |
| Standout feature | Book It Now instant booking | Largest network and rate history |
| Best for | Instant booking, rate transparency | Maximum load volume and rate history |
Where Truckstop wins
Booking speed and a lower entry price. Truckstop's Book It Now lets you book a load instantly at a posted rate without the back-and-forth phone haggling, which is a real time-saver, and it is available even on the entry plan. Its Rate Insights shows what lanes are currently paying so you negotiate with data rather than a gut feel, protecting your margin per load. Carrier plans start around $42 a month for Basic, below DAT's entry, with Pro at roughly $79 to $99 and Premium at $149. It also includes broker credit and vetting information to help you avoid bad payers. The full Truckstop review covers the tiers.
Pros
- Book It Now instant booking saves real time
- Rate Insights shows current lane pricing
- Lower entry price than DAT
- Broker credit and vetting built in
Cons
- Slightly less raw volume than DAT
- Best features gated to Pro and above
- $42 application fee to start
Where DAT wins
Volume and rate history. DAT is widely regarded as having the largest raw load volume in the market, which for a carrier means more freight to choose from, especially in thin lanes and markets. Its RateView analytics carry deep historical rate data, so you can see not just what a lane pays now but how it has trended, which is powerful for planning and negotiation. DAT One carrier plans run $49 a month for Standard, $99 for Enhanced, and $149 for Pro, with broker plans from $159 up to $499. If maximum freight selection and rate history are your priority, DAT leads.
Pros
- Largest raw load volume in the market
- RateView offers deep historical rate data
- Huge, established network
- Strong for planning thin lanes
Cons
- Higher entry price than Truckstop's Basic
- Best rate history on higher tiers
- Instant booking less central than Truckstop's
Pricing head-to-head
Truckstop is a bit cheaper to start (Basic around $42 a month versus DAT One Standard at $49), and both climb to about $149 for their top carrier tiers, so at the higher end pricing is close. Brokers pay more on both, with DAT's broker plans running $159 to $499 a month. Truckstop charges a $42 application fee, credited toward your first month on approval. Both offer free trials and annual-billing discounts, so test each on your actual lanes before committing.
Which should you choose?
If instant booking and current rate transparency matter most and you want a lower entry price, Truckstop is the better daily driver. If you want the largest possible pool of loads and the deepest rate history for planning, DAT leads. The honest answer for many carriers is both: run DAT for volume and Truckstop for Book It Now and rate insight, then keep whichever earns its keep once you see your lanes. If you are newer to how this all works, start with how a freight load board works, and the load board roundup covers the smaller boards worth adding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Truckstop or DAT better?
Both are strong, and the choice depends on what you value. DAT is widely considered to have the largest raw load volume and the deepest historical rate data through RateView, which suits carriers who want maximum freight selection and planning data. Truckstop leads on instant booking through Book It Now and current rate transparency via Rate Insights, at a slightly lower entry price. Many carriers run both.
How much do Truckstop and DAT cost?
Truckstop carrier plans start around $42 a month for Basic, with Pro at roughly $79 to $99 and Premium at $149, plus a $42 application fee credited on approval. DAT One carrier plans are $49 a month for Standard, $99 for Enhanced, and $149 for Pro, with broker plans from $159 up to $499. Both offer free trials and annual-billing discounts.
Should I use both Truckstop and DAT?
Many carriers do. Running both gives you the widest possible load coverage, since each board has freight the other does not, and you get both DAT's rate history and Truckstop's Book It Now and current rate insight. It costs more, so a common approach is to trial both, see which surfaces better loads on your actual lanes, and then keep both or drop to the one that earns its keep.
What is Book It Now on Truckstop?
Book It Now is a Truckstop feature that lets carriers book a load instantly at the broker's posted rate, without the usual back-and-forth phone negotiation. It speeds up securing freight and is available even on the entry Basic plan, which is a point of difference from how some competitors gate instant booking. It is one of the main reasons carriers favor Truckstop as a daily driver.