Are you a cargo van driver looking for the best loads to carry? Cargo van load boards make finding loads easier so that you can spend more time on the road. Additionally, by connecting shippers with carriers, load boards can help increase your income at an affordable monthly rate.
To learn more about the benefits of cargo van load boards, explore the best options in this guide.
Quicklook: Best cargo van load boards
- Best for biggest load board: Truckstop
- Best for setting your own rate: uShip
- Best for custom alerts: Direct Freight – Find Loads
- Best for low cost: 123Loadboard – Find Loads
- Best for invoicing: Comfreight – Find Loads
- Best for no negotiations: Uber Freight – Find Loads
What is cargo van freight?
Cargo van freight refers to goods, materials, or products that are transported using cargo vans. These are typically smaller commercial vehicles designed for carrying cargo, usually with enclosed storage areas behind the driver’s cabin.
The flexibility and efficiency of cargo vans make them suitable for a diverse range of freight types, adapting to various industries and transportation needs. They’re often used for:
- Last-mile deliveries: Bringing parcels and small packages from distribution centers to their final destinations, often in urban or residential areas.
- Local or regional transport: Moving goods within a city or between nearby towns. Common examples include perishables like fresh produce, dairy products, and prepared meals
- Time-sensitive shipments: Delivering expedited items like medical supplies and pharmaceutical products that need to reach their destination quickly.
- Specialized or high-value items: Transporting goods that require careful handling or additional security, such as fragile fine art or collectibles.
- Small business logistics: Supporting the transportation needs of small to medium-sized enterprises. Loads may include retail merchandise moved between stores or warehouses, marketing collateral, and small tools or equipment needed for repairs.
Sometimes referred to as Sprinter vans, the maneuverability of these vehicles make them ideal for navigating city streets and accessing locations that might be challenging for larger vehicles.
How load boards work for cargo van operators
Cargo van trucking load boards provide a digital mechanism for shippers to post available freight loads, which operators are able to find and agree to.
Once an operator logs into a load board, they can filter listings based on various criteria, such as location, type of cargo, and delivery dates. Each listing typically includes essential details like the weight, dimensions, pickup and drop-off locations, and payment terms.
Operators can communicate directly with shippers to negotiate rates and confirm details before accepting a load. After securing a shipment, operators can track the load’s progress and manage their logistics, making load boards an efficient tool for finding and managing cargo van jobs in real time.
6 best cargo van load boards
To help you find suitable trucking loads that put more money in your pocket, we’ve compiled this list of the best load boards for cargo vans.
Truckstop
Truckstop makes it easy for cargo van carriers to find reputable, high-quality loads. As the first online load board site debuting 25 years ago, Truckstop continues to help connect carriers and shippers. With over 80 million annual loads, Truckstop is a one-stop load board for all cargo van loads, including local, long haul, and hot shot cargo van jobs. As an added bonus, their pricing tiers allow you to find the best option for your business.
Best for: Biggest load board
Job types:
- Hot shots
- Local
- OTR
- LTL
Features:
- Factoring helps you get paid faster
- Top-of-the-line tech keeps paperwork to a minimum
- iOS and android apps available via app store
Benefits:
- Numerous training options to choose from
- User friendly
- Various ways to search
- Top-rated load board
Disadvantages:
- Top features are only part of the Pro Plan
- Some loads are posted without weight
Pricing:
uShip
uShip has a pricing structure that allows you to pay as you go, and the option to set your own rate is ideal for many cargo van owner operators. Features include real-time notifications when new loads are available so you can be on the road when you want to be. Their user friendly mobile app helps you streamline operations and spend less time dealing with hassles.
Best for: Setting your own rate
Features:
- Filter available loads by type of shipment, locations, and dates
- Save filters and get notified when a new load is available
- Along Your Route search tool (make your own lane, avoid deadhead trips and backhauls)
- Set your own rates
- Thousands of available loads daily
- Find shipments based on your equipment
- Streamlined uShip mobile app available
Disadvantages:
- Customer service is lacking
- Pricing isn’t always optimal
Pricing: Free until transportation is secured
Direct Freight
Direct Freight may be right for you if you’re looking for a customized cargo van load board experience. Packed with features like custom alert scheduling, an easy-to-use filtering system, and weather alerts about your routes, Direct Freight is more than just a load board. As an affordable option, Direct Freight’s cargo van load board offers unlimited search, making it an excellent choice for owner operators.
Best for: Custom alerts
Job types:
- Hot shots
- Local
- OTR
Features:
- Full credit reports on brokers
- Text alerts
Benefits:
- Affordable load board
- 15-day free trial before monthly subscription
- Filtering options
Disadvantages:
- Quotes not guaranteed
- Reports of occasional insurance issues
Pricing:
- One plan available
- $34.95 per month
123 Loadboard
With over 50 million loads posted annually, 123 Loadboard makes it easy to find quality cargo van loads. Its integrated features load planning and route helper features help you earn more per mile while reducing dead miles. 123Loadboard also allows carriers to check the credit status of potential clients and view contractor industry rates to better negotiate fair pay.
Best for: Low cost
Job types:
- Hot shots
- Local
- OTR
Features:
- 10-day free trial
- Packed toolset, including quick pay and load planner
Benefits:
- Affordable platform
- Simple to use
- Web and mobile platform
- Rate check to negotiate the best offer
Disadvantages:
- PC version is not as user-friendly as the app
- Missing certain filtering options compared to other apps
Pricing:
- Standard: $35 per month
- Premium: $45 per month
- Premium Plus: $55 per month
Comfreight
Comfreight understands that finding high-quality cargo van loads is only part of the equation. Their advanced freight technology combines digital factoring and invoicing with an online load board. This helps you get paid in a timely manner. With Comfreight’s HaulPay load board system, you can manage complex payment scenarios by adding digital documents and photos to easily invoice your clients immediately after you’ve delivered the load.
Best for: Invoicing
Job types:
- Hot shot
- Local
- OTR
Features:
- Customized payment options between same-day or one-day payments
- Invoicing with digital docs and photographs
Benefits:
- Market rate data trends
- Easy-to-use platform
- Excellent customer service
Disadvantages:
- No transparent pricing online
- Not as well-known as other options
Pricing:
- Plans start at $25 per month
Uber Freight
Uber technology revolutionized the way people used transportation. Now, Uber Freight is doing the same for the freight industry. They arguably have the best app for cargo van loads regarding ease-of-use and ability to connect shippers with carriers clearly and transparently. In addition to its simplicity of use, there is no negotiating when using Uber Freight. The price posted for a load is what you’ll get paid. This removes the back and forth negotiation carriers normally deal with and allows you to pick loads priced to your liking.
Best for: No negotiations
Job types:
- Hot shots
- Local
- OTR
Features:
- The price you see is the price you get
- Last-minute loads available
Benefits:
- Reputable brand
- Instant booking
- User-friendly
- Fair pricing
Disadvantages:
- Details are lacking from shipping information
- Pricing is higher than other options
Pricing:
- Free use, but app fees may apply
Paid versus free load boards for cargo vans
The main difference between paid and free cargo van load boards is the cost. With free load boards for cargo vans, there are no monthly fees like with a paid load board. However, free load boards for cargo vans often limit the number of searches you can make or even post far less favorable loads.
Despite costing more initially, paid load boards for cargo vans can help you save time searching for jobs and chasing dead ends. Time is money in trucking. The more time you spend searching for the next load, the less you spend on the road carrying high-value cargo van loads.
Advantages of freight carrier load boards
Are you still wondering if using a load board is right for you? Here are some benefits to using the best cargo van load boards for carriers.
Finding jobs
Whether you use them to find all your loads or to fill in the gaps, load boards help you stay constantly moving freight. You can easily bid on jobs and secure high-quality cargo van loads without establishing relationships with shippers upfront. In some areas you may even find local load boards for cargo vans.
Networking
Many carriers start long-term relationships with shippers they first connect with through a load board shipment. If a client is impressed with you, they may offer you more frequent cargo van loads leading to stable recurring work.
Cost versus income
While most load boards have a monthly cost, they are a valuable investment for your earning potential. A cargo van load board makes securing suitable loads easy and efficient, so you waste less time searching for jobs.
Cargo van load board reviews
The best cargo van load boards allow drivers to review shippers and brokers they’ve worked with. This feature offers valuable transparency so you can avoid taking low-quality or fraudulent freight jobs.
Real-time updates
Trucking is an around-the-clock industry, and real-time updates from cargo van load apps are essential to avoid wasting time. Paid load board jobs are typically updated in real-time, so you can spot new jobs as soon as they’re posted.
Pricing transparency
Viewing rate details and negotiation histories provides market rate intelligence to improve your own long term competitiveness and margins.
Overall, tapping into load board postings allows small cargo van operations to scale up their capacity utilization and revenue generation through flexibility and exposure to greater freight volume.
What to consider in cargo van load boards
When looking for a cargo van load board, drivers should consider factors like:
- Coverage area and available loads in their desired regions
- User-friendly interface for easily finding and booking loads that fit their vehicle’s capacity
- Reputation and reviews from other drivers using the load board
- Additional features like route planning, mileage tracking, and payment protection
- Competitive rates and transparency on fees charged by the load board
- Mobile app compatibility for conveniently accessing loads on the go
- Customer support and dispute resolution policies in case issues arise
The right cargo van load board can help drivers maximize their revenue and efficiency by providing a steady stream of compatible loads from reputable brokers and shippers.
Try out load boards for cargo van drivers
Whether you own or lease a cargo van, load boards can help secure high-quality jobs that fit your equipment type. From local deliveries to hot shot cargo van jobs, these load boards offer plenty of opportunities for cargo van drivers to grow their business. For tips on how to maximize profits from load board bookings, read How to make money using a load board.
FAQ
The maximum load capacity for a cargo van can vary depending on the specific model, but generally ranges from around 1,500 to 4,500 pounds (680 to 2,040 kg). It’s important to consult the owner’s manual or manufacturer specifications to determine the precise maximum payload rating for a particular cargo van.bs matching their route and cargo capacity, and then bid or negotiate rates directly with the shippers or brokers posting them.
There are several load boards that post hauling jobs suitable for sprinter vans and other small cargo vans. For instance, Truckstop allows you to search and filter for partial truckload and LTL freight loads that match the weight capacity and dimensions of sprinter vans.
A cargo van business has the potential to be quite profitable if there is sufficient demand for delivery services in your area and you run the business efficiently. As of October 2024, according to ZipRecruiter “the average annual pay for an owner operator cargo van driver in the United States is $56,156.” However, like any business, success is not guaranteed; you need a good business plan, access to financing, and strong management skills.
Several apps are popular for finding cargo van loads, but some of the best options include Truckstop, and uShip. Truckstop’s app is known for helping drivers find and book loads quickly, with tools for evaluating rates and routes. UShip allows for bidding on jobs, making it a user-friendly alternative to traditional big rig truck boards.
