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 five best options in this guide. And when you’re finished, check out the other articles in our ‘Cargo van owner operator’ series:
- Pros and cons of becoming a cargo van owner operator
- Guide to finding cargo van jobs for owner operators
- Best cargo van load boards
Quicklook: Best cargo van load boards
- Best for biggest load board: Truckstop
- Best for custom alerts: Direct Freight
- Best for low cost: 123Loadboard
- Best for invoicing: Comfreight
- Best for no negotiations: Uber Freight
5 best cargo van load board options
To help you find suitable loads at quality rates, 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
Special 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
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 even 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
Special 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
123Loadboard
With over 50 million loads posted annually, 123Loadboard makes it easy to find quality cargo van loads. With integrated features such as load planning and a route helper, 123Loadboard helps you earn more per mile while reducing dead miles. 123Loadboard also allows carriers to check the credit status of potential clients and view industry rates to better negotiate fair pay.
Best for: Low cost
Job types
- Hot shots
- Local
- OTR
Special 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, to 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
Special 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 in terms of 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 removed the back and forth negotiation carriers normally deal with and allows you to pick the loads priced to your liking.
Best for: No negotiations
Job types
- Hot shots
- Local
- OTR
Special 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, app fees may apply
Paid vs free load boards for cargo vans
The main difference between 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, and 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 vs 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.
Reviews
The best cargo van load boards allow drivers to review shippers they have worked with. This feature offers valuable transparency to future carriers so you can avoid working with low-quality shippers.
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 a cargo van load board
When looking for a cargo van load board, drivers should consider factors such as:
- Coverage area and available loads in their desired regions
- User-friendly interface for easily finding and booking loads that fit their van’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 appropriate high-quality loads. 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. However, like any business, success is not guaranteed; you need a good business plan, access to financing, and strong management skills.
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