If you're comparing TruckSmarter and DAT, you're probably trying to answer one question: which load board makes the most sense for the way you run your business?

Both platforms help carriers find freight, but they take different approaches. DAT offers one of the industry's largest freight marketplaces along with premium tools like RateView and broker credit information through its paid subscription plans. TruckSmarter focuses on giving owner operators and small carriers a 100% free load board with mobile app, and free AI-powered tools for searching, booking, and evaluating freight.

To see how these differences play out on the road, we spoke with Steven W., a veteran reefer owner-operator and TruckSmarter user, about his experience using the platform.

At 7 a.m. Central on a typical Monday, Steven W. opens his load board app to find his next haul. He's an owner operator running reefer loads, hauling temperatures anywhere from -20 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.

"I'm not just looking for anything," he said. "The higher the temp, the less fuel I'm going to use on my refrigerator unit. So I try to look for loads that don't make my unit work as hard."

When Steven found TruckSmarter's free load board, he found a tool that showed him reefer temperature ranges directly in the load list, something he says helps him book relevant loads faster.

How It Works

1. App: Download the TruckSmarter app 

2. Connect: Connect your load boards and broker emails to TruckSmarter to centralize your freight search.

3. Carrier Verification: Enter your MC/DOT number, then confirm it's you via a code sent by email, phone, or SMS. 

4. Search: Combine multiple load board accounts in one view and search for loads.

5. Filter: Narrow by rate per mile, weight, distance, trailer type, temperature range, or preferred broker.

6. Bid: Submit a bid directly in the app on most listed loads.

7. Book: Confirm and book the load without leaving the app.

TruckSmarter vs. DAT: Feature Comparison

Every carrier values something different. Some prioritize access to the largest possible freight marketplace, while others want to reduce software costs or simplify how they search and book loads. For Steven, features like reefer temperature filtering, direct bidding, and broker controls made it easier to find loads that fit the way he operates. Other drivers may prioritize different tools, but the best load board is ultimately the one that helps you make faster, more informed freight decisions.

What Dispatch Gives Free Load Board Users That DAT Doesn't

The free load board gets you the loads. Dispatch is what helps you decide which ones are worth taking. It's TruckSmarter's AI dispatching assistant, and it works inside the same app: you can search for loads, check the market rate for a lane before you bid, get an estimate of your true take-home pay after fuel and expenses, and even have it help you contact a broker and work through a rate. If you ask whether you're talking to AI, it tells you.

Dispatch is free for every driver with a limited number of requests per week. Most new drivers use only about a third of that allotment, so the free tier covers real usage for most people, not just a trial. If you want unlimited searches, it's $49 a month flat, no commission, no percentage of your rate.

Key features:

• Search and compare loads against the free load board's listings

• Real-time market rate checks by lane

• Estimated take-home pay after fuel and expenses

• Broker contact and negotiation support

• Backhaul planning as part of a full round trip

Learn more about Dispatch here.

Can I Bid and Book Loads Directly on TruckSmarter?

Instead of switching between multiple load boards and phone calls to reach brokers, Steven connects his load boards to TruckSmarter and filters by rate, weight, distance, trailer type, and broker to find, compare, and book freight from one place.

"I like TruckSmarter better than DAT because I can just pretty much bid on the great majority of the loads that I see," Steven said. "With TruckSmarter, bidding is just there in the app on most of the loads."

While both DAT and TruckSmarter support in-app bidding and booking on eligible loads, TruckSmarter is designed to keep more of the freight search and booking workflow inside one app. DAT's booking experience depends on how a broker posts the load: some loads support instant booking or bidding while others still require contacting the broker directly.

Key features:

• Bid and book on most TruckSmarter-listed loads

• Search across multiple connected load boards from one place

• Filter by rate per mile, weight, trailer type, distance, and broker

• Use Dispatch to contact brokers and help negotiate rates 

Which Load Board Is Best for Finding Backhauls?

DAT's size works in its favor here. With one of the largest freight marketplaces in the industry, drivers can usually find return freight in most markets, though finding it may mean digging through more listings or paying for RateView to confirm the rate is worth the trip. TruckSmarter takes a different approach: since you can connect multiple load boards and broker emails into one search, you can filter for backhauls near your delivery point without switching apps. Dispatch can help evaluate whether a return load makes sense as part of the full round trip, and which option is best.

Learn how to find backhauls on the free load board here.

Does TruckSmarter Offer Fuel Discounts and Other Savings?

"Right now we're battling rising fuel costs, rising maintenance... it's all about profit," Steven said. Beyond the load board, TruckSmarter's ecosystem includes a fuel discount partnership and Dispatch, its AI assistant.

Fuel discounts come through TruckSmarter's partnership with the TCS Fuel Card with point-of-sale savings at more than 12,000 stops nationwide, averaging 51¢ per gallon at in-network locations (based on Q1 2026 TCS transaction data). No credit check is required to sign up for the card through the app.

For drivers who want to go a step further, Dispatch now pulls TCS fuel pricing directly into its chat interface, so drivers can see fuel costs along a route and estimate their true net rate before booking a load. Dispatch is free to try for 30 days, then a flat $49/month with no percentage take, a low-cost add-on for drivers who want more than the free load board covers on its own.

• Key features:

  • Fuel discounts through the TCS Fuel Card partnership: average 51¢/gal at 2,300+ in-network stops, no credit check required

  • Factoring available through TruckSmarter's partnership with OTR Solutions: true non-recourse, instant funding, no minimum invoice requirement

  • Dispatch adds AI-powered trip economics (including fuel costs via TCS): free for 30 days, then $49/month flat

How Does TruckSmarter Protect Drivers From Broker Fraud?

Steven says other load boards can feel like a free-for-all. "There's a lot of fraud going on in the industry right now. There's a lot of brokers and factoring companies going out of business," he explained.

TruckSmarter removes brokers from the load board after confirmed issues like bankruptcy filings, based on driver feedback. Drivers can also block specific brokers from their own search results.

Key features:

• Brokers go through a screening process before appearing on the load board

• Drivers can block individual brokers from their own results

• TruckSmarter has removed brokers in response to reported issues like bankruptcy

How Does TruckSmarter's Community Shape the Product?

Steven credits driver feedback for a lot of what's changed on the platform over time. "TruckSmarter listens. They started out doing Zoom meetings with truckers, and that showed me something different." That kind of direct feedback loop is part of why the product looks the way it does today. TruckSmarter's approach starts from the idea that the people driving the freight should have a say in the tools built for them.

What Is the Best Free Alternative to DAT?

There isn't a single “best” free alternative to DAT because every load board is built differently. Some platforms focus on freight volume, while others emphasize workflow, mobile experience, or planning tools.

A lot of owner operators book consistent freight using free load boards alone, especially early on. TruckSmarter posts more than 100,000 loads a day and lets you connect other boards into the same search, so you're not relying on a single source.

For owner operators and small carriers looking to cut down on software costs, TruckSmarter is one of the few load boards that lets drivers search, bid on, and book freight without paying a monthly subscription. The mobile app has been downloaded more than 500,000 times and maintains a 4.9-star average app rating, with many drivers saying that its free pricing, mobile-first experience, and ability to simplify freight search are reasons they continue using the platform. For advanced trip planning, TruckSmarter also gives drivers free access to their AI-powered dispatching tool, which can find and compare loads, provide estimated take-home pay, fuel pricing, and more.

At the end of the day, the best alternative depends on how you work. Some carriers are happy paying for premium market intelligence, while others prefer to keep costs low and use a free load board that covers their day-to-day needs.

How To Switch From DAT to a Free Load Board

You don't have to replace one platform overnight. Most owner operators use multiple load boards to compare available freight and increase their chances of finding profitable loads.

TruckSmarter makes that transition easier by letting drivers connect multiple load boards and broker emails into a single search experience. That means you can continue using your existing workflow while trying TruckSmarter alongside it. Over time, you can decide whether a free load board meets your needs or whether you still benefit from the additional tools included with a paid subscription.

Which Load Board Is Right For You? 

DAT and TruckSmarter are built for different priorities, and choosing between the two comes down to how you run your business. DAT focuses on a large freight marketplace and premium market intelligence, while TruckSmarter focuses on giving owner operators and small carriers a free load board with optional AI tools to help search, evaluate, and book freight. 

If you'd like to see how TruckSmarter fits into your workflow, you can download the load board app, search live loads, and try Dispatch for free. That gives you the opportunity to compare it alongside your current load board and decide what works best for your business.