A hot shot load board is only useful if it actually carries the partial, LTL, and expedited freight that fits a pickup and a 40-foot gooseneck. Most boards are built around full truckload van and reefer, and hotshot loads get buried under equipment filters that do not quite match. This guide ranks the boards that reliably have hotshot freight, explains what each one is known for, and shows how to price a 300-mile run so it makes money instead of just making miles.
What makes a load board good for hotshot
Hotshot freight is short-notice, short-haul, and partial. Typical loads are equipment, building materials, oilfield parts, vehicles, and anything a shipper needs tomorrow without paying for a full flatbed. A board serves hotshot well when it has:
- Equipment filters for hotshot, flatbed partial, and LTL, so you are not scrolling past 53-foot van loads
- Length and weight fields on postings, because a 38-foot skid on a 40-foot deck matters
- Enough posting volume in your region that you can find a reload, not just an outbound
- Broker credit and days-to-pay data, since hotshot brokers range from excellent to gone-next-month
Before you pay for any board, read our hotshot business guide if you are still setting up. The board is the last piece, not the first.
1. DAT One
DAT runs the largest load board in North America, and volume is why it is first. Its equipment types include hotshot and flatbed partial categories, postings usually carry length and weight, and its rate data lets you see what a lane has been paying before you call. Broker credit scores and days-to-pay are built in. The cost is higher than most boards on this list, and the interface has a learning curve.
Known for: volume, rate benchmarks, and broker vetting. Consider: the lower plan tiers limit what you can see, so compare tiers before you sign up.
2. Truckstop
Truckstop is the other long-standing board, and in some regions and freight types it has postings DAT does not. It supports partial and hotshot searches, has strong broker credit and authority-check tools, and many brokers post to it first. Plans range from basic search to full rate and credit access.
Known for: broker vetting tools and regional depth. Consider: like DAT, the useful data lives in the higher tiers.
3. 123Loadboard
123Loadboard is a lower-cost board with a good app, hotshot and partial filters, and a bundle of extras like trip planning, document tools, and a rate-per-mile view. Volume is lower than DAT or Truckstop, but many hotshot operators run it alongside one of the big two.
Known for: price and a usable mobile app. Consider: not enough volume on its own in most lanes.
4. Direct Freight
Direct Freight is an inexpensive board with a straightforward search and a hotshot category. It pulls in a mix of broker postings and has been a staple of small-carrier setups for years. Expect a simpler interface and fewer analytics.
Known for: low cost and simplicity. Consider: use it as a supplement, not a primary board.
5. Trucker Path
Trucker Path started as a trip-planning app and added a free load board. Volume is modest, but the price is zero and the app is already on most drivers' phones for truck stops, parking, and scales. It is worth checking for backhauls when you are already using the app.
Known for: free access and the app most drivers already have. Consider: thin postings in many lanes.
6. Central Dispatch (vehicles)
If your hotshot setup hauls cars, trucks, or equipment on wheels, Central Dispatch is the vehicle-transport marketplace. Dealers, auctions, and brokers post vehicle moves with pickup and delivery windows, and it is where most of the auto-hauling freight lives. It is not a general freight board and will not help with skids or building materials.
Known for: vehicle moves, from single cars to multi-unit runs. Consider: auto transport has its own inspection, damage, and insurance requirements. Learn them before you book.
7. Amazon Relay (where applicable)
Amazon Relay is Amazon's load board for carriers hauling its freight. It is built around trailers and box trucks, and most Relay freight is not a fit for a gooseneck hotshot. Some operators with the right equipment and authority do run Relay loads, so it is listed here for completeness, not as a primary source. Relay has its own carrier requirements and insurance minimums, which are published on its site and change over time.
Known for: steady contract-style freight for van and box-truck carriers. Consider: confirm equipment eligibility before you spend time on the application.
Comparison at a glance
| Board | Hotshot filter | Rate data | Broker credit | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAT One | Yes | Yes | Yes | Higher | Primary board, volume |
| Truckstop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Higher | Primary board, regional depth |
| 123Loadboard | Yes | Basic | Basic | Lower | Second board, mobile |
| Direct Freight | Yes | Limited | Limited | Lower | Supplement |
| Trucker Path | Partial | No | No | Free | Backhaul checks |
| Central Dispatch | Vehicles only | No | Limited | Subscription | Car and equipment hauling |
| Amazon Relay | No | Posted rates | N/A | Free to join | Van and box truck, not gooseneck |
"Cost" is relative positioning. Prices and features change; verify on each vendor's site.
How to evaluate rate per mile on short hauls
Hotshot rates per mile look high because the hauls are short. A $600 load for 150 miles is $4.00 a mile, which sounds great until you count the 90 miles of deadhead to get there and the three hours at the shipper. Here is the math that matters.
- Use total miles, not loaded miles. Deadhead to pickup plus loaded miles plus deadhead to the next load or home. That $600 load is $2.50 a mile on 240 total miles.
- Convert to revenue per day. A short haul takes most of a day once you add loading, unloading, and paperwork. If you can only do one load, the load has to cover a full day of fixed cost. If you can do two, the rate can be lower.
- Know your real cost per mile. Hotshot fixed costs are lower than a Class 8, but fuel per mile on a diesel pickup pulling a loaded gooseneck is not cheap, and tires and brakes wear fast. Run the numbers in our cost per mile calculator and then read the true cost per load for hotshot.
- Price in the wait. Hotshot shippers are often job sites and small yards with no dock and no forklift ready. Ask about loading time, get detention on the rate con, and read our detention pay guide.
- Plan the reload before you accept. The single biggest difference between profitable hotshot operators and the rest is whether the truck comes home loaded. Our guide to reducing deadhead applies double to hotshot.
As a rough check, many hotshot operators aim for a blended rate on total miles that is meaningfully above their all-in cost per mile, and walk away from loads that only work if nothing goes wrong. Your number depends on your truck, your insurance, and your market, so calculate it rather than borrowing someone else's.
Working the boards efficiently
- Run two boards, one primary and one cheap, and set saved searches for your home region and your two best reload markets.
- Call early. Hotshot freight is time-sensitive and the good loads are gone by mid-morning.
- Vet every new broker: authority status, credit score, days-to-pay, and a quick search for recent complaints. Our broker and load board guide shows how.
- Keep a broker list. After three months you will have five or six brokers who call you before posting, and that is when the boards become a backup instead of your whole business.
- Get every load into one system so you can invoice the same day. Hotshot is cash-flow-sensitive because loads are small and frequent. Read our invoicing and cash flow tips.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best load board for hotshot trucking?
DAT and Truckstop have the most hotshot and partial freight. Most hotshot operators run one of those as a primary board plus a lower-cost board like 123Loadboard or Direct Freight for extra coverage. If you haul vehicles, add Central Dispatch.
Are there free hotshot load boards?
Trucker Path has a free load board with some hotshot-suitable freight, and a few brokers post directly on their own sites. Free boards are useful for backhaul checks but rarely enough to keep a truck busy on their own.
Do I need my own authority to use hotshot load boards?
To book directly with brokers, yes: you need an active MC number, DOT number, and insurance that meets broker requirements. Without authority you can lease onto a carrier and run under theirs, in which case the carrier usually handles the boards.
What is a good rate per mile for hotshot?
It varies by region, season, and equipment. The right way to answer is against your own cost per mile on total miles, including deadhead. A rate that looks strong per loaded mile can be a loss once the empty miles and the wait are counted.
How do I avoid bad brokers on hotshot boards?
Check authority and credit before calling, get everything on a rate confirmation, and start new brokers on smaller loads. Days-to-pay data on the major boards is the best early warning you have.
Book it on the board, run it in one place. Start a free 14-day TruckFlow trial, no card required. Text loads to your driver, capture BOLs and PODs by photo, and invoice the same day the freight lands.