Direct Freight

Direct Freight Services connects carriers with loads posted mostly by brokers, along with some direct shippers. Its load board lets users search for and post loads and trucks, and matching alerts can notify carriers about loads. The company says its Driver app searches more than 300K loads daily. A lane pricing tool uses millions of load records to provide spot market rates for thousands of lanes; the Professional Carrier plan adds current and historical freight rates, toll costs, saved rate lanes, and team management. Enhanced Carrier and Professional Carrier include credit scores, days to pay, and full credit reports. Direct Freight is available on the web and through iOS and Android apps. The free plan costs nothing and allows three load searches per day. Basic Carrier is $39 a month after 15 days for $1; Enhanced Carrier is $49 a month and Professional Carrier is $69 a month, also after 15 days for $1. The FAQ notes that listings may remain after a load is no longer available and that most listings omit pay rates.

Direct Freight combines load matching with mobile apps and tiered carrier tools. Keep in mind that availability and pay details in listings depend on updates from the broker or shipper.

Direct Freight is suited to carriers searching for broker-posted or direct-shipper loads, with mobile apps and tools for comparing lanes and trips. Higher plans may suit carriers seeking credit information or freight-rate and team-management features.

Direct Freight is a freight-matching service built around loads posted mainly by brokers, with some direct shippers. It suits carriers who want a load board on web and mobile, especially those who can use its paid credit and lane-rate tools. The free plan works for occasional searching, but most listings lack pay rates and can remain visible after a load is gone.

Overview

The service combines load and truck searching and posting with matching alerts, mileage and maps. Direct Freight says thousands of loads are available daily, and its Driver app searches more than 300,000 loads daily. Those figures point to a broad search pool, but they do not guarantee a current or suitable listing: brokers and shippers must update postings, and stale loads may remain on the board.

Most listings are for 48- or 53-foot trailers, with partial and LTL loads also represented. Rates are absent from most loads and are set by the posting broker or shipper, so carriers may need to follow up before deciding whether a trip works financially.

Key features

All plans include matching load alerts, an iOS and Android app, and mileage and maps. The lane pricing tool uses millions of load records to provide spot-market rates across thousands of lanes. Professional adds current and historical freight rates, toll costs, high and low rate ranges, and saved rate lanes—useful for comparing routes, though those estimates do not replace a confirmed offer.

Enhanced Carrier and Professional Carrier add credit scores, days to pay, and full credit reports. These tools can help carriers assess brokers or shippers before committing. Professional also includes teams and multiuser management, which makes it the most complete fit for carriers coordinating work across multiple users.

Direct Freight lists partnerships with McLeod Software, Aljex Software, the Transportation Intermediaries Association, MercuryGate, Trimble, Freight Management Systems, and PostOnce.Net. Its privacy statement says it uses SSL and encryption to protect personal information while cautioning that internet security cannot be guaranteed. Support is available by phone at 888-894-4198 and email at [email protected], Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm CST.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and remains free forever. It allows three load searches per day, plus truck posting, matching alerts, the iOS and Android app, mileage, and maps. That is a useful starting point for occasional searches, but the daily search cap is restrictive for carriers who need to scan the board regularly.

Basic Carrier costs $39 a month, billed 15 days for $1, then $39.00/month. It removes the search cap while retaining the free plan's other listed features. This is the practical step up for frequent searchers who do not need credit checks or rate analysis.

Enhanced Carrier costs $49 a month, billed 15 days for $1, then $49.00/month. It includes Basic Carrier features plus credit scores, days to pay, full credit reports, heat and density maps, and a profit calculator and reports. The extra cost makes sense for carriers who want counterparty information and additional planning tools; occasional searchers may not need them.

Professional Carrier costs $69 a month, billed 15 days for $1, then $69.00/month. It includes Enhanced features, current and historical freight rates, toll costs, high and low rate ranges, saved rate lanes, and teams and multiuser management. This tier is aimed at carriers who will actively use route pricing and shared account tools, rather than those who only need load access.

There is no contract, but paid accounts renew monthly until canceled. Cancellation must be requested before the next billing date to avoid another charge.

Platforms

Direct Freight is available on web, Android, and iOS. The listed app access makes it possible to search and manage matching alerts from mobile as well as desktop.

Who it's for

Direct Freight is best for carriers who want one board for searching and posting trucks, with a free option for light use and paid tiers that add credit information or lane economics. It is less compelling for carriers who need every load's rate upfront or want to rely on listings without confirming that they are still open.

Pros and cons

• Pro: The free plan includes mobile access, alerts, mileage, and maps, making it usable for occasional searches without a subscription.
• Pro: Paid tiers add credit reports and, at the top level, freight-rate and toll tools that can support more informed route decisions.
• Con: Three searches per day on Free limits how thoroughly a carrier can scan the board.
• Con: Most loads omit rates, and stale listings require carriers to confirm availability with the poster.

Alternatives

Load Board Software is a broader category to compare when Direct Freight's board and pricing tiers are not the right fit.

Choose Amazon Relay if you want free access with no subscription fees or joining costs and meet its carrier requirements; it also supports web, Android, and iOS.

BulkLoads offers a free plan with load search, forum access, washout search, multiple users, and app access; consider it if those tools suit your workflow.

Carrier 360 by J.B. Hunt is free for approved carriers, though some loads are not eligible for instant booking.

Carrier First Management has a free broker plan with load posting, quote and bid management, carrier communication, invoicing, and document management; it is a relevant alternative for broker-side operations.

Doft Load Board offers unlimited load search on its free carrier plan, aimed at owner-operators and small fleets who want to avoid a search cap.

FlatLoads has a free plan for browsing load and truck boards, posting a truck or classified, and accessing its forum, news, video, and industry features.

FreightLink is free for approved members, with Android, iOS, web, and API platforms.

LaneRunner offers shippers free access with unlimited load posting and open marketplace and private networks.

Verdict

Direct Freight is a sensible choice for carriers who want mobile and web load matching, unlimited searches on a paid plan, and optional credit or lane-rate tools as their needs grow. Look elsewhere if upfront rates and dependable listing freshness are essential: most loads omit pay, and posters must keep availability current.