Overview

Direct Freight connects carriers with loads posted mainly by brokers and, in some cases, direct shippers. It suits carriers who want a searchable load board across web and mobile, with optional tools for evaluating rates and counterparties. The free plan offers a limited way to search; the main trade-offs are that most loads lack pay rates and listings can remain visible after a load is gone.

Key features

Carriers can search loads and trucks, post trucks, and receive matching alerts. Direct Freight says thousands of loads are available daily, and its Driver app searches more than 300,000 loads a day. Those figures describe board volume, not confirmed availability: a broker or shipper must update a listing after a load is no longer open. Most postings are for 48- or 53-foot trailers, with partial and LTL loads also represented.

Most load listings omit pay rates, which are set by the broker or shipper that posted them. Carriers may need to contact the poster before deciding whether a trip makes sense. Mileage and maps are included across plans. Professional adds current and historical freight rates, toll costs, high and low rate ranges, and saved rate lanes; Direct Freight’s lane pricing tool uses millions of load records to provide spot-market rates for thousands of lanes. These estimates can inform a decision, but they do not substitute for a confirmed rate.

Enhanced Carrier and Professional Carrier add credit scores, days to pay, and full credit reports, along with heat and density maps and a profit calculator with reports. Those tools make the higher tiers more useful for carriers comparing counterparties and route economics. The Professional plan also adds teams and multiuser management, which is relevant for operations that need shared access rather than a single-user workflow.

The company names McLeod Software, Aljex Software, the Transportation Intermediaries Association, MercuryGate, Trimble, Freight Management Systems, and PostOnce.Net as partners. 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 by email at admin@directfreight.com, Monday through Friday, 7:00 am to 4:00 pm CST.

Pricing

The Free plan is free and includes three load searches per day, truck posting, matching load alerts, iOS and Android apps, mileage, and maps. It is a sensible option for occasional searches or for trying the board, but the daily search cap makes it a poor fit for carriers who need to scan loads throughout the day.

Basic Carrier costs 39.00 USD per month, billed 15 days for $1, then $39.00/month. It removes the search cap while keeping truck posting, alerts, mobile apps, mileage, and maps. This is the practical entry point for regular load searching, but it does not include the credit information or expanded rate tools found in higher plans.

Enhanced Carrier costs 49.00 USD per month, billed 15 days for $1, then $49.00/month. It adds credit scores, days to pay, full credit reports, heat and density maps, and a profit calculator with reports. Carriers who want to assess payment history and trip profitability may find the $10 monthly step up from Basic worthwhile; those who only need search access can avoid paying for those tools.

Professional Carrier costs 69.00 USD per month, billed 15 days for $1, then $69.00/month. It includes Enhanced features plus current and historical freight rates, toll costs, high and low rate ranges, saved rate lanes, and teams and multiuser management. It is aimed at carriers who will use rate analysis or need shared account management, rather than those seeking only a load board.

There is no contract, but paid accounts renew monthly until canceled. Cancellation must be requested before the next billing date to avoid another charge, so the $1 introductory period is not a free trial and its billing transition matters. The company also offers a free trial, but the listed paid-plan terms begin with 15 days for $1.

Platforms

Direct Freight is available on the web and through iOS and Android apps. The free and paid plans include app access, which lets carriers search and receive alerts away from a desktop. API access is also offered.

Who it's for

Direct Freight is best suited to owner-operators and carrier teams who want load search, truck posting, and matching alerts in one service, and who are prepared to verify availability and rates directly with posters. The free tier can serve occasional searches; Basic fits regular searching, while Enhanced and Professional make more sense when credit review, route economics, rate history, or multiuser management are part of the work. It is less compelling for anyone who expects every listing to show a rate or to remain current without follow-up.

Pros and cons

Pros: The free plan includes mobile apps, alerts, truck posting, mileage, and maps, making a capped search option usable without a paid subscription.
Pros: Paid tiers scale from unlimited searches to credit reports, lane-rate tools, toll costs, and multiuser management, so carriers can pay for more than board access only when needed.
Cons: Three daily searches on Free are restrictive for active load hunting, and unlimited searches start at 39.00 USD per month.
Cons: Most loads omit pay rates, and a listing may linger after the load is unavailable, so carriers need to confirm both price and availability with the poster.

Alternatives

Doft Load Board is worth considering for owner-operators and small fleets who want unlimited load searches on a free Basic carrier plan. BulkLoads is another free option, with its Load Board plan including forum, washout search, multiple users, app access, and load search.

Carrier First Management is an alternative. LoadBetter is an alternative. Carrier 360 by J.B. Hunt is a free option for approved carriers, though some loads are not eligible for instant booking. FreightLink is a free service for approved members, with no hidden fees or credit card required. RXO Connect is a free option for carriers and carrier representatives in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. LaneRunner offers a free shipper plan with unlimited load posting and open and private networks. For more options, see Load Board Software.

Verdict

Direct Freight is a good fit for carriers who want a searchable load board with mobile access and can make use of its paid credit or lane-rate tools. Its free tier is useful for light searching, while Basic removes the search cap at a clear monthly price. Choose another service if visible rates and dependable listing freshness are essential; here, confirming availability and pay with the poster remains part of the process.

	Direct Freight	x12port Load Board
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	Yes	Yes
Paid from	$32.50/mo	$99/mo
Platforms	Android, iOS, Web	api, Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Paid from	39 /mo	199 /mo
Carrier search	Yes	No
Mobile apps	both
Load alerts	Yes
API access	Yes	Yes
Booking workflow		Yes

Direct Freight vs x12port Load Board

Direct Freight

x12port Load Board