complete guide to using the dat load board.pdf
Complete Guide to Using the DAT Load Board
Discover everything you need to know to make the most of your DAT load board subscription.
Introduction
In 1978, Jubitz launched its Dial-A-Truck service, meaning truckers no longer needed to rely on a bulletin board of note cards to find loads. Instead, they could consult a monitor. The DAT load board has since evolved and become the largest in the industry — and users can access it from wherever they are! Of course, the biggest load board in the industry won’t do you much good if you don’t know how to use it! Luckily, the DAT load board is easy to get a hang of, especially when you use this guide.
How to find a load on the DAT load board
- Enter your origin and destination.
- Select your equipment type.
- Indicate how far you’re willing to travel.
- Enter your availability. (If you’ve chosen a city as your origin or destination, specify the details.)
- Indicate whether you can haul a full load, partial load, or all loads.
- Tell DAT how far back in time to look for load posts.
- Click the Search button and see your results!
A guide to using the DAT load board
Searching for loads is part of daily life for carriers. However, with so many loads posted each day, finding the perfect one can feel overwhelming. Luckily, you can quickly hone in on exactly what you’re after with the DAT load board.
To launch a new load search, click the Search Loads button on the left menu. (On a mobile device, tap the Loadboard tab on the bottom left of the screen.)
First, enter your origin and your destination. Enter a city, state, or several states or zones where you want to pick up or deliver loads. When entering states and zones, be sure to include commas.
Then, select your equipment type. Selecting Any will allow you to search for equipment within a class (or classes). Choosing Only will narrow in on a specific type of equipment.
Next, enter your availability. DAT will automatically populate the field with the current date, but you can change it. If you click the box, a calendar will pop up for you to choose the right day. Have flexibility or plan on taking the same route multiple days in a row? Hold the shift button down to select a range of dates.
The number you type into the deadhead destination field (up to 450) will represent how many miles away you’re willing to travel to pick up or drop off a load.
If you click on the Load Requirements drop-down menu under the Origin field, you can indicate whether you can haul a full or partial load. If you’re fine with either, select All. You can also enter your length and weight requirements.
Next, it’s time to fill out the Search Back field. This will let DAT know how far back to look for loads. For example, if you type 3, we’ll show loads posted or refreshed within the past three hours.
Once you’ve added the required information, click the blue Search button. Any matches that fit your search criteria will pop up in the matches window with exact matches at the top and similar results listed below.
Finding specialty freight
In addition to generic loads, the DAT load board offers plenty of specialty freight. In fact, it’s home to more specialty freight than any other load board in the industry. For example, if you want LTL loads, you can easily use DAT’s search function to find results that meet your criteria, as around 6% of the one million loads posted on the DAT load board each day are LTL loads.
It’s the same story for many other types of specialty loads. Whether you’re looking to do hotshot trucking or use a flatbed, reefer, tanker, or even a cargo van, you can find freight matching those vehicles (and many more!) on the DAT load board.
Posting trucks
Carriers who don’t feel like conducting searches and prefer that brokers come to them can post their trucks on the DAT load board. By posting your equipment on the DAT load board, you’ll put yourself in front of thousands of brokers’ and shippers’ eyes. Essentially, you’ll show them you’re available and ready to go, which can help you find loads even faster.
To post, click the My Trucks button on the left menu. Then, click the Add Truck and Post text on the page. Fill out your origin, destination, availability, full or partial capacity, truck type, truck length, truck weight, and phone number, and add any additional comments. Keep in mind that the more specific you are, the more likely it is that brokers or shippers will find you.
And just like DAT’s load searching is unlimited, so is load posting! So, don’t worry about how often you need to post your equipment.
Posting a load on DAT One
It’s just as easy for brokers to post loads on DAT as it is for carriers to post trucks. Click the Post a Shipment button in the top left. Then enter your pickup date, origin, destination, required equipment type, full or partial load status, minimum required trailer length, weight, a phone or email contact, and the commodity type. Consider including a rate and a comment before hitting Post, as loads with more details are generally covered faster.
Gathering information on potential partners with the DAT Directory
After finding a load, you can use the DAT Directory to vet the company. Click on the company name to see their credit score and average days to pay. You can also read reviews from other carriers and even see additional information, such as their DOT number, DOT authority status, and insurance requirements. Plus, if someone doesn’t pay you, DAT Assurance will credit your account for up to $1,000! Brokers and shippers can also view information on carriers using DAT, such as their safety rating, licenses, and number of crashes in the last 24 months.
Setting alerts
Over a million loads are posted on DAT daily, so staying on top of everything can be tricky. That’s why we have alerts! All you have to do is check the box for email alerts. Next time a load appears that matches your search criteria, you’ll receive an email.
Using the DAT One mobile app
DAT One also includes broker search, match alarms, and the ability to message brokers, shippers, and carriers. It’s essentially fifteen apps in one, so it puts everything you need right in your pocket! You can download DAT One on iOS or Android.
Thanks to the DAT One mobile app, DAT subscribers can find loads and view rates on the go. As long as you have a cell phone and an internet connection, you can hop on DAT One and find the perfect load.
Using TriHaul
If you have DAT One Pro, DAT will automatically give you five TriHaul suggestions. Then, you can compare the average rate per loaded mile on the proposed triangular routes with the average rate on a simple there-and-back trip. Since triangular routes can often significantly reduce or entirely eliminate deadhead miles and give you more load options, you’ll generally end up with better rates and more money in your pocket if you take TriHaul’s route suggestions.
Obtaining rate information
When you conduct a search on the DAT load board, you’ll automatically see an accurate broker-carrier spot rate from the last 15 or 90 days for the lane to the right of the screen. Clicking the RateView button will give you a more in-depth view of rates, enabling you to view up to 13 months of history and access multi-lane lookups.
As a carrier, this helps you understand how much you should charge so you can level up your negotiation game and ensure you get the price you deserve. You can also use the load board’s Hot Market Maps to determine where your services are most in demand and therefore maximize profits. As a broker or shipper, knowing rate information is also beneficial since it helps you benchmark your rates, make informed decisions, and pay enough to attract carriers while better managing your transportation spending.