Running a freight dispatch business means finding the right loads for your carriers, knowing what those loads should pay and building steady relationships with brokers. A load board is one of the main tools for all three. This guide explains how to use the DAT load board for dispatch work: what it is, how to post trucks and search loads, and how to use rate data in negotiation.
Screen layouts and features change over time, so check DAT's own help pages for the current version of anything described here.
What is the DAT load board?
DAT runs an online marketplace where brokers post loads and carriers or dispatchers post available trucks. Carriers, dispatchers and brokers all use it. Subscriptions come in different levels, and rate tools may depend on the plan you choose.
For a dispatcher, it's a place to:
- Find loads that fit your carriers' trucks and lanes
- Let brokers know when and where your carriers' trucks are available
- See recent market rates for a lane before you negotiate
How to use DAT for your dispatch business
There are two basic ways to use the board: post your trucks so brokers can find you, and search for loads yourself.
Post trucks
After you set up an account and choose a plan, you can post each available truck. Enter:
- The origin, where the truck will be empty
- The destination or area the truck wants to go
- The date the truck is available
- The equipment type, such as dry van, reefer or power only
- Any notes brokers should see
Use the comments to state what the truck will and won't take. Once the truck is posted, brokers who need capacity on that lane can find it and call you.
Search loads
To search for freight, enter the origin and destination you're looking for, the dates the truck is available, the equipment type and the weight the truck can haul. The results list matching loads along with similar loads nearby.
Results change throughout the day, so refresh often. When you see a load that fits, call or email the broker listed. Before you book, confirm the details, check the broker's authority and payment history, and negotiate the rate.
Tips for using DAT well
Run a rate check before every negotiation
Use DAT's rate tools to see recent average rates for the lane before you call a broker. That gives you a reasonable starting point.
For example, say you're quoting a load from Savannah, GA to Atlanta, GA. If the lane data shows a recent average rate per mile, use that as your reference. Then adjust for what the average doesn't show: how much deadhead the truck has to reach Savannah, whether Atlanta has good outbound freight for the next load, appointment times, and the truck's own operating cost. Short hauls often price differently from long hauls, so look at the total pay for the load, not just the rate per mile.
Rates move with the season, the market and the day of the week, so check the current data each time instead of relying on an old number.
Post your trucks, not just search
Many brokers check posted trucks before or while they post a load, especially when they need to cover freight quickly. If you only search, you'll miss some of those calls. Keep your truck posts current, and remove them once the truck is booked.
Sharpen your negotiation
Negotiation is where a dispatcher earns the carrier's trust. Know the lane rate, the truck's costs and what the next load out looks like before you call. Be polite, be clear about what the truck needs, and be willing to pass on a load that doesn't make sense. A good relationship with a broker who pays fairly and on time is often worth more than a single high rate.
Final words
DAT is a useful tool for dispatchers, but it doesn't replace judgment. Use it to find freight, show your trucks and check the market. Then plan each load around the carrier's truck, lanes and costs.
If you're learning dispatch, Freight University covers load boards, freight research and rate negotiation. For the business side of dispatching, see how to become a successful truck dispatcher.
