How to Use DAT Load Board: Step-by-Step Guide
DAT One is the largest freight marketplace in North America with over 500 million loads posted annually. This guide walks you through everything from creating your account to booking your first load — including search strategies, filtering, broker vetting, and mobile app tips that experienced carriers use every day.
7 Steps
Setup to First Load
500M+
Annual Load Posts
5 Min
Average Search Time
2026
Updated for Current Year
O Trucking Editorial Team
Trucking Industry Experts
Fact-Checked by O Trucking Dispatch Team
5+ years using DAT daily for load matching and rate negotiation
This article was written by the O Trucking editorial team with 9+ years of combined trucking industry experience. Learn more about us.
O TruckingHow to Use DAT Load Board: Step-by-Step Guide (2026)
Step 1: Create Your DAT One Account
To create a carrier account on DAT One, you need an active USDOT number and MC authority. Go to one.dat.com and click the carrier signup option.
Enter your DOT number — DAT pulls your company information from FMCSA records automatically.
Verify your identity — Confirm your name, email, phone, and company details match your FMCSA registration.
Set up your equipment profile — Select your trailer types (dry van, reefer, flatbed, etc.) and truck specifications.
Download the mobile app — Get DAT One on iOS or Android. The app is essential for searching loads from the cab.
Step 2: Choose Your Plan
DAT offers three tiers: Select (~$45/mo), Professional (~$99-$149/mo), and Premium (~$199/mo). The key difference is RateView access — available on Professional and Premium. Without RateView, you are searching loads blind with no market rate context.
Our recommendation: start with Professional. The rate data alone pays for the difference over Select with a single better-negotiated load per month. For the full breakdown, see our DAT pricing plans guide.
Try Before You Commit
Step 3: Search for Loads
The load search is DAT's core feature. From the main dashboard, enter your pickup location (city, state, or zip code), destination preference (specific city or open/anywhere), and equipment type. Click Search and DAT returns all matching loads.
Search Results Show You:
Posted rate (total and per mile)
Origin and destination cities
Broker name and credit score
Load age (how long it has been posted)
Miles, weight, and equipment type
Pickup and delivery dates
Step 4: Use Advanced Filters
Raw search results can return hundreds of loads. Use DAT's filters to narrow down to loads that match your business requirements:
Minimum rate per mile — Set your floor rate based on your cost per mile. Do not show loads below your breakeven point.
Maximum deadhead miles — Limit how far you are willing to drive empty to pick up a load. Keep this under 100 miles when possible.
Broker credit score minimum — Filter out brokers with poor payment histories. Set a minimum days-to-pay threshold.
Load type and weight — Filter by full truckload vs partial, and exclude loads that exceed your weight capacity.
Step 5: Vet the Broker
Before calling any broker, check their profile on DAT. Click on the broker's name to see their credit score, average days-to-pay, carrier reviews, MC number, and how long they have been in business.
Red Flags to Watch
Step 6: Negotiate and Book the Load
Contact the broker by phone (fastest) or DAT messaging. Before calling, check the RateView data for that lane so you know the market rate. When negotiating:
State your rate first — Anchor the negotiation by stating what you need based on RateView data and your cost per mile.
Confirm all details — Pickup/delivery times, addresses, weight, commodity, any special requirements (tarps, liftgate, appointments).
Get the rate confirmation — Never move a truck without a signed rate confirmation. Read every line before signing.
Step 7: Post Your Truck
Always post your available truck on DAT, even when you are actively searching. Posting your truck lets brokers find you — many loads are filled by brokers searching for trucks rather than carriers searching for loads. Include your current location, equipment type, available date, and preferred destination.
Update Your Truck Post Every Few Hours
How Our Team Uses DAT for Carriers
At O Trucking LLC, DAT is one of our primary dispatch tools. We use it every day to find loads, verify rates, and vet brokers for the carriers we serve. Our dispatchers know the advanced search techniques, understand RateView data, and have built relationships with hundreds of brokers through the platform. When you work with us, you benefit from thousands of hours of DAT experience without paying for the subscription yourself.
Let Us Handle the Load Searching
Our dispatch team uses DAT daily to find high-paying loads. We handle the searching, broker vetting, and rate negotiation so you can focus on driving.