Direct Freight vs LoadMatch

Direct Freight Services connects carriers with loads posted mostly by brokers, with some direct shippers also posting. Its load board supports searching and posting loads and trucks, and matching load alerts, mileage, and maps are available. 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. Professional Carrier adds current and historical freight rates, toll costs, saved lanes, and team management; Enhanced Carrier and Professional Carrier also include credit scores, days to pay, and full credit reports. The service 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 costs $39 a month after 15 days for $1; Enhanced Carrier costs $49 a month and Professional Carrier $69 a month, each after 15 days for $1. The FAQ notes that unavailable loads may remain listed and most loads do not show pay rates.

LoadMatch connects buyers and sellers of intermodal and import/export transportation services across North America, matching loads with truck capacity, intermodal equipment, and terminal locations. Its customers include freight forwarders, brokers, intermodal marketing companies, beneficial owners, motor carriers, and equipment suppliers. Members can post availability through a web form, batch file, FTP, or a direct connection; both free and paid members can also post from dispatch software. Batch uploads support text, Excel, and Access files, with XML accepted and tab-delimited text preferred. The free plan allows posting loads, equipment or power, and jobs, but excludes viewing loads and equipment and receiving email alerts. Paid membership costs $600 a year and adds full access and visibility, alerts, load and equipment viewing, and a company logo and directory link. New paid-account customers receive a 30 day free trial. LoadMatch says there is no contract and members can cancel at any time, but payments are non-refundable after payment. It is a web service, and the company was incorporated in 1999.