Comparisons & Alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions

What software does a new freight broker actually need?

Three things: a load board, a TMS, and a carrier-vetting tool. The lean, proven stack is DAT (the one load board worth paying for), Ascend TMS (free for 1–3 users), and Highway (carrier identity and fraud prevention). That combination covers everything you need to book and run loads while keeping your monthly software spend to essentially just DAT and Highway.

Do I need an expensive enterprise TMS like McLeod to start?

No. Enterprise platforms like McLeod are built for large brokerages and cost hundreds a month before you move a single load. A new broker gets everything they need from Ascend TMS on its free tier and should only consider re-platforming once real volume — roughly the $2M-revenue range — justifies it. Buying enterprise tooling on day one is the fastest way to drain the runway you need to survive your first year.

Is a cheaper carrier-vetting tool good enough instead of Highway?

Cheaper tools check documents and safety scores, which is necessary but easy for a fraudster to fake. Highway adds an identity layer that verifies who is actually behind an MC number, catching double-brokering before you tender a load. Since a single fraudulent load can cost you the entire invoice, the small premium for identity-level vetting usually pays for itself the first time it stops a scam.

How do I choose between DAT and Truckstop as a new broker?

Both are credible load boards, but for a new broker building rate confidence, DAT's rate data (RateView) and market depth make it the one we tell brokers to start with. Truckstop is a reasonable second board once you scale. Start with one paid board — DAT — learn it deeply, and add a second only when your lane volume clearly justifies the extra subscription.