How does a load board work? Shippers post loads with route, dates and budget; hauliers post trucks with where they'll be empty. Each side searches the other's listings, makes contact directly and agrees the job. On Freight1 you then track the delivery and rate each other, with no commission taken.
This page walks through the whole journey for both sides: posting, finding, checking, talking, tracking and paying. If you want the wider background first, see what a freight exchange is.
For shippers
Shippers come to Freight1 because ringing round hauliers takes hours and brokers add a margin. The flow is short. You post a load in about two minutes with the route, dates, load type and a guide budget. Hauliers with a truck heading that way contact you by message or phone. You open each haulier’s profile, check their licence, insurance and ratings, and agree the price and collection details in the thread. Then you mark the load agreed so other hauliers can see it’s covered. If you need a vehicle immediately, search the trucks available list and request one.
Full walkthrough: Freight1 for shippers.
For hauliers
Hauliers come to Freight1 to fill empty legs and win work without a middleman. Each morning, filter the live loads by trailer and collection area, save the useful ones to favourites, and message the poster with your truck, location and earliest collection. When you’ve tipped and have nothing booked home, post your truck as available so shippers in that area find you. Once a job is agreed, you mark it collected and delivered from your phone. The shipper sees each step and an ETA, and the completed job adds to your record.
Full walkthrough: Freight1 for hauliers.
Freight1 guidePost · Offer · Agree · DeliverOne thread from first message to ratingVerification
Load-board fraud is real. Fake hauliers taking loads and double-brokering are the commonest tricks, so Freight1 builds checks into the account itself. New accounts are pending until our team approves them. Hauliers record their operator licence number, type and expiry, and each insurance with insurer, policy number, cover amount and expiry: Goods in Transit, motor/hire-and-reward, public liability and CMR. Uploaded documents are stored privately and shown only to logged-in members with an active membership. Once our team has checked a document, it shows Checked by Freight1. A green, amber or red badge flags anything missing or expired.
You can also check any operator yourself on GOV.UK’s vehicle operator licensing search. It takes a minute and it’s worth doing for every new haulier.
Before you hand over a load
- Licence number matches the company name on GOV.UK
- Goods in Transit cover is in date and big enough for the load value
- The phone number on the profile is the one you're talking to
- Collection driver and registration confirmed in writing
Messaging
Every listing has a Message button, so the conversation about a job stays attached to that job. You’ll see unread messages in the header wherever you are on the site, so replies don’t get missed. Put the agreed rate, references and any extras (waiting time, tail-lift, out-of-hours delivery) in the thread. If there’s ever a dispute about what was agreed, both of you have the same written record. Phone and WhatsApp details are shown to members too, for the jobs where a quick call is faster.
Tracking and ratings
Once a load is taken, both sides get a tracking panel: Job taken → Collected → In transit → Delivered. When the haulier marks it collected, an ETA is calculated and the shipper is emailed. The driver can share live location from a phone browser, with no app to install, or connect a telematics feed. After delivery is confirmed, each side rates the other from 1 to 5 stars with an optional comment. Only completed jobs can be rated, which keeps scores honest.
Pricing
Freight1 is a subscription, not a commission: £51 per week or £151 per month. Haulier accounts are billed per vehicle; shipper, forwarder, broker and customs agent accounts pay a flat rate. The haulage price is agreed between you. As a reference, recent container loads on the board ran at about £5–£5.50 per loaded mile on 165–185 mile lanes from London Gateway, Tilbury and Felixstowe. Waiting time, box weight, urgency and backload potential are what move it. Full details are on Freight1 pricing.
Frequently asked questions
How does a freight load board work?
Shippers post loads and hauliers post available trucks. Each side searches the other's listings, makes contact and agrees the job directly. The board provides the listings, checks and messaging.
How do I post a load on Freight1 and choose a haulier?
Post the route, dates, load type and budget. Hauliers contact you with offers; compare their licence, insurance and ratings, agree the job in the message thread and mark it agreed.
Who pays for the haulage?
The shipper pays the haulier directly at the agreed rate and on agreed terms. Freight1 does not handle the haulage payment or take a percentage.
Can I track my load?
Yes. Once a load is taken you see collection, in-transit and delivery steps with an ETA, and the driver can share live location from a phone browser.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Every account type gets 7 days of full access, including posting, contact details, messaging and tracking, with no payment up front. Add a card only if you decide to stay.
Try it on a real job
The quickest way to understand a load board is to use one. Post a load or set up your truck, and see what comes back in the first day.
Sources
Facts last checked: 3 November 2026. Freight1 board examples are shippers' posted budgets, not quotes.