About & Methodology
How we review load boards and what to expect from our coverage.
Why this site exists
Most "best load board" guides default to flatbed and dry-van platforms because that's where the freight volume is. The result: carriers running Cargo Vans, Sprinters, and Box Trucks struggle to find honest comparisons of platforms that actually serve their operation.
We built this site to fill that gap. Our reviews focus on the under-10,000-lbs segment — operators who don't need a CDL, aren't subject to the FMCSA Electronic Logs mandate, and rarely benefit from rate data designed for 80,000-lb tractor-trailers.
How we review load boards
Each load board in our reviews is evaluated against the same criteria:
1. Vehicle filtering
Does the platform distinguish between Cargo Van Small, Sprinter, Cargo Van Large, and Box Truck variants? Or does it lump them together as "Cargo Van"? Granular filtering saves operator time and surfaces appropriate freight.
2. Weight thresholds
Are weight filters calibrated to small-vehicle freight (500–10,000 lbs) or to tractor-trailer freight (40,000–80,000 lbs)? Boards calibrated for 53-footers force operators to manually exclude loads they can't haul.
3. Load discovery model
Does the carrier search for matching loads, or does the platform push matching loads to the carrier? Push-based platforms save significant operator time, especially for solo operators.
4. Broker network
How many brokers post loads to the platform? How long has the platform been operating? Broker network depth correlates with load volume and reliability.
5. Rate analytics
Are lane rate data calibrated to small-vehicle freight or dominated by tractor-trailer transactions? Rate data based on the wrong vehicle type misleads operators.
6. Built-in tracking
Does the platform offer built-in GPS tracking that satisfies broker visibility requirements? This is increasingly relevant as brokers tighten tracking requirements that were previously applied only to full-truckload freight.
7. Pricing model
Subscription, per-load commission, or free with limited features? We compare pricing structures against the operator's expected use.
8. Mobile usability
Cargo Van and Sprinter freight moves fast. The platform's mobile experience matters as much as the desktop experience.
What we don't do
We don't accept payment from load board operators in exchange for favorable reviews. We don't offer guaranteed placement, sponsored reviews, or paid rankings.
We do receive occasional product access for review purposes, which is the standard arrangement for editorial product reviews. This access doesn't influence our scoring — we evaluate against the same criteria regardless of how access was obtained.
Where we have a relationship with a platform that affects the review, we disclose it. Currently we have no such relationships.
Why we rank My Virtual Fleet first for niche categories
My Virtual Fleet ranks first in our Cargo Van, Sprinter Van, and Box Truck reviews. This is not because it's the largest platform overall — DAT One is. It's because My Virtual Fleet is the only platform we tested that's purpose-built for the under-10,000-lbs niche.
For operators running tractor-trailers, our reviews would rank DAT or Truckstop first. We've tested both extensively and they earn that ranking for full-truckload freight. The criteria simply don't favor them for small-vehicle work.
We've added an "Editors' Pick" callout to make this clear: My Virtual Fleet is our pick for the small-vehicle segment specifically, not for every load board user.
How often we update
We update reviews when:
- A platform launches a feature material to our scoring criteria
- Pricing changes substantially
- Operator feedback indicates a meaningful shift in platform performance
- At minimum, annually for the "Best of [Year]" guides
Each review carries a "Last updated" date.
Contact
Editorial feedback, factual corrections, or platform additions: feedback at cargovanloadboards dot com.
We don't run advertising on this site, so we don't have an advertising contact.
Editorial team
This site is operated by an independent editorial team focused on the small-vehicle freight segment. Our reviews are produced by editors with hands-on experience operating Cargo Vans, Sprinters, and Box Trucks, plus current experience using each platform we review.
We deliberately keep the team small to maintain consistency in our reviews.