DAT One vs Direct Freight:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, DAT One had more branded searches than Direct Freight among load boards in the United States. DAT One had about 24,100 branded searches, while Direct Freight had 1,600. DAT One made up 6.8% of all load board searches we track, and Direct Freight accounted for 0.45%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about load boards, DAT One appeared in three of the five answers and Direct Freight in one. DAT One was mentioned before Direct Freight in three out of four answers.
Who do people search for more?
DAT One, about 15 searches for every 1 for Direct Freight
Who does AI mention more?
DAT One, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Direct Freight in 1
Who does AI recommend more?
DAT One, named ahead of Direct Freight in 3 of 4 answers
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Top load boards in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, DAT One was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Direct Freight was mentioned in one out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in one of the two Google AI Overviews. DAT One was listed before Direct Freight in three out of four answers.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
Amazon Relay4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- DAT One3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Truckstop3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
123Loadboard3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Trucker Path2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Direct Freight1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Truck Smarter0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about load boards
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best load board for owner operators?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which load board is best for finding freight as a new trucking company?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Are there any good free load boards for truckers?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“load board”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“free load boards”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 23, 2026.
Is DAT One or Direct Freight more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for DAT One and Direct Freight by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven load boards we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for DAT One, Direct Freight. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Amazon Relay | DAT One | Truckstop | Trucker Path | 123Loadboard | Truck Smarter | Direct Freight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 80.8% | 9.5% | 4.1% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 0.78% | 0.64% |
| Nov 2025 | 82.2% | 9.6% | 3.4% | 2.2% | 1.2% | 0.79% | 0.66% |
| Dec 2025 | 81.9% | 9.4% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.65% | 0.65% |
| Jan 2026 | 81.8% | 9.5% | 3.4% | 2.7% | 1.2% | 0.65% | 0.79% |
| Feb 2026 | 79.3% | 11.3% | 4% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 0.77% | 0.61% |
| Mar 2026 | 78.6% | 11.3% | 4.3% | 3.2% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.61% |
| Apr 2026 | 78% | 11.1% | 4.9% | 3.1% | 1.4% | 0.76% | 0.76% |
| May 2026 | 80.6% | 9.4% | 4.4% | 3.2% | 1.2% | 0.62% | 0.52% |
| Jun 2026 | 83.9% | 8.1% | 3.8% | 2.3% | 1% | 0.53% | 0.45% |
| Jul 2026 | 84% | 8% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1% | 0.67% | 0.53% |
| Aug 2026 | 83.6% | 8% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 1.2% | 0.53% | 0.44% |
| Sep 2026 | 85.5% | 6.8% | 3.3% | 2.3% | 1% | 0.54% | 0.45% |
How has the DAT One and Direct Freight comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- DAT One was ahead of Direct Freight in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, DAT One’s share of searches among load boards in the United States moved from 9.5% to 6.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 35.5K to 24.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Direct Freight’s share of searches among load boards in the United States moved from 0.64% to 0.45%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 2.4K to 1.6K.
How did search popularity change for United States load boards in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, DAT One lost share of searches among load boards in the United States, from 8% to 6.8%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Direct Freight in the United States fell 33.3% over 12 measured months, from 2.4K to 1.6K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using DAT One’s and Direct Freight’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
DAT One
2 branded search terms
- dat load board
- dat trucking
Direct Freight
1 branded search term
- direct freight
Other head-to-heads among load boards
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