Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on pricing, verification, tracking, and how booking actually works — no marketing fluff.
General
What is FleetBase?
A marketplace where shippers post freight and FMCSA-verified carriers pick it up — the place both sides go to find each other, without a broker sitting in between taking a cut.
Is FleetBase a broker?
No. We're primarily a technology platform, not a fleet or a broker — shippers and carriers deal with each other directly, and most of the freight moving through here belongs to independent carriers.
How do I find carriers or freight near me?
Two finders, both public and neither needing an account: search a city or ZIP to see carriers with equipment posted in your area, or to see freight picking up near you. If nothing's showing in your market yet, you can send one request from the same page and we'll come back to you.
Is there a cost to post a load or list a truck?
Posting loads and listing trucks (up to 3) is free. Booking through Instant Quote adds our booking fee (5-25%, shown as its own line before you check out). Booking a specific carrier's truck off the board carries that carrier's own fee instead (0-25%, set by them per truck). Carrier Pro adds unlimited listings plus direct contact info.
Getting a quote & booking
How fast is an Instant Quote?
Seconds. Enter your load's details and get a real price back — base rate, fuel, and tolls — before you commit to anything.
How do I know an Instant Quote price is fair?
Every quote is checked against the industry-average cost of running a truck, so you can see whether it actually clears what the haul costs. On produce lanes USDA publishes real spot rates, and we show those too. We also compare against our own recent bookings on the same lane and equipment once we have enough of them — until then we say so rather than showing you a comparison built on two data points.
What's the service fee?
It depends which way you book, and the two are genuinely different. An Instant Quote carries our booking fee, 5–25%, listed as its own line on the receipt. Booking a specific carrier's truck off the board carries that carrier's own fee instead, 0–25%, which they set per truck and which is paid to them. Either way it's shown before you commit — never added at checkout.
Carriers & equipment
What equipment types can I book or list?
Hotshot flatbeds, power-only, and cargo van/sprinter for lighter loads; flatbed, step deck, RGN, lowboy, and conestoga for oversized freight; dry van, reefer, and moving van for palletized or temperature-controlled freight; CDL and non-CDL box trucks and refrigerated straight trucks; liquid and dry-bulk tankers; and dump trailers, car haulers, roll-offs, livestock, and B-trains for specialty hauls.
Do carriers need a CDL?
Depends on the equipment and weight. Some hotshot and light box-truck loads don't need one; flatbed, reefer, tanker, and heavier straight-truck loads usually do.
How are carriers verified?
Every carrier verifies their own FMCSA operating authority before they can book or post on the board — so you're never taking a stranger's word for it.
Tracking & communication
How is my shipment tracked?
Real GPS the whole trip, from real hardware or the driver's own phone, with privacy zones that blur (not hide) sensitive spots like home.
How do the shipper, carrier, and driver stay in touch?
One shared chat thread ties the shipper, carrier, and driver together from booking to delivery — no bouncing between apps or waiting on hold.
Payment & plans
How do I pay, or get paid?
Paying, you can cover it upfront or split it into installments through Affirm, Klarna, or Afterpay at checkout. Getting paid, the booking fee is held until delivery is confirmed and then released to you — so the money is committed before the wheels turn, not chased afterward.
What does Carrier Pro include?
$49/month for unlimited truck listings (free accounts cap at 3), plus the shipper's direct contact info on loads matched to you.
Still have a question?
Check the glossary for term definitions, or reach out directly.