# DAT integration: post loads, find backhauls

> Roadmark posts open loads to DAT and pulls truck postings for backhauls, and checks contract lanes each morning against DAT's spot average.

URL: https://roadmark.ai/integrations/dat
Language: en
Last updated: 2026-10-01

**TL;DR:** Roadmark posts open loads to DAT and pulls truck postings back, so the Planning agent has the load board as one more way to find a truck's way home. Every contract lane is also checked each morning against DAT's spot average.

## What syncs

One row for each kind of record: which way it moves, and when.

| What | Direction | When |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Open loads | Roadmark to DAT | When you choose to post one |
| Truck postings | DAT to Roadmark | When the Planning agent looks for a backhaul |
| Spot rates | DAT to Roadmark | Checked each morning |

## Setting up DAT

1. **Set up a DAT service account:** DAT sets up a service account for the connection, from a dedicated email address no DAT user already has, and an admin authorizes Roadmark with it from your DAT account.
2. **Choose what syncs:** Turn on posting loads to DAT, pulling truck postings for backhauls, checking spot rates against your contract lanes, or all three.
3. **Test with a real load:** Post one load, or pull one truck posting, and check what came back before turning it on for everything.

### Before you start

- A DAT load board subscription, at any level, for posting loads and pulling truck postings.
- RateView Combo Pro or RateView Combo Premium for the spot rate checks.
- A Connexion seat for each DAT user the connection works as, alongside that user's load board or RateView seat.

A truckload fleet earns its margin on the mile back, not just the mile out,
and the load boards are one more place Roadmark looks for it. When a unit is
sitting at a dock with no backhaul of its own, [Planning](https://roadmark.ai/truckload) checks
your own customers and contract lanes first, then DAT's truck postings, and
ranks every option by what it pays over the whole round trip, empty miles
included. On the brokerage side, an open load can be posted straight to DAT
from the same screen a rep uses to rank and tender it to carriers directly.

The connection uses [DAT's API integrations](https://www.dat.com/api-integration),
which run through a service account: DAT sets one up for the connection from
a dedicated email address, so it doesn't depend on one person's login. DAT's
[service account and API FAQ](https://one.support.dat.com/9-troubleshooting-2734b01a/service-accounts-and-restful-api-faq-7c689bc5)
lists what each part needs: any level of load board subscription for
posting and searching, RateView Combo Pro or RateView Combo Premium for
rates, and a Connexion seat for each user the connection works as, next to
that user's load board or RateView seat.

None of this changes how a load looks once it's covered: a load posted to
DAT and covered by a carrier from there goes through the same tender, and a
backhaul pulled from a truck posting is drafted the same way as one found on
a contract lane, with its math shown and a person approving it before it's
tendered. Contract lanes get a second use for the same data: every one of
them is checked each morning against the spot average DAT reports, so a lane
that's quietly fallen behind the market is worth a call to the customer
before it starts losing trucks to better-paying freight.

## Questions about DAT and Roadmark

### Does Roadmark post every load to DAT automatically?

No. Posting to DAT is something a rep chooses for a specific load, from the same screen used to rank and tender to carriers.

### How does DAT feed backhauls?

When the Planning agent ranks the ways a truck can get home, it looks at your own customers, contract lanes and the load boards, DAT included, and ranks each option by revenue over every mile including the deadhead.

### Does DAT change how contract lanes are priced?

Every contract lane is checked each morning against DAT's spot average and Truckstop's Rate Insights estimate, so a lane that's fallen behind the market shows up before a truck starts chasing spot freight instead.

### What does DAT require on their side to connect?

A load board subscription, at any level, for posting loads and pulling truck postings, and RateView Combo Pro or RateView Combo Premium for spot rates. DAT sets up a service account for the connection, and each DAT user it works as needs a Connexion seat alongside their load board or RateView seat.

## Related pages

- [Truckload](https://roadmark.ai/truckload): Hours, deadhead and backhauls
- [Brokers and 3PLs](https://roadmark.ai/brokers): Quote, cover, track and bill
- [Asset carriers](https://roadmark.ai/carriers): Fleets that plan, dispatch and settle
- [Integrations](https://roadmark.ai/integrations): ELD, EDI, load boards and accounting
- [Truckstop integration: post loads, find capacity](https://roadmark.ai/integrations/truckstop): Roadmark posts open loads to Truckstop and searches its postings for available capacity, and checks contract lanes each morning against the spot average.
- [Quoting and CRM](https://roadmark.ai/quoting): Customers, lanes, rates and RFQs

Companies, people and shipment figures in product examples are fictional. They illustrate workflows and are not customer testimonials or measured results.