An honest side-by-side for shippers deciding between a direct-style freight broker with instant carrier bids (Stretch XL Freight) and a top-5 traditional broker with dedicated reps (TQL).
| Feature | Stretch XL Freight No Sales Calls | TQL |
|---|---|---|
| Business type | Direct-style freight broker | Top-5 traditional broker |
| USDOT / MC | USDOT 4409725 · MC 01732149 | USDOT 1242589 · MC 492376 |
| Quote turnaround | 60 seconds, instant carrier bids | Hours — through assigned sales rep |
| Sales-rep follow-up after quote | None — self-serve, no calls unless you ask | Frequent calls + emails (their growth model) |
| Broker margin | ~8% shipper / 10% off-market carrier | ~15–25% traditional broker spread |
| Pricing transparency | All-in price visible at quote | Rep-managed pricing |
| Live market data | TruckerPath, Truckstop, 123Loadboard aggregated every 3 min | Internal pricing only |
| Accessorials at quote time | Bundled at quote | Add-on rep negotiation |
| Public freight rates API | Yes — $29–$99/mo | No public API |
| Free public tools | Live lane rates, carrier verification, rate calculator | None |
| Best for | Shippers who value self-serve speed + price transparency | Shippers who want a dedicated rep relationship |
No sales calls. TQL's growth model is built on outbound sales — once you fill out a quote form, expect calls and emails for weeks. That works for shippers who want a dedicated point of contact. If you'd rather quote silently when you need to and not get the "just checking in" follow-up, Stretch XL Freight's self-serve model is built for that. Get a quote, book the load, no sales call after.
Speed. TQL's quoting goes through an assigned rep, with hours of back-and-forth. Stretch XL Freight quotes complete in 60 seconds — you fill the form, see competing carrier bids, book.
Pricing transparency + lower spread. TQL runs on the traditional 15–25% broker margin. Stretch XL Freight runs closer to 8% shipper / 10% off-market carrier — because we cut the rep + back-office middleman by surfacing live multi-board market rates directly. For most lanes that's 10–20% in your favor.
Dedicated rep relationship. If you want a single person who knows your business and proactively reaches out about capacity, TQL's rep model is designed for that. Stretch XL Freight has dispatch at 855-564-4788 24/7 but it's not the same as a dedicated account exec calling weekly. For shippers who genuinely value the rep relationship, TQL is built for it.
Scale. TQL is one of the top 5 US brokers by revenue, with a large carrier network and aggressive capacity capture. For shippers running thousands of loads per month who need an enterprise broker with capacity scale, TQL is in that conversation.
TQL is a top-5 US freight broker built on an aggressive sales-rep model — quotes go through a salesperson who calls and emails you regularly. Stretch XL Freight is a direct-style broker that returns competing carrier bids in 60 seconds with no sales call required.
TQL operates on the traditional broker margin — typically 15–25% spread. Stretch XL Freight runs closer to an 8% shipper margin / 10% off-market carrier discount. For most lanes that's 10–20% in Stretch XL Freight's favor.
TQL's growth model is built on outbound sales. Once you fill out a quote form, an account exec will call and email regularly. If you'd rather quote silently, Stretch XL Freight's self-serve model is built for that.
Stretch XL Freight is purpose-built for spot freight — 60-second quoting, live load-board rates, instant carrier bids, no rep onboarding. TQL handles spot but the workflow is rep-managed.
Yes. TQL operates under USDOT #1242589 / MC #492376. Stretch XL Freight operates under USDOT #4409725 / MC #01732149. Both are property brokers in good standing with FMCSA SAFER.
See live multi-board market rates + competing carrier bids on your lane. No subscription, no account required to quote, no follow-up sales call.