Transport legislation Fleet management

The best freight exchanges in 2026: Cargopedia vs 123cargo vs Timocom vs Trans.eu

CargoTrack guide — best freight exchanges: Cargopedia, 123cargo, Timocom, Trans.eu

Choosing a freight exchange has a direct impact on how many loads you find, how quickly you fill your trucks and who you end up working with. Several platforms are active on the Romanian market, each with its own coverage, pricing model and target audience, so there is no single answer that works for everyone.

The main freight exchanges used in Romania are Cargopedia, 123cargo (also known as BursaTransport or “Bursa Transporturilor”), Timocom and Trans.eu, and the right choice depends on your operating range (domestic or international), your budget and the level of features you want (company checks, ratings, alerts, TMS).

If you first want to understand the mechanics behind it – what a freight exchange is, how a load is posted and how a transport order works – read our dedicated guide: What is a freight exchange?. This article is a comparison and helps you choose which platform is right for you.

Quick comparison: the main freight exchanges in 2026

The table below summarizes the key differences. Prices for these freight exchanges are indicative and may be changed by each platform; always check the current rate on the official website before subscribing.

PlatformCoveragePricing modelBest for
CargopediaRomania + international (more than 10 languages)Free plan + Standard and Premium subscriptionsSmall and medium-sized companies that also want a free posting option
123cargo / BursaTransportRomania + international routes to and from RomaniaPaid subscription (access activated with CRB credit units)Hauliers and shippers active on the Romanian domestic market
TimocomAll of Europe (46 countries)Fixed monthly subscription + free trial period (up to 4 weeks)International transport, medium and large fleets
Trans.euEurope (originally from Poland), strong presence in RomaniaSubscription (indicatively from ~99 EUR/month) + free mobile appThose who want a freight exchange plus logistics management features (TMS)
The information about these freight exchanges is for guidance only and was collected from public sources (the official websites). Exact rates are confirmed by the provider.

Cargopedia – the freight exchange with free posting

Cargopedia is one of the best-known freight exchanges in Romania, on the market for more than 10 years and available in more than 10 languages. Its main strength is the Freeplan, which lets small companies post load and truck listings at no cost. The platform uses a rating system (stars) and 1-to-5 reviews for the companies you have worked with, plus checks on Romanian companies (financial data, licenses, insolvencies).

According to the official subscriptions page, the Standard plan starts at about 300 lei/6 months (450 lei/year), while Premium starts at around 390 lei/6 months (590 lei/year). The major difference: on the free plan you cannot see other users' contact details, a feature unlocked by the paid subscriptions.

  • Pros: a genuinely free plan for posting, ratings and reviews between companies, financial checks on Romanian companies, multilingual interface.
  • Cons: contact details and advanced features (priority alerts, SMS, load map) are only available with a subscription; international coverage is narrower than on pan-European platforms.

123cargo / BursaTransport – “Bursa Transporturilor”, with the highest liquidity in Romania

123cargo and BursaTransport are the same platform: “123cargo” is the international name, while “BursaTransport” (colloquially also called “Bursa Transporturilor”) is the brand known in Romania. The platform has been running since 2001 and reports more than 16,000 subscribed companies and millions of loads posted every year, making it one of the largest sources of loads connected to the Romanian market.

Access is based on a subscription, activated in Romania through virtual credit units (CRB). The platform focuses on payment security and company verification: ANAF (Romanian tax authority)/ARR (Romanian Road Authority) checks, insolvencies, financial reports and a system for reporting payment incidents. The subscription price is not always publicly displayed and varies depending on the type of access; according to public information, rates were adjusted in 2026, so the safest option is to request the current offer directly from the platform.

  • Pros: high volume of loads on routes to and from Romania, an established community, solid tools for checking companies and handling payment incidents.
  • Cons: there is no free plan for full access; the subscription price is not always transparent and has to be requested in a quote.

Keep in mind: there are also similar names online (e.g. domains such as “bursa-transporturilor.ro” or “eurobursatransport.ro”) that do not belong to this platform. When you search for “Bursa Transporturilor”, make sure you land on the official BursaTransport / 123cargo website.

Timocom – the largest international freight exchange in Europe

Timocom is clearly geared toward international transport. The platform reports more than 156,000 users from 46 European countries and up to 1 million load and cargo space offers per day. It includes search filters to cut down on empty runs, transport order assignment, tender features and tracking by connecting GPS units.

The pricing model is a fixed monthly subscription, with a free trial period of up to 4 weeks. The exact rate is not public and depends on the number of users, the contract length and the billing cycle – it is available on request, through a customized quote.

  • Pros: very broad pan-European coverage, a huge volume of international offers, features for orders, tenders and tracking.
  • Cons: non-transparent pricing (on request only), less relevant for companies that operate exclusively domestically, a learning curve for the advanced features.

Trans.eu – a freight exchange with TMS and AI matching

Trans.eu, originally from Poland, combines the classic freight exchange with transport management (TMS)features. It offers algorithm-based partner matching, real-time chat, integrated transport monitoring and a free mobile app. It is a good choice for companies that want more than a list of loads – they also want to organize their logistics processes on the same platform.

The price depends on the package: according to the official pricing page, access to the private exchange component starts at roughly ~99 EUR/month per company, with no activation fee. There are several packages (for hauliers, shippers, manufacturers), and the final offer is set based on your needs.

  • Pros: freight exchange + TMS in one place, AI matching, free mobile app, integrated communication and monitoring features.
  • Cons: the price may be higher than for a simple freight exchange; many TMS features are useful mainly for fleets that want full digitalization, not just a load search.

How to Choose the Right Freight Exchange

There is no absolute “best” freight exchange – there is the one best suited to the way you work. Here are the criteria worth weighing when it comes to freight exchanges:

  • Operating range: for mostly domestic loads, BursaTransport/123cargo and Cargopedia offer the highest liquidity in Romania; for international work, Timocom and Trans.eu cover more countries.
  • Budget: if you want to test at no cost, the Cargopedia free plan or the Timocom trial period are good starting points. For full access, compare subscriptions over the same period.
  • Partnership security: check what tools the platform offers – ratings, reviews, ANAF/ARR checks, insolvencies, payment incident reporting. These features reduce the risk of non-payment.
  • Additional features: if you need TMS, route calculation, tenders or tracking, Trans.eu and Timocom are richer in these kinds of tools.
  • Your load volume: a company with 1–2 trucks has different needs than a fleet of 30. An expensive subscription is only justified if you turn it into real loads.

A practical tip about freight exchanges: many companies use two platforms in parallel – one strong on domestic and one on international – to maximize the number of offers and reduce empty kilometers. If you are just entering the market, also check what you need from a legal standpoint, for example how to get a transport license for 3.5 tons.

After you get the load from the exchange: GPS monitoring

A freight exchange helps you find the load. But what happens after you have loaded the goods? This is where a complementary tool comes in: GPS monitoring. A freight exchange is not a telematics solution, and a telematics solution does not bring you loads – the two complement each other.

CargoTrack is not a freight exchange, but a GPS monitoring and telematics solution for fleets. After you have taken a load from Cargopedia, 123cargo, Timocom or Trans.eu, a GPS system lets you: track the vehicle in real time, confirm the estimated time of arrival to the customer, monitor fuel consumption, check driving times and generate reports for invoicing and transport discipline. In practice, the freight exchange fills your truck, and GPS monitoring helps you complete the run efficiently and transparently.

Want to see how GPS monitoring integrates with loads taken from a freight exchange? Contact the CargoTrack team for a conversation or a demo tailored to your fleet.

The best freight exchanges in 2026
The best freight exchanges in 2026

Frequently asked questions about freight exchanges

What is the best freight exchange?

There is no single “best” one. For domestic loads in Romania, 123cargo/BursaTransport and Cargopedia offer the highest liquidity; for international transport, Timocom and Trans.eu cover more countries. The choice depends on your operating range, budget and the features you need.

What is the 123cargo (BursaTransport) freight exchange?

It is a platform active since 2001 that connects companies that have goods to ship with hauliers. “123cargo” is the international name, while “BursaTransport” (colloquially “Bursa Transporturilor”) is the brand known in Romania. It has more than 16,000 subscribed companies and access is subscription-based.

Is Cargopedia free?

Partly. Cargopedia has a Free plan that lets you post load and truck listings and search, but it does not show you other users' contact details. For full access (contacts, priority alerts, load map), you need the Standard or Premium subscriptions.

Are Bursa Transporturilor and 123cargo the same platform?

Yes. BursaTransport (colloquially called “Bursa Transporturilor”) and 123cargo are the same platform under two brands: one for the Romanian market and one international. Watch out for similarly named domains that do not belong to the official platform.

Which freight exchange is best for international transport?

For international loads, Timocom (more than 156,000 users from 46 countries) and Trans.eu (European coverage + TMS) are the most widely used. Many companies combine them with a freight exchange that is strong in Romania to cover domestic loads as well.

How much does a freight exchange subscription cost?

It varies widely. Cargopedia has a free plan and paid subscriptions starting at a few hundred lei per year; Trans.eu starts at roughly 99 EUR/month for the exchange component; Timocom and 123cargo provide pricing on request/variable pricing. Always check the current rate on the official website.

How do I check a company before giving it a load?

Most freight exchanges offer verification tools: ratings and reviews, ANAF/ARR checks, insolvency status, financial reports and payment incident reporting. Use these features before confirming a partnership, especially with new partners.

Is CargoTrack a freight exchange?

No. CargoTrack is a GPS monitoring and telematics solution for fleets that complements freight exchanges. The exchange helps you find the load, and CargoTrack helps you monitor it in real time after the goods are loaded.

Freight exchanges 2026
Freight exchanges 2026
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Vlad – CargoTrack author
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