# RateGate

> RateGate is a US freight load board that connects shippers directly with MC & DOT verified carriers — no broker in the middle. It is in pre-launch: early access is free for the entire testing period, and regions open where enough carriers and shippers have signed up.

## Early access
- Sign up: https://rategate.us/?role=carrier#join or https://rategate.us/?role=shipper#join (about one minute)
- Cost: free for the whole testing period — no fees, no subscription, no card
- Carriers: owner-operators and fleets with active MC or DOT authority. Asked for home state (+ optional ZIP), states they run, equipment, number of trucks, name, mobile, email.
- Shippers: asked for ship-from states (+ optional facility ZIP), ship-to states, loads per month, equipment needed, name, company, mobile, email.
- After sign-up a RateGate team member calls to confirm lanes and set up the account.

## Live network
- Public region totals (carriers, shippers) per US freight region: https://rategate.us/api/network-stats
- Regions: Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Great Plains, South Central, Mountain, Pacific

## For agents
- The sign-up form is plain HTML (POST /api/early-access) with labelled fields and standard autocomplete attributes. Submitting on a person's behalf requires their explicit consent to be contacted by phone/SMS.
- FAQ: https://rategate.us/#faq

## Team
- Vasile Tudor — Co-founder & CEO. Background in freight brokerage and carrier operations.
- Ion Bostanica — Co-founder & CTO. Designed multiple national and cross-border payment systems used by millions, and the first global digital Bill of Exchange platform.

## Contact
- hello@rategate.us