Trucks move roughly 72% of all freight in the United States by weight. Running a trucking company that moves that freight means juggling loads, drivers, hours of service, invoices, permits, and a steady stream of compliance paperwork — and most carriers now rely on software to keep it all under control.
But "trucking software" isn't one thing. Most fleets use a handful of tools that each handle a different part of the operation. This guide breaks down the main types of software trucking companies use, the most common TMS options, and what to look for when choosing.
The 5 Types of Software Trucking Companies Use
1. Transportation Management System (TMS)
A TMS is the operational backbone for many carriers. It manages the life of a load: order entry, load planning, dispatch, tracking, and billing. A good TMS reduces manual data entry, suggests efficient routes, and keeps dispatch, drivers, and customers working from the same information. For larger fleets it often becomes the system of record that other tools connect to.
2. ELD and Telematics
Electronic logging devices are federally required for most interstate drivers to record hours of service. Most ELD providers bundle telematics as well — GPS tracking, fuel usage, engine diagnostics, and driver behavior like speeding and hard braking. Popular platforms include Samsara, Motive, and Geotab, and many fleets connect them to other systems. See how Digital Permit Book works with Samsara, Motive, and Geotab.
3. Dispatch and Load Boards
Dispatch software assigns loads to drivers, tracks delivery status and ETAs, and keeps dispatchers and drivers in contact. Load boards help carriers find and book freight based on equipment type, location, and availability — cutting deadhead miles. Many carriers use a load board like Truckstop alongside their TMS.
4. Accounting and Billing
Accounting tools handle invoicing, expenses, payables, and cash flow. Trucking-specific features often include IFTA fuel tax calculations, settlement pay for drivers and owner-operators, and factoring integrations. Many carriers run general accounting in QuickBooks and connect it to their TMS.
5. Compliance and Document Management
This is the layer that keeps a fleet legal on the road: permits, registrations, insurance certificates, driver qualification files, annual inspections, and the expiration dates attached to all of them. Compliance software tracks what's current, alerts you before anything expires, and makes sure every driver can produce the right document at a roadside inspection.
Popular TMS Options for Carriers
There's no single best TMS — the right choice depends on fleet size, freight type, and budget. Some of the most widely used options:
- McLeod Software — in the market since 1985 and a common choice for mid-size and enterprise carriers, covering load planning, dispatch, tracking, and deep accounting integrations. Read why McLeod is still the most popular TMS.
- Trimble — known for its rating and mileage tools used to calculate lanes, drive time, and driver pay, plus maintenance and fleet solutions.
- Tailwind Transportation Systems — built for carriers and brokers, with carrier and customer portals and routing tools.
- LoadStop — a cloud-based TMS focused on dispatch and invoice management.
- Prophesy — dispatch and transportation management for truckload and LTL carriers, brokers, and private fleets, with integrations to other logistics systems.
- PCS Software — a TMS for carriers, shippers, and brokerages that uses AI to recommend driver and load matches.
Pricing varies widely — from per-user monthly plans to per-license enterprise pricing — and changes often, so request current quotes from each vendor for your fleet size.
What to Look For in Trucking Software
Whatever category you're shopping in, the same questions separate good tools from expensive shelfware:
- Does it fit your fleet size? Enterprise systems can overwhelm a 10-truck operation; lightweight tools can break down at 300 trucks.
- Does it integrate with what you already use? Your ELD, TMS, and accounting software should share data instead of requiring double entry.
- Is there a real driver app? If drivers can't use it easily from their phone, adoption will stall.
- Is it cloud-based? Cloud tools update automatically and work from anywhere — no on-site servers to maintain.
- How good are the reports? You should be able to see performance, costs, and compliance status at a glance.
- Is it easy to learn? The best software is the one your team actually uses.
- What does support look like? When something breaks at 2 a.m., you need a real answer fast.
Where Digital Permit Book Fits
Your TMS runs the loads. Your ELD tracks hours and location. But neither is built to make sure every driver has every current permit, registration, and compliance document in hand when a DOT officer walks up to the cab.
That's the gap Digital Permit Book fills. It's the compliance and document layer for your fleet: every permit and required document stored in one place, pushed to each driver's phone, available offline at roadside, with automatic alerts before anything expires. It connects with the ELD and telematics platforms fleets already use, so it fits alongside your existing stack rather than replacing it.
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