5 Best Trucking Dispatch Software for Logistic Companies

The trucking industry has encountered numerous challenges over the past few years. The COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions decreased freight and lower rates, while high fuel costs and supply chain issues have all taken their toll. While 2023 was particularly difficult, these challenges will continue to impact the trucking sector in 2024 .

Despite all these, the industry is seeking innovative solutions to cope with these challenges.

In today's tough and highly competitive business environment, gaining an edge over rivals is crucial. Despite the pandemic, lockdowns, and travel restrictions, many freight companies have persevered and demonstrated strong performance. They attribute much of their success to the significant impact of trucking logistics software.

As the volume of freight increases, there will be a growing demand not only for more drivers but also for new technological solutions. Key among these are fully autonomous trucks and transportation dispatching software.

That's why today we are going to take a closer look at the best trucking dispatch systems available. We'll explore their benefits and drawbacks for business owners who are eager to invest in and implement these systems.

What is?Dispatch Software for Trucking Companies?

Gone are the days when operators had to shout into their phones to relay operation and order details to drivers. Software solutions have greatly improved and streamlined these processes.

Cloud technologies now enable users to upload data to a remote server and store it in the cloud, allowing access from anywhere. This convenience lets you control and manage your fleet or freight even while traveling or resting. This is particularly beneficial for trucking dispatch systems, which typically combine mobile devices in the trucks with dispatch software in the base office. The software tracks each truck's location through GPS devices installed in the vehicles while also providing drivers with real-time navigation and route adjustments to prevent them from getting lost.

Trucking dispatch software is designed to ensure flawless communication between drivers and dispatchers, manage routing, provide accurate and timely reporting, facilitate quick financial transactions, track assets, manage fleets and vehicles, and much more.

The current market is teeming with tools offering various options and combinations, making it overwhelming to find a suitable solution given the unique specifics of each business. To help, we've prepared a brief overview of the best transportation dispatch software solutions available. The providers listed below are well-suited for trucking companies and freight brokers, with most having several years of industry experience. By reviewing our guide, you can select the one that best fits your business needs.

5?Top Dispatching Software Solutions for Trucking Companies

ProTransport

ProTransport has been serving the trucking industry for over 15 years, offering versatile, all-in-one software customizable for fleets or freight brokerage companies of any size. It combines dispatching, accounting, safety, analytics, and maintenance functionalities. Importantly, ProTransport solutions can integrate with various programs and tools, including GPS, QuickBooks, fuel card providers, IFTA, and more.

ProTransport software is user-friendly thanks to its color-coded interface and intuitive dashboard. It consolidates all fleet operations into a single system, enabling quick performance measurement and strategic decision-making based on the results.

Onfleet

Onfleet is a trusted solution for multinational couriers, retailers, distributors, and on-demand delivery startups. The software is primarily focused on last-mile delivery and is already operating in over 90 countries.

Onfleet allows users to easily route, dispatch, track, and analyze deliveries, communicate with drivers, and provide clients with real-time updates via SMS. It also offers proof-of-delivery along with feedback collection tools that will help users make their deliveries even better.

TruckingOffice

Originally developed by a fleet owner to manage his own company's invoicing and records, this software was designed with a deep understanding of the trucking business. However, it has since evolved beyond its initial role as a family business solution.

Initially focused on small trucking companies, TruckingOffice software now enhances dispatching, accounting, and IFTA reporting. It helps managers stay on top of fleet maintenance and expenses. By maintaining schedules, fleet builders and operators can increase revenue per mile, reduce roadside repairs, and streamline invoicing and financial management.

Axon Trucking Software

Since 1982, Axon software has been utilized in the trucking industry, boasting over 16,000 users and 54 million loads entered. The solution is ideal for truckload/LTL carriers, as well as auto, livestock, oilfield, and heavy-load shippers.

Axon Trucking can integrate with mileage, routing, and mapping software, enabling real-time tracking, fleet and fuel management, vehicle maintenance, and reporting through a convenient and easy-to-use mobile app.

McLeod LoadMaster and PowerBroker

Since 1985, McLeod has offered the LoadMaster dispatch solution and PowerBroker software for trucking companies, third-party logistics, shipper companies, load carriers, and fleets. Currently, it has around a thousand active users in the transportation sector.

Additionally, McLeod’s products can integrate with solutions that help manage paperwork, image documents, automate business processes, improve marketing and customer service, and manage and measure fleet performance.

Pros and Cons of?Existing Dispatch Software Solutions

Dispatching software for trucking companies brings many benefits to their work and operations, and we can’t help but mention it.

End-to-end truck and freight management: The term "dispatch" encompasses more than just managing drivers and dispatch operations at the start of a route. Dispatch solutions provide insights into the entire journey and potential issues along the way. Additionally, routes can be updated and optimized in real time to reduce delivery times and improve estimated arrival times.

Accurate data for timely decisions: Trucking logistics software allows you to securely back up and store your data in one place, accessible from any web-enabled device. It also facilitates quick data sharing and analysis, enabling prompt and timely decision-making.

Reduced back-office workloads: Dispatch software provides visibility into vehicle locations, eliminating the need for operators to call drivers for updates. With real-time GPS data, this visibility becomes even more precise, allowing the back office to focus on more critical tasks and efficiency improvements.

Improved customer satisfaction: Dispatching software for trucking companies enables easy planning and optimization of the fastest and most efficient routes for drivers, allowing for real-time adjustments to avoid unexpected slowdowns. This ensures that drivers arrive on time and deliver freight punctually.

Adapting to changing conditions: Drivers can face numerous challenges en route, such as bad weather or traffic conditions. Dispatch solutions enable quick reactions to these changing conditions, allowing for route adjustments as needed to ensure drivers stay on schedule.

Reduced operating costs: Expenses are lowered through flexible and dynamic route scheduling and optimizing staff efficiency, ensuring timely vehicle maintenance, and effectively allocating resources.

Even the best trucking dispatch software has its drawbacks, and we?will?also mention some.

Lack of 24/7 support: Although off-the-shelf solutions provide customer support, they are unavailable around the clock and sometimes take a while to resolve urgent issues.

Lack of 24/7 support: Although off-the-shelf solutions provide customer support, they are unavailable around the clock and sometimes take a while to resolve urgent issues.

Inability to upload documents or credit cards: The inability to upload bank statements or credit card information into some systems prevents owners or managers from tracking financial records in real time, forcing them to seek suitable integrations or alternatives. Inaccuracy: Some software automatically calculates miles for both empty and loaded miles, which can lead to inaccuracies.

Lack of mobile versions: Unfortunately, many top fleet dispatch software solutions on the market today do not offer mobile apps for dispatchers. This limitation requires dispatchers to remain at their computers, complicating the resolution of unexpected problems that may arise when they are not near a PC.

Investing in transportation dispatch software can significantly solve many problems for your carrier company and greatly optimize its operations. However, any investment should be reasonable. By opting for custom trucking dispatch system development, you can create a product tailored to your specific needs, including all essential and desired features, integrations, and mobile apps.

Our Experience

Stfalcon has carried out lots of?projects related to?the sphere of?transportation and logistics software engineering. Even though we?can’t boast a?pure trucking dispatch solution development, we?can mention Smartseeds . This service unites cargo owners and freight operators into one system for the transportation of?grains. Stfalcon developed this trucking logistics software to?facilitate their mutually beneficial transactions.

Stfalcon’s team was also asked to?provide transportation management application development for continuous communication with drivers over the whole itinerary.

The system with the following architecture was designed:

• API, for all the transactions,
• Client web interface (frontend part) for cargo owners and freight operators,
• Web interface for system administrators (backend part),
• Geo-information service tracking the сo-ordinates of?the vehicles en?route,
• Mobile app for drivers,
• Uber-like mobile applications for cargo owners and freight operators.

Integration with 1C accounting, bank services, notification systems, and the Google Maps API was implemented. However, Stfalcon aimed to make the service independent of external factors, so we developed as many necessary features as possible in-house.

The project is?now successfully operating in?the market.

The other case to?mention in?the context of?transport solutions is?MeinFernbus. For three years, we developed?a?web project and mobile applications for MeinFernbus .

We could arrange such kind of work where the process of development solves much more business problems rather than creating any. This is a very valuable feature to have when you are developing a startup.

– Aleksey Kolupaev, CTO at MeinFernbus

We have highlighted logistics companies' most relevant aspects of dispatch software usage and identified the top 5 solutions in the market. However, we want to address some frequently asked questions. Read on to explore the topic even further.

FAQs

How can dispatch software help streamline operations for logistics companies?

Trucking dispatch software solutions are designed to ensure flawless communication between drivers and dispatchers while automating key aspects of the delivery process. These aspects include route planning and management, vehicle and asset tracking, inventory management, and accurate, timely reporting. The freight dispatch software streamlines operations facilitates quick financial transactions, reduces costs, and improves overall resource utilization.

What are the benefits of using a cloud-based dispatch solution?

Cloud-based transport dispatch software solutions do not reside on a single computer. Instead, they utilize computing resources from multiple shared machines and servers, delivering the service via an Internet connection. This means the software can be accessed from anywhere, on any device, with a web browser and an internet connection, offering unparalleled accessibility. This feature is especially valuable for truck drivers, who are often on the move, as it allows for real-time route updates. This improves business operations and customer satisfaction. Additionally, cloud dispatching enhances communication among all business parties and participants.

Such solutions are reliable because data is securely stored and recoverable in the cloud rather than on a physical device or hardware that could be damaged or lost.

Moreover, cloud systems are designed to easily adapt to changes, facilitating smooth scalability and flexibility without significant additional expenses. No extra hardware or software is needed. Since cloud solutions are often sold as subscriptions, they require lower upfront investments and reduced maintenance costs.

How does dispatch software integrate with other systems like accounting, ELD, and GPS tracking?

Modern trucking software integrates with leading ELDs, accounting systems, fuel cards, and GPS tracking. This enables dispatchers to manage the entire business from a single screen.

Consider all the integrations you currently require when developing custom independent dispatcher software. Additionally, ensure there is flexibility to accommodate future integrations that may become necessary.

What type of customer support is offered for the dispatch software?

Customer support for truck dispatch software typically includes a set of tools for gathering, managing, responding to, and reporting on customer support requests. This often features a help desk with ticketing, an FAQs section, and multi-channel support to ensure smooth customer communication.

The channels may include live chat, messaging, email, and integrations with external tools like social media.

Multiple service agents may work within the same tool to provide fast and efficient customer support.

How does the software assist with load planning and route optimization?

Modern trucking software utilizes advanced algorithms to optimize routes for efficient deliveries. These solutions analyze the sequence of stops a driver follows and create more efficient routes to improve driver or fleet performance, thereby enhancing customer service. The software considers various criteria, including truck capacity, warehouse locations, distances, delivery time windows, traffic conditions, and business goals and constraints.

Final Thoughts

When selecting transportation dispatching software, it's wise to create a list of "must-have" features and operational functions you need, along with "nice-to-have" functionalities you would like to have.

If you opt for a ready-made solution, even if it's the top dispatch software recommended by experts, ensure that it is user-friendly, has a robust feature set, applies to your business niche, fits your company size, and has positive customer feedback and reliable support.

However, we recommend custom development to obtain a product that perfectly matches your business specifics. With Stfalcon, you can get state-of-the-art trucking dispatch software and a scalable solution that can be adjusted as your business grows and integrated with third-party services to enhance your operations. Let’s discuss your trucking business in more detail and determine the right product for you.

Originally published at Stfalcon.com .

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