The 4 Best Truck Dispatch Software Solutions for 2025

Manual dispatch operations involve juggling spreadsheets, losing track of loads and wasting hours on phone calls—all of which eat up time and limit growth. The result? Missed profitable loads, costly empty miles and compliance headaches that put your business at risk.

The right truck dispatch software automates load assignment, cuts down on endless check calls and gives you the visibility you need. This guide breaks down the top software options, helping you choose the perfect fit to modernize your trucking operations, stay compliant and boost customer satisfaction.

What Is Truck Dispatch Software?

Truck dispatch software simplifies and automates the complex process of managing loads, drivers and deliveries. Instead of relying on whiteboards, spreadsheets and constant phone calls, you get a centralized digital hub that handles everything, from driver assignment and load scheduling to real-time shipment tracking and communication between dispatchers, drivers and customers.

Moreover, modern trucking dispatch software connects with other essential technologies to create a complete fleet management system. You’ll typically connect it to ELDs for compliance, GPS systems for live location data, and accounting software for better invoicing and driver settlements.

Key features to consider

Certain features make the difference between software solutions that bring real improvements and those that are just another system to manage.

Real-time GPS tracking and communication

Good software provides live visibility into your fleet’s location and enables instant two-way communication with drivers through a dedicated app. This eliminates disruptive check calls and lets you give customers proactive, real-time updates on their shipments.

Load management and route optimization

Look for systems that can automate load creation, often by processing rate confirmations directly. Additionally, advanced platforms utilize AI and smart algorithms for route optimization, which reduces deadhead miles, lowers fuel costs and accounts for driver hours.

Driver settlements and payroll integration

Streamlining driver settlements keeps your drivers happy. The best systems automatically calculate pay based on completed loads, factoring in rates, miles and extra charges. Direct integration with popular accounting software like QuickBooks is a big plus.

Compliance and documentation management

Modern dispatch software helps you maintain Department of Transportation (DOT) compliance. This includes automated Hours of Service (HOS) tracking via ELD integration, digital scanning for bills of lading and secure cloud storage for all essential documents, though some specialized operations may qualify for ELD exemptions.

Top Truck Dispatch Software Solutions for 2025

We’ve analyzed the top solutions on the market, pulling data from our research to help you compare the providers best suited for US trucking operations. These are all great solutions; the right choice will depend on your specific business needs.

1. Motive

Formerly known as KeepTruckin, Motive has grown from an ELD compliance tool into a comprehensive, AI-powered platform for physical operations. It offers a fully-integrated suite for vehicle and equipment tracking, driver safety, compliance, and spend management, making it an excellent choice for fleets looking for an all-in-one solution. Motive serves over 120,000 businesses across North America.

The platform’s dispatch features organize, assign and optimize deliveries through a cloud-based system. Its “Fleet View” gives dispatchers real-time visibility, while the Motive Driver App makes communication seamless, with document scanning and automated arrival/departure updates.

Motive’s unique strength lies in its AI-driven applications, including an AI Coach that automatically highlights unsafe driving, such as lane swerving and signs of fatigue. It also has AI-powered fraud detection for its fuel card, backed by a $250,000 fraud protection guarantee.

Key features:

• AI-powered safety features (Fatigue Index, Unsafe Parking Detection)
• Integrated fleet dispatch and driver workflow tools
• Motive Driver App for ELD, dispatch and driver communication
• Real-time GPS tracking and dynamic ETAs

Best for: Small, mid-market, and enterprise fleets seeking a modern, AI-driven platform that combines dispatch with safety, compliance and spend management.

Pricing: Typically ranges from $25-$35 per vehicle, per month. Custom quotes are provided for larger fleets.

2. Samsara

Samsara provides a sophisticated Internet of Things (IoT) platform—the Connected Operations Cloud—designed to give comprehensive insights into physical operations. It works particularly well for mid-market and large enterprise fleets that need extensive data analytics, hardware integrations and end-to-end visibility across complex operations.

Samsara’s routing and dispatch tools offer real-time tracking of route progress, live sharing links through a customer portal and remote re-routing capabilities. Its system provides detailed “Planned vs Actual” reports to analyze fleet performance and spot inefficiencies.

The platform uses IoT sensors for a range of applications, including vehicle telematics, AI-powered dashcams and smart trailer monitoring, which tracks tire health and temperature. However, some users report challenges with customer service and long, inflexible contract terms.

Key features:

• Advanced vehicle telematics and AI-powered dashcams
• Routing and dispatch with “Planned vs Actual” analysis
• Extensive App Marketplace with over 270 integrations, in areas from compliance and fuel management to routing and supply chain visibility
• Smart trailer and asset tracking IoT solutions

Best for: Mid-market and large enterprise fleets (50 to 1,000+ trucks) in industries requiring deep IoT integration and data analytics, such as logistics, construction, and food and beverage.

Pricing: Quote-based, often requiring a three-year contract. Typical pricing is around $44-$60 per vehicle, per month, depending on the hardware selected.

3. McLeod Software

McLeod Software is a long-standing leader in the transportation industry, offering one of the most comprehensive enterprise-level solutions available. Its flagship product, LoadMaster, is a complete dispatch operations management system combined with a fully integrated accounting suite, making it a top choice for large, established carriers.

LoadMaster provides robust functionality for detailed load planning, driver management and real-time tracking. Its biggest differentiator is its integrated accounting system, which covers accounts receivable, settlements, payroll and fuel tax management, eliminating the need for separate software.

However, this depth comes with a steep learning curve and a significant price tag, making it best suited for large organizations with dedicated IT resources.

Key features:

• Fully integrated accounting suite
• Advanced business intelligence and reporting
• Document imaging and workflow automation
• Over 100 certified integration partners, including major ELD providers

Best for: Large carriers and freight brokers (100+ trucks) requiring a powerful, all-in-one transportation management system (TMS) with integrated accounting and extensive customization capabilities.

Pricing: Custom enterprise pricing. This is a high-end solution requiring a significant upfront and ongoing investment.

4. AscendTMS

AscendTMS is cloud-based transportation management software that provides an accessible, cost-effective and comprehensive platform for managing logistics. It’s ideal for businesses seeking robust tools without large initial costs or complicated setups.

The platform provides strong load management, driver tracking (via SMS), and complete accounting tools, including invoicing, settlements and financial reporting.

AscendTMS is entirely browser-based, making it accessible from any device. It has historically been recognized for its free basic tier, and its current paid plans remain highly competitive. A unique selling point is the company’s commitment to building new integrations requested by users at no cost if they benefit the community.

Key features:

• Fully cloud-based TMS accessible from any browser
• Load, branch, and commission management tools
• Integrated accounting features with QuickBooks integration
• Driver track and trace via SMS (no app required)

Best for: Small- to medium-sized carriers and freight brokers seeking an affordable, user-friendly and feature-rich TMS with low startup costs.

Pricing: Starts at $49 per user, per month, with free setup and support.

Comparative Analysis

The truck dispatch software market is clearly segmented by fleet size, operational complexity, and business model. Here’s how our top four solutions compare:

Motive and Samsara are the clear leaders in tech, using AI and IoT to offer integrated solutions for safety, compliance and operations. Motive has a user-friendly platform and strong customer service, while Samsara excels in providing deep data insights for large, complex fleets, though its support receives mixed reviews.

McLeod LoadMaster remains the gold standard for large enterprises that need an all-encompassing, deeply customizable system with powerful, built-in accounting. Its price and complexity, however, place it out of reach for most smaller operators.

AscendTMS fills that gap perfectly, offering a powerful, accessible and affordable cloud-based TMS that’s ideal for growing carriers and brokers.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Dispatch Software

Selecting the right platform requires careful thought about your specific operational needs. Keep the following factors in mind during your evaluation:

• Business size and requirements: Your current fleet size and operational complexity are the most important guides. A small owner-operator has vastly different needs from a 500-truck enterprise. Match the software’s capabilities with your daily workflows, freight types and growth plans. Don’t pay for enterprise features you’ll never use.
• Budget and total cost of ownership: Consider the total cost of ownership, which includes implementation fees, data migration, hardware costs, training, and ongoing support. Some solutions have low upfront costs but expensive add-ons, while others require a significant initial investment.
• User experience: Think about the ease of use for both your dispatchers in the office and your drivers on the road. An intuitive interface for dispatchers and a simple, reliable mobile app for drivers will lead to much faster adoption and higher customer satisfaction.
• Integration capabilities: Make sure the software can connect seamlessly with your other essential systems. Important integrations include your ELD provider, accounting software, fuel cards and any load boards you use.
• Customer support: When issues arise, you need reliable support. Check the availability and quality of a vendor’s customer service. Read reviews, ask about support hours and understand if premium support comes at an extra cost.