Transportation dispatch software helps in dispatching delivery vehicles more efficiently.
Transportation companies often face difficulties in routing delivery requests and scheduling vehicles manually. These companies thrive on timely delivery, and when there are multiple fleets to manage and operate, paper-based scheduling might no longer cut it for them.
If you're a fleet manager who faces similar situations at work, software can come to your rescue. Transportation dispatch software can help you coordinate deliveries, monitor fleets, and offer complete control over dispatching. You can also monitor driver behavior and reduce the chances of accidents by training your drivers based on the insights gathered with the help of the software.
To help you make the right software choice, we’ve listed the eight best transportation dispatch tools based on two parameters: user ratings and popularity. Each parameter is weighed and scaled to a value between 1 and 50.
User ratings: This parameter considers the overall user ratings of products based on reviews written in the last 24 months. Users rate products on a scale of 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).
Popularity: This parameter considers the average monthly search volume for a standardized set of keywords for each product, as derived by a proprietary search methodology, as well as the position of the vendor’s domain on the search engine results page (SERP) for each keyword. It’s a measure of user interest and relevance used as a proxy for popularity.
Note: Products are listed in descending order of their total scores—i.e., summation of user ratings and popularity scores. If two or more products have the same score, they are listed alphabetically. (Read how we selected these products.)
1. Samsara: Provides a driver portal to view daily work updates
User rating: 39/50
Popularity score: 50/50
Samsara is a fleet management platform designed for transport managers and their teams.
It helps track multiple fleets and uses GPS to provide a birds-eye view of your fleet status in real time. It integrates with the dash cams on your fleet vehicles to capture accidents during journeys.
The trucking software offers a portal via which your drivers can log in to work, route their daily deliveries, and get day-to-day work updates even on their mobile devices. In addition, you can generate reports to analyze the best routes for your fleets.
Samsara offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Access controls/permissions
- Asset tracking
- Audit trail
- Customer database
- Customer management
- Data visualization
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Hours of service reports in Samsara
2. Onfleet: Creates custom text, time, and status-based filters
User rating: 50/50
Popularity score: 36/50
Onfleet is a delivery management and logistics solution that helps consolidate the route and dispatch of deliveries onto one dashboard.
The software features an integrated route planning and optimization engine that analyzes fleet availability and considers the time, location, capacity, and traffic to produce the most efficient routes.
You can create time-, status-, and team-based filters to search for specific delivery orders based on the set parameters. In addition, you can use the auto-assign feature to automatically allocate delivery orders based on your team’s bandwidth.
Onfleet offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS.
Key Features
- Barcode recognition
- Barcoding
- Customer database
- Customer management
- Delivery tracking
- Dispatch management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Real-time driver tracking in Onfleet
3. Route4Me: Assigns tasks based on individual roles
User rating: 48/50
Popularity score: 33/50
Route4Me is a route optimization and fleet management solution designed for transportation businesses.
The software creates optimized routes for your fleets and helps save time on dispatches and deliveries. You can upload your customer list and feed address data into the software to generate the best routes.
You can assign tasks to your employees based on their roles. You can also approve their time-off requests, send delivery schedules, conduct training, and more.
Route4Me offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Alerts/notifications
- Assignment management
- Barcode recognition
- Contact database
- Customer management
- Dispatch management
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Capacity assessment in Route4Me
4. Track-POD: Provides multi-stop route optimization
User rating: 49/50
Popularity score: 23/50
Track-POD is a route planning and truck dispatch software solution designed for fleets.
It offers real-time driver performance monitoring and delivery confirmation. It lets you create reports showcasing the task completion time for individual drivers, cost per delivery, and historical performance of your staff.
You can identify the most efficient fleet routes by feeding customer address data into the software. With route optimization, the software analyzes fuel usage and sends smart suggestions to help you reduce costs for each delivery.
Track-POD offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Alerts/notifications
- Assignment management
- Barcode recognition
- Contact database
- Customer portal
- Driver ETA
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Route management in Track-POD
5. WorkWave Route Manager: Offers multiple third-party integrations
User rating: 45/50
Popularity score: 25/50
WorkWave Route Manager is a route optimization solution for delivery businesses.
It lets you create vehicle profiles, add individual driver data, and upload driver routes. Once added, the software generates the most optimized routes to help save time and increase delivery success rates.
The software sends notifications to your customers and updates them on the status of their deliveries. It also sends them a live tracking link that shows the real-time ETA and location. In addition, it features multiple API integrations so you can easily connect to third-party systems and migrate driver, route, and customer data.
WorkWave offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Alerts/notifications
- Assignment management
- Driver management
- Live driver tracking
- Mobile access
- Performance Metrics
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Building and reviewing routes in WorkWave Route Manager
6. PCS TMS: Automates the scheduling of fleet maintenance
User rating: 50/50
Popularity score: 18/50
PCS TMS is an online transportation management system built for truckers, fleet managers, and delivery businesses.
The software helps automate logistics planning and routing and provides data-driven insights to optimize your fleet management process. With a built-in communication system, it allows your fleet drivers, shippers, and carriers to share information and data more efficiently.
It helps digitize shipping documentation and eliminates the need for paper-based billing and proof of delivery. It analyzes the health of your vehicles’ components and lets you schedule automated fleet checkups from time to time.
PCS TMS offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Billing and invoicing
- Customer management
- Driver management
- Fuel management
- GPS
- Incident Reporting
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Routing dispatches in PCS TMS
7. Tailwind TMS: Creates dispatch notes with instructions for drivers
User rating: 45/50
Popularity score: 23/50
Tailwind TMS is a logistics solution for freight and trucking companies.
It lets you manage quotes and orders, dispatch deliveries, and track invoices and payments. You can track your fleets, analyze their routes, and optimize them for future deliveries. You can also create dispatch notes that have specific instructions for drivers or carriers regarding the deliveries.
The software allows you to conduct online group training for your drivers and carriers. It also features a self-help document dashboard for where your drivers can access payment forms.
Tailwind TMS offers chat, email, and phone support. It is a web-based tool and also has a mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
Key Features
- Accounting
- Billing and invoicing
- Carrier management
- Discount management
- Fleet management
- GPS
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Reviewing the dispatch status in Tailwind TMS
8. TruckSpy: Offers fuel optimization
User rating: 50/50
Popularity score: 16/50
TruckSpy is a fleet management and dispatching software solution built for truckers, fleet managers, and delivery businesses.
It integrates with the dash cams on your vehicles and uses artificial intelligence to identify risky driver behavior during dispatches. You can coach your drivers based on the insights you receive via the dash cam footage.
The software has a built-in dispatcher that lets you quickly assign stops or entire routes to individual truck drivers. In addition, it assesses the fuel price at truck stops throughout the routes and finds the cheapest option for your fleets, helping save on fuel costs.
TruckSpy is a web-based tool that offers chat, email, and phone support.
Key Features
- Audit trail
- Customer management
- Driver management
- Fuel management
- GPS tracking
- Incident Reporting
Trial/Free Version
- Free Trial
- Free Version
Starting price
Device compatibility
Screenshots
Maintenance dashboard in TruckSpy
What features do transportation dispatch software tools offer?
Here are the key features of a transportation dispatch software solution:
Dispatch management: Manage the dispatch of personnel and resources to a job site.
GPS tracking: View team, job, load, equipment, and vehicle locations on a map in real time.
Routing: Provide directions and plan the day's work to optimize employee scheduling.
All the products listed in this report include the core features mentioned above.
Besides these core features, transportation dispatch software also tends to offer certain common features, which include:
Billing and invoicing
Customer management
Fuel management
Mileage tracking
Order management
Scheduling
How to choose the best transportation dispatch software for your business
To find the most effective transportation dispatch platform, consider these important factors:
Assess whether the software offers end-to-end transportation management. An ideal transportation dispatch solution must offer complete insights into the overall journey of your fleets. When looking at options, choose a tool that offers end-to-end tracking and analysis for your trucking business.
Check whether you can share ETA information with customers. The software you shortlist should allow you to share delivery and ETA information directly with your customers. This will keep customers informed about the status of their orders and increase the overall satisfaction rates.
Assess the automation capabilities of the software. An ideal transportation dispatch software should automate back-office and recurring tasks, such as scheduling dispatches and vehicle maintenance, so you don’t have to manage these tasks manually. Choose a software solution that lets you automate such processes.
Common questions to ask when choosing transportation dispatch software
When looking for a comprehensive and robust transportation dispatch solution, it's crucial to ask the following questions:
Does the software offer dynamic route planning?
An ideal software solution should allow dispatchers to add last-minute orders to a particular delivery route and change it accordingly to increase the order fulfillment rate. Ask the software vendor whether their product has this feature or not.
Does the software integrate with third-party apps?
A tool that features API integrations and allows you to access data from third-party software apps is better than a stand-alone solution that doesn’t allow data migration. This feature will let your software easily connect to third-party systems and share driver, route, and customer data.
Are there any additional charges for support services?
Quality customer service is a necessity for any software solution. Inquire whether the support offered by the vendor is free of cost or comes at a price. Check all available customer service channels, such as real-time chat, email, and voice or video call, and whether they are available 24/7 or at least during your business hours.
How did we choose these products? We didn’t—you did
To find your ideal software match, you need information you can trust—so you can save time, stay on budget, and focus more energy on growing your business. It’s why we vet and verify all our user reviews and recommend only the tools endorsed by people such as you.
In other words, our product recommendations are never bought or sold, or based on the opinion of a single individual—they’re chosen by your peers, reflecting the views and experiences of our independent base of software reviewers.