If you’re a small trucking company, you might believe you cannot afford to invest in technology to improve your processes. You may also think that you do not need technology at this stage. I am not here to tell you how to run your business, but I want to let you know that it is not expensive and is worth the investment. Picking the right software means you will be more efficient. You will make more money each month while spending less time running the daily operations.
Owning a small trucking company involves tedious tasks that take time. It seems like there are always problems arising and margins are tight. These days, trucking software helps you decrease your time on tasks such as booking loads, sending invoices, staying up to date on safety scores, and even helping you secure a line of credit when necessary.
In this article, I will go over six software I would personally highly recommend to any small trucking company.
TMS stands for Transportation Management System. It used to be an expensive luxury for the most prominent freight brokerages and trucking companies. However, in the last decade, much has changed in this regard. The cost of using a TMS has drastically dropped, mainly thanks to Alvys, who have created a fantastic product at a low price.
TMS helps you stay organized with every load, making it easy to bill and update customers, keep track of documents, and ensure access to all information in one system. Alvys makes it easier to run and manage your trucking fleet. Your drivers get access to their mobile app for easy access to the load information. The best thing is that you can try it for free. Therefore, there should be nothing stopping you from trying it out.
Truckstop is one of the most popular load boards. It is a great way to connect with freight brokers if you are a small trucking company. Thousands of loads are posted daily on the site. Members also get access to the current trucking rates, helping you to negotiate fair prices.
Truckstop makes it simple to integrate with various TMSs (such as Alvys), allowing you to post your truck directly from Alvys, which will help you save a lot of time.
On top of that, you will have access to freight broker credit scores and reviews. Check the freight broker’s credit score and reviews on Truckstop before booking any shipment. Doing so will save you a lot of future headaches.
Quickbooks is a great tool to use for all accounting purposes. It will make your life easier by keeping track of your income, expenses, and invoices. Alvys TMS also makes it easy for you to integrate with Quickbooks, meaning that whatever loads you have in invoiced status in Alvys are automatically transferred and billed in Quickbooks.
Utilizing Alvys and Quickbooks together will help you save time and keep you organized in your financials. As we all know, money is oxygen for any business owner, and keeping track of your money will help you stay alive. Quickbooks offers plans for every type of business size. Therefore, you will not have to worry about the cost as it is low.
Truck drivers and owners will love Prepass because it provides information on weigh stations, toll payments, and insights into their entire trucking fleet. These features save the trucking company time and money by reducing fuel costs, decreasing trucking use, and increasing driver retention. It is worth an investment if you want to provide your driver with a better experience. It’s also integrated with Alvys.
Comdata is a leader and innovator in commercial payment solutions for trucking fleets. Trucking companies that set up with Comdata have access to analytics that help make smarter fuel decisions. They also provide nationwide fleet cards with discounts and a credit line for fuel purchases. Comdata makes it easy to send money to the driver for fuel or lumper fees.
From my experience, trucking fleets that use Comdata save by sending money codes quickly with no hassle via their website. Also, if you ever need an alcohol permit in New Jersey for pickup or delivery, you can get it on the Comdata Permits website.
Do you ever wish you could access all your trucks on one platform? With Motive, you can view every aspect of your fleet in one place. You get real-time access to safety, tracking, and fuel level monitoring. Instead of you having to call each driver individually to get important information, you will be able to access all of it on your computer or phone.
Investing in software is an investment in your company. Instead of spending more money on tedious day-to-day tasks, you could focus on building your company. Your goal should be to eliminate time-consuming paperwork. The information above should help you pick the right trucking software for your business. It would be best for you to choose an integrated solution that meets your specific needs. The best thing about it is that Alvys integrates with all these companies, allowing you to have everything you need in one platform.