The Best Freight Broker Software
We’ve reviewed the top systems on the market for several different industries, including intermodal freight brokers, 3PLs, and hybrid operations. Find the best fit for your company to help streamline carrier management and automate load matching.
- Driver mobile app, customer and partner portals
- Monitors ETA of in-transit orders live
- Powered by the Network TMS
- Free version and free trial available
- Shows live load sources in one screen
- Strong customer support
Here’s a rundown of the top freight broker software based on core features, cost, and integration options.
- Rose Rocket: Best Overall
- Ascend TMS: Best Free Version
- Tailwind: Most User-Friendly
- Descartes Aljex: Great for Intermodal Freight Brokers
- DAT Broker TMS: Great for 3PLs
- BrokerPro: Best for TL and LTL Freight
- LoadPilot: Good for Smaller Brokerages
- Alvys: Best for Hybrid Operations
Rose Rocket - Best Overall
Rose Rocket is our top pick for freight brokerage functionalities. It’s user-friendly, scalable, and designed to enhance transportation operations, like load optimization, route planning, and carrier management. Its strong API capabilities mean that Rose Rocket integrates easily with other tools and platforms, making it a versatile choice for companies with existing tech ecosystems. It connects with popular accounting tools like QuickBooks. Additional integrations include Truckstop, Microsoft Dynamics 365, and DAT.
Rose Rocket features real-time freight tracking, displaying up-to-the-minute location details and status updates. It also provides tools for managing carriers including their rates, performance metrics, and available capacities. The platform has mobile applications that allow drivers and other staff members to stay connected and updated, even when they’re on the move. Overall, the platform helps freight brokers streamline their operations, improve communication, enhance customer satisfaction, and make data-driven decisions.
Ascend TMS - Best Free Version
We think Ascend TMS stands out amongst other free options due to its deep feature set. This cloud-based platform includes load management, carrier compliance checks, and real-time freight tracking. Its intuitive interface ensures that users can easily navigate through the system without a steep learning curve. Ascend TMS also integrates with numerous third-party applications, such as ELD devices, accounting software, and load boards, making it a one-stop solution for various logistical needs. Moreover, as a broker’s business grows, Ascend TMS scales effortlessly, ensuring that the software remains a reliable tool regardless of the size or complexity of operations.
Tailwind - Most User-Friendly
Tailwind is user-friendly due to its intuitive design and straightforward interface. Even those new to freight brokerage find Tailwind’s dashboard easy to navigate, with clear labels and organized modules that enhance the user experience. The platform provides easy access to vital functionalities like order management, dispatching, and invoicing.
The Envase Team has consistently prioritized user feedback in Tailwind updates, ensuring that the platform evolves in alignment with the real-world needs of its users. Online resources, tutorials, and dedicated customer support ensure that users can quickly familiarize themselves with the platform and make the most of its features. This emphasis on accessibility and support, combined with a design built for ease of use, cements Tailwind’s position as one of the more user-friendly freight broker software options available in the market.
Descartes Aljex - Great for Intermodal Freight Brokers
Descartes Aljex is a top pick for freight brokers in intermodal transportation. It bridges the gap between various modes, including full truckload, LTL, rail, ocean, air, and parcel. Aljex provides real-time visibility into shipments and coordinates between different carriers and transportation modes. It also has automated order entry, lane pricing, capacity sourcing, and EDI messaging. What sets it apart for intermodal users is its ability to integrate seamlessly with rail providers and other intermodal stakeholders. It connects with over 40 providers for greater flexibility, including Microsoft Dynamics GP, NetSuite, Sage, Truckstop, and more. Finally, Aljex features versatile pricing tools tailored to the dynamic nature of intermodal transport. This allows brokers to quickly adjust to rate changes in different transportation modes, ensuring competitive pricing and margin management.
DAT Broker TMS - Great for 3PLs
We found DAT Broker TMS well-suited to 3PLs due to its extensive load board integration. It grants 3PLs access to a vast network of carriers and loads. It also provides real-time and historical freight rates, allowing 3PLs to benchmark their rates against the market. DAT offers features that enable quick vetting of carriers, checking their safety scores, insurance details, and performance history. In addition, the platform’s advanced analytics and reporting tools offer insights that can guide strategic planning and day-to-day decision-making. Overall, DAT’s integrated suite of tools meet the unique challenges and demands of 3PLs, make it one of our top picks.
BrokerPro - Best for TL and LTL Freight
BrokerPro is designed with distinct modules for both LTL and TL brokerage operations. These modules meet the specific requirements of each type of freight, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. For example, the Quote Management module allows brokers to swiftly generate and compare rates from multiple carriers. And given the sporadic nature of LTL shipments, brokers need a tool to match partial loads effectively. BrokerPro’s load matching capability helps identify potential consolidation opportunities, optimizing space and cost for both TL and LTL shipments. We also like that the system checks and verifies carrier credentials, insurance statuses, and safety ratings, ensuring that the chosen carriers meet industry standards.
LoadPilot - Good for Smaller Brokerages
We think LoadPilot is a good choice for smaller brokerages due to its intuitive interface and low barrier to entry. For smaller brokerages with limited staff and training resources, this ease of use is crucial to get operations up and running. It also offers pricing models for limited budgets, a significant consideration for brokerages trying to minimize overhead costs. Additionally, LoadPilot’s integrated financial management features include invoicing, settlements, and financial tracking, minimizing the need for external accounting software.
Alvys - Best for Hybrid Operations
Alvys offers a comprehensive asset management module for hybrid companies that perform both brokerage and carrier operations. It streamlines company-owned fleet management by tracking driver hours and integrating with telematic devices to monitor real time data. For brokers, it helps you quickly onboard external carriers by integrating with carrier verification tools like SaferWatch. This gives you the flexibility to manage all assets within both operations on one system.
Additionally, hybrid companies can store all maintenance and safety records in one place. By storing all asset documentation and transaction history, your entire business can be ready for Department of Transportation (DOT) audits. For carriers, compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations is crucial for preventing fines and retaining operating authority. Alvys ensures all documents are organized in one place for your entire company’s compliance.
Alvys’s asset management module is connected to its dashboard, allowing hybrid companies to monitor important KPIs for both businesses. The dashboard consolidates financial data from all divisions, letting you view overall revenues and expenses for the period. Other metrics include load statuses, billing, and hours of service, giving you a overview of all operations without having to go back and forth between two separate systems.
Alvys is an all-in-one suite starting at $183/month, with the price increasing with additional trucks, loads, and employees. This makes it a scalable solution for growing small to midsize hybrid companies.
Methodology
We’ve devised a clear methodology to recommend top freight broker software:
Establish Clear Objectives
Consider if you’re aiming to optimize dispatch operations, streamline communication with carriers, enhance real-time tracking capabilities, or improve client invoicing processes. Identifying these specific objectives will guide your software selection.
Evaluate ROI
- Investigate not just the upfront costs but also the long-term financial implications. Consider how the software can streamline operations, reduce errors, and enhance user productivity to determine its overall value proposition.
- For freight brokers, it’s essential to scrutinize any hidden fees, potential cost fluctuations during peak transportation times, or charges related to carrier and shipper integrations.
Create a Shortlist
- Aim to identify 3-5 leading software options. This narrow focus ensures a more comprehensive assessment of each choice.
- Evaluate vendors based on their adaptability to industry changes, the versatility of their software in diverse scenarios, and their track record for consistent software uptime and reliability.
Check for Free Trials or Live Demos
Engaging with the software hands-on provides invaluable insight. Use these trials or demos to gauge the software’s intuitiveness, performance, and fit for your operations.
Review Integration Options
Ensure the software offers seamless integrations with critical tools for freight brokering, such as:
- CRM software like Salesforce or HubSpot
- Load boards like DAT or Truckstop.com
- Accounting software like QuickBooks
- EDI software and other communication tools.
Scalability and Customization Options
As the freight brokering industry is dynamic, choose software that can adapt as you grow. Common customizations brokers look for include:
- Custom reporting and analytics tools
- Tailored invoicing and billing modules
- Specific communication templates or tools tailored to shippers and carriers
- Personalized dashboards or interfaces for different user roles.
Pricing Considerations for Freight Brokers
- Beyond the basic pricing, look into how the software charges for volume-based transactions, as freight brokering can have fluctuating load numbers.
- Investigate if there are costs tied to the number of carriers or shippers you connect with.
- Ask about any potential charges for maintaining compliance or updating as regulations evolve.
- Understand if the software is provided as an on-premises solution or a cloud-based SaaS. On-prem solutions might have higher initial costs but can be more customizable. SaaS models typically have monthly or annual fees but offer easier updates and can be accessed from anywhere.
- Determine what kind of support the vendor provides. Is there 24/7 assistance? Is training provided? Are there charges for these services?
- Check how often the software is updated and whether these updates are included in the pricing or come at an additional cost. Maintenance downtimes can also impact operations, so it’s essential to understand their frequency and duration.
What is Freight Broker Software?
Freight broker software is a type of transportation management software (TMS) that streamlines freight brokerage operations by entering loads, sourcing and qualifying carriers, dispatching drivers, invoicing customers, and paying carriers. Also known as freight management software, these solutions can be customized to handle the real-time needs of the freight brokerage, such as trucking dispatch, tracking fuel tax, billing payroll to the drivers, monitoring driver logs, planning routes via GPS mapping, and conducting routine maintenance on vehicles.
Similar to freight forwarding software, these solutions will provide the technological advantage that assists shippers with freight ready to haul by finding carriers who are qualified to haul the load. These software options handle operations (logistics), financials (accounting), and customer service involved in managing a transportation and shipping business.
Varying types of freight broker software exist depending on the size of your operation. One major question to ask yourself is: Do you provide storage for your customers? A small third-party logistics operation may just be in charge of facilitating shipments between a manufacturer and a customer. Meanwhile, a large-scale supply chain management operation may require the oversight of procurement, inventory management, vendor communication, and dealing with government regulations.
Key Features
- Load Management: View, organize, track, and update your load tracking throughout the load cycle. Displays information such as loads by customers, load statuses, drop date, drop time, carrier, driver, and equipment being shipped. Allows you to sort loads by keywords, customer, driver/carrier, reference number, city/state, and more.
- Invoicing: Handle your shipping, land, and air freight by creating documents details what is owed to your shipping partners and others, such as agents, customs, and more. Handles primary accounting software capabilities such as multi-currency payments.
- Quotations: Generate and send quotations for any of your modes of transportation. Track the status of quotes and convert them into orders whenever necessary. Include ad-hoc quotes, one-click shipment generation, email templates, shipping rate generation, and more.
- Routing, Dispatching, and Planning: Find shippers fuel and time-efficient routes by analyzing maps, traffic information, speed limits, modal limits, and the cost of fuel. With this data, shippers can determine the best carrier for each delivery and help consolidate shipments into the most efficient loads possible.
- Document Management: Digitally receive, maintain, and archive files, documents, and data. Customize templates and generate new documents; put metatags on documents for easy indexing, search and retrieval; add security and access features for certain documents, individuals and teams; and share documents internally and externally.
- Electronic Data Interchange (EDI): Facilitates the exchange of business documents from one computer to another in a standard electronic format between trading partners.
Primary Benefits
A freight broker has the goal of saving time, money, and resources for their clients. They basically become a shipping department for a company that does not have one and, as such, provide value through business expense savings. The core benefits freight brokerage software provides your business are:
Find the Right Carrier
Different types of goods are shipped differently. Many businesses will rely on a freight broker to figure out the best shipping methods available for the goods they provide their customers. A freight broker software will look at all carrier rates available and help determine the most cost-effective way of shipping the goods. Many freight brokers may have existing relationships with shipping contacts and can lock in lower rates.
Compare Proposals from Prospective Carriers
A freight broker business will want to routinely conduct audits on the carriers they frequently use. This could be an evaluation of their pricing or an evaluation of their shipping times. This level of review can take time if conducted manually. Freight broker software will let you compare your current carrier data side by side with carrier proposals you have received or recently discovered. Comparing prices, shipping speeds, and consignment rates can ensure you routinely have the best carrier possible.
Integration With Load and Truck Posting Websites
Most freight brokers will use popular load boards such as Getloaded or TruckStop.com. A load board (sometimes referred to as a freight board) is an online marketplace where truck owner-operators, shippers, and freight brokers can post and search for loads to keep freight moving.
When using a freight broker software, you’ll be able to post on a variety of load boards across the internet. This will let you notify these truck owner-operators and shippers with work that your company is offering. Integrating with these boards will allow you to update your listings across multiple websites with a click of a button.
Pricing Guide
Various factors impact freight broker software pricing. These include the number of shipments handled, the total users requiring access, and the inclusion of support or hosting services.
- At the entry-level, small businesses or startups might find solutions that range between $3,000 to $6,000 annually, which translates to roughly $250 to $500 monthly. This tier typically caters to those handling fewer shipments and a limited number of users.
- As businesses grow and their requirements become more intricate, they’ll transition into mid-range pricing. Costs fluctuate between $6,000 and $30,000 per year. This segment usually offers advanced features, supports a higher number of shipments, and accommodates more users.
- For large-scale operations with vast networks, pricing spans from $20,000 to $80,000 annually. These solutions are tailored for substantial logistics enterprises and those seeking premium features.
- Enterprise level software starts at $100,000 for corporations that operate on a global scale and have a vast user base. Premium costs include robust hosting solutions, dedicated support, and bespoke functionalities.
How to Choose
A freight broker is a crucial link between shippers and carriers. They come into play anytime a business requires outsourcing of its overall logistics process. Freight software programs such as TMS systems and ERP software can at times cover the needs of a freight brokerage, but there are many reasons a business may look for something industry-specific.
Single Freight Brokers
Freight brokers can easily run their own business if they are capable of arranging the transportation and tracking the load hauled by a freight carrier. These carriers can be as simple as parcel delivered in the mail (via UPS or FedEx), or via a large-scale transportation via sea or air. Freight brokers starting out may desire a simple tool that lets them match trucks with loads. With advancements in freight broker software technology, truckers and carriers can now see loads along their routes.
Once you begin to win broker contracts, you’ll be dealing with a number of contracts, bill of ladings, and accounting work to handle. This will all happen while simultaneously reviewing carrier qualifications and ensuring you’ll have the best relationship moving forward. This may sound overwhelming to a sole proprietorship, but the automation offered in freight broker software will help you find shippers, find carriers, set prices, and move freight.
Mid-Sized Freight Brokerages
A freight brokerage business will be made up of a number of employees all working together. This collection of employees will bring together their industry knowledge, contacts they’ve accumulated over the years, and general experience with freight laws and regulations. Collectively, a group of freight brokers will be better equipped to avoid hiccups and benefit both the shipper and the carrier.
Some freight brokers may consider third-party logistics software, which tracks and organizes items across the entire supply chain and to ensure goods arrive at their intended destination and its costs can be accounted for. 3PL software is a transportation management system built to handle the various needs of multiple clients, each with their own set of operational processes and billing requirements. Other businesses, such as trucking dispatch companies or businesses dealing with LTL truckloads, can provide freight brokerage services via trucking software.
Freight Forwarding vs. Broker Software
Are freight forwarding software and freight broker software one and the same? The most obvious participants in the freight industry are the people doing the trucking and transportation themselves. There are also the carriers that handle the shipping methods that help businesses get their goods from A to B. While forwarders and brokers have interconnected roles, they do have some key differences.
A freight broker is a liaison that helps connect a buyer and a seller. The things being bought and sold is transportation. A shipper of goods needs to work with a transportation carrier, and at many points, they’ll have different wants and needs. This is where a freight broker steps in. Their knowledge of contracts, freight laws, and paperwork ensures deals can be arranged and completed on time.
While a freight forwarder also acts as a medium between a carrier and a shipper, a forwarder provides a consolidation of freight services. Smaller shipments are combined into larger shipments that make them more easily transportable. A freight forward also arrange storage on behalf of their clients.
In short, the biggest difference between a freight broker and a freight forwarder is:
- Possession of freight: Brokers do not handle storage of freight, while forwarders do.
- Legal obligations: Brokers have less legal responsibility as they are not physically possessing the freight.
Is QuickBooks a Freight Broker Software?
While QuickBooks products such as QuickBooks Online can be used by a freight broker software, QuickBooks products are not inherently a freight broker software. QuickBooks will accommodate the bookkeeping needs of most freight brokers by providing estimating and invoicing tools that users can customize to their needs.
QuickBooks Pro and other product lines are known as industry-neutral accounting software, which plays a large part in the product’s popularity. Because it can be used for basically any industry, many freight brokers have successfully used QuickBooks to run their business and posted about their success online. Many guides are available for users of QuickBooks to set up or tweak their program to work the way they want.
A major downside of using QuickBooks for your freight broker needs is that you will not receive any industry-specific applications such as load management or routing/dispatching. Many software companies provide these tools as add-ons to QuickBooks or allow you to integrate their stand-alone freight broker software with QuickBooks.
