Livestock Transportation Management Software: How to Better Transport Live Cargo

If you're looking for livestock transportation management software, then you likely already know that moving live animals isn’t like moving freight. 

Livestock haulers face a different set of challenges, including tighter delivery windows, strict animal welfare regulations, and unpredictable load changes. Along with that, it’s harder to keep track of loads, especially when you’re handling dozens of loads per truck each day.

Most standard transportation management software tools (TMSs) are built for traditional freight and don’t account for the complex variables of live cargo. But on top of that, they're also often just too complicated to use for both dispatchers and drivers. As a result, most teams stop using these tools entirely and revert to old methods—such as spreadsheets—just to get a load on the road. This often leads to late deliveries, compliance issues, and lost revenue. 

If you want a livestock TMS that actually works for you, find one that’s easy to use and helps you:

• Plan and manage complex loads by head count, pen, or trailer zone
• Track animal status, driver location, and delivery timing in one dashboard
• Capture signatures, load photos, and records directly from the driver’s phone
• Sync dispatch, billing, and pay data without duplicate entry
• Generate advanced reports to view costs, profitability, and other key metrics

In this article, we’ll show you how to transport live cargo more efficiently using our software, Toro TMS. Plus, we’ll explore three other livestock TMS options to help you find the perfect fit for your business.

Curious to see how Toro TMS can streamline your livestock transportation operations? Schedule a demo with us today to learn more. 

1. Toro TMS: Easy-to-use software for livestock haulers

Toro TMS is built to serve the unique needs of bulk haulers—including those transporting live animals across farms, sale barns, feedlots, and processing facilities. Our system offers various tools that help livestock carriers streamline dispatch, reduce paperwork, and keep loads moving without the constant back-and-forth that slows teams down. 

That’s all possible because Toro puts load-level data at the center of the system. Once a load is created at dispatch, all associated details (such as trailer pen breakdowns, rate types, pickup and drop-off locations, and delivery statuses) are automatically accessible across dispatch, accounting, and payroll. 

Plus, the system is genuinely easy to use, even for non-technical users who have no prior experience using software. 

In the following sections, we’ll walk you through how Toro supports livestock transportation operations, helping your team:

• Dispatch multiple loads quickly using job templates designed for repeat livestock runs
• Communicate with drivers and log deliveries digitally, without relying on manual ticket submissions
• Auto-calculate invoices and driver pay using completed load data (by head, mile, or time)
• Gain full visibility into driver locations and live load statuses
• Eliminate repetitive data entry and speed up admin work from end to end

Create new loads more efficiently with pre-made order templates to reduce repeat data entry

Many animal transport jobs follow the same structure (same customer, route, species, and rate model). But most TMS platforms still force dispatchers to build each recurring load from scratch, even when the details are nearly identical. This approach is time-consuming, inefficient, and more prone to errors. 

Plus, when you’re relying on software that makes dispatching more complicated, dispatchers aren’t likely to actually adopt it in the first place. Instead, they’ll start creating new orders outside of your software, meaning you no longer have a centralized system to capture load details, and the info won’t be available for back-office teams who need it for billing and payroll. 

Toro TMS addresses this by making the load creation process as easy as possible with reusable load templates. Dispatchers can select a saved template and build a new load in seconds without having to retype the same info over and over.

Toro’s load templates can include:

• Customer details and contact info
• Species, estimated head count, and rate type (per-head, per-mile, hourly)
• Pickup and drop-off locations
• Trailer type, required cleaning, and pen configuration
• Notes, reference numbers, and delivery times

Once a load is created from a template, all relevant data flows downstream to billing, payroll, and reporting. This cuts down admin work, ensures accuracy, and gives everyone on your team access to the same real-time information. 

Read more: How to choose a dispatch software for trucking your teams will actually use

Assign loads, track drivers, and monitor delivery statuses in one centralized dashboard

When you’re moving live animals, delays or poor scheduling can easily push a load past regulated drive times, putting both your operation and the livestock at risk.

This is especially important in livestock transportation because there are strict regulations around maximum time on the road, required rest periods, and animal welfare during transit. If loads aren’t dispatched and tracked efficiently, you risk non-compliance, fines, or animal health and safety issues. 

Toro TMS consolidates everything on a single dispatch screen, allowing your team to assign loads, monitor in-progress loads, and adjust plans without switching tabs or chasing updates from drivers. 

From the dashboard, dispatchers can:

• Assign loads in seconds: Use drag-and-drop functionality to schedule jobs based on driver availability. No need to change screens to view different schedules or confirm availability manually. 
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• Edit load details in real-time: Update head counts, route changes, or trailer information even after a load is assigned, and Toro automatically syncs the changes across your system.
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• Track driver locations and active loads: See where every driver is and which loads are still in progress using real-time updates from GPS integrations.
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• Monitor delivery timing: Predict delays early and adjust plans or notify customers with updated ETAs.

As Toro’s centralized dashboard is designed to be easy to use, dispatchers (even those who aren’t tech-savvy) can be confident that loads will be picked up and delivered on time. Plus, your data remains accurate, and your back office has everything it needs to operate efficiently. 

Find out more: Dispatch management software: 3 questions to ask to choose the right tool

Sync drivers with dispatchers and back-office teams by allowing them to upload all documentation digitally on the go

Coordinating with drivers and managing paperwork are among the biggest friction points in livestock transportation. Traditionally, you’re stuck waiting for drivers to return with physical BOLs, livestock transfer forms, and health certificates before you can process payroll, generate invoices, or maintain regulatory records.

Toro eliminates the delay by making it easy for drivers to upload all documentation digitally without needing to download an app or remember a login.

Once a load is created and assigned, Toro automatically sends a text message to the driver with all relevant job details. That message also includes a unique link where the driver can:

• View load instructions
• Upload BOLs, scale tickets, livestock transfer permits, and other documents by snapping a photo
• Submit the documents in seconds, directly from their phone

In our experience, drivers prefer to communicate via text message, and this approach ensures drivers actually adopt the software. When they do, you’re able to make all documents available digitally for back-office teams to handle important billing and accounting tasks. 

As soon as documents are uploaded, Toro’s OCR technology scans and extracts key information like load reference numbers, species types, trailer IDs, and delivery times. That data is then linked to the correct load and synced downstream across the system.

Read more: Trucking ticket management software: How to better manage your paper tickets

Save your team up to 70% of the time they spend on back-office tasks

After a delivery is completed, your back-office team still needs to calculate driver pay, generate invoices, determine tax details, and maintain compliance records for animal movement.

For most livestock carriers, these tasks still require manual data entry across spreadsheets, accounting tools, or legacy systems. It’s slow, repetitive, and easy to get wrong.

Toro cuts through all that busywork by automating the entire back-office workflow, which saves your team up to 70% of the time they normally spend on administrative tasks.

With Toro, you can:

• Calculate driver pay instantly: Toro automatically generates driver settlements based on your chosen structure (per head, per mile, hourly, or a combination) along with bonuses, deductions, or fuel reimbursements. Each driver’s profile stores their custom rates and preferences, allowing payroll to be handled in seconds. 
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• Generate invoices in just a few clicks: Once drivers upload BOLs or transfer documents from the field, Toro automatically pulls all relevant load data (such as head count, rate type, mileage, and delivery status) and auto-fills customer invoices. You can invoice individually or in bulk without needing a spreadsheet or accounting tools. For example, if you're billing for a shipment of cattle, Toro lets you choose “Each” as a unit type, so you can invoice accurately by head without manual calculations. 

• Automate IFTA reporting: Toro’s ELD integrations track mileage across state lines automatically. Your team can generate accurate fuel tax reports without manual logging or calculations. 
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• Sync with QuickBooks: Push invoices, settlements, and tax data to QuickBooks Online or Desktop with a single click. Toro automatically maps fields, keeping your accounting clean and audit-ready.
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• Simplify compliance: Maintain digital records of livestock movements, delivery times, and documentation to stay compliant with health, welfare, and traceability rules without any manual filing.

Toro helps you move fast, reduce errors, and keep your operations running smoothly by removing redundant admin work and centralizing your data in one place. 

‍Read more: Trucking payroll software: 5 options for effortless driver pay

Access advanced trucking reports that highlight relevant insights into your business

Toro TMS gives you access to detailed, real-time reports that surface the insights you need to grow your livestock trucking business. 

With all key information in one system, our reporting tools allow you to:

• Analyze profitability by customer, driver, or load type: Easily break down revenue and expenses across your livestock runs. Toro’s profitability reports and advanced analytics now split revenue and costs fairly for team drivers, reflect actual payouts, and exclude deductible expenses for a more realistic view of profit.
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• Segment drivers by trailer type, dispatcher, or region: Grouping drivers by region or trailer setup helps you spot trends, track regional efficiency, and understand how equipment choices impact performance.
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• Evaluate your compensation strategy: Compare how different pay models (per-head, per-mile, hourly) perform based on load type or route length, helping you build a structure that motivates performance without overpaying.
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• Monitor headcount, mileage, and efficiency in one view: Use Toro’s reports to analyze load volume by species, route density, and empty return miles, so you can reduce waste, tighten routes, increase trailer utilization, and make better informed decisions.

Read more: Trucking accounting software: 5 best options to streamline back-office tasks

Ensure your team gets the most from the software with in-person onboarding and training

When you’re dealing with the complexities of livestock transportation, spending extra time trying to adopt new software can be extremely frustrating and costly for your business. Most tools don't offer additional support to help you figure out how the platform works or how to integrate it with your team.

With Toro, you'll never have to worry about a lack of training or support. We provide in-person onboarding and personalized training for each department (including dispatch, drivers, and accounting) on the specific features that matter most to their workflow, so your entire team knows exactly how to use the system from day one.

Our platform is easy to learn, and our customer support team is readily available to address any questions or concerns you may have. We'll answer support requests within 30 minutes between 9 am and 9 pm ET, so you’ll never be left waiting when you need help.

Ready to see how Toro TMS can help your livestock hauling operation run more efficiently? Book a demo today, and we’ll show you how it works. 

3 alternative livestock transportation management software choices

If Toro’s not the best solution for you, there are other options you can consider. Below, we cover three options that can help livestock trucking operations. 

1. Axon Software

Axon Software is a fully integrated TMS used by specialized haulers, including livestock transport operations. The platform provides a suite of tools to manage dispatch, billing, and fleet operations in one centralized location.

Key Axon Software features include:

• Livestock-specific dispatch and load management tools
• Integrated billing, invoicing, and payroll
• Real-time GPS tracking with driver communication
• IFTA fuel tax reporting and accounting modules
• Customizable rate tables and load charge templates

Axon offers custom pricing based on company size and configuration. Quotes are available on request.

2. AMCS Group

AMCS Group offers a livestock-focused planning solution designed to optimize routes, improve traceability, and digitize compliance for animal transporters.

The company's Livestock Planner is ideal for European and international carriers managing cross-border logistics.

Notable features include:

• Dynamic load and route optimization for live animals
• Built-in compliance for animal welfare, vaccinations, and biosecurity regulations
• Real-time fleet and load tracking
• Electronic proof of delivery and transport documents
• Cloud-based system with mobile driver tools

AMCS does not publicly list pricing, as this is an enterprise-level software with custom plans only. 

3. M2X Group

M2X Group offers a modern, cloud-native livestock transportation management system that prioritizes real-time logistics, biosecurity, and load efficiency. The software is designed for mid-to-large livestock haulers seeking to digitize their entire operations.

M2X provides:

• Pen-level load planning and animal allocation
• Mobile driver app with sign-on-glass and load photos
• Load-dependent route optimization with real-time ETAs
• Cleaning validation and digital recordkeeping for compliance
• Centralized dashboard for dispatch and operations teams

The provider does not publicly disclose pricing online. Interested users need to contact sales for more information. 

Toro TMS: The best livestock transportation management software for bulk haulers

If you're transporting live animals, you need a software solution that understands the nuances of livestock management rather than a generic TMS built for standard freight.

Toro TMS is purpose-built for bulk haulers moving live cargo. Our platform helps you:

• Create and dispatch repeat livestock loads in bulk
• Manage drivers and load assignments in an easy-to-use dispatch dashboard
• Send dispatch details and load instructions directly to drivers via text
• Capture BOLs, transfer permits, and scale tickets instantly with mobile uploads and OCR
• Auto-generate invoices and driver pay by head, mile, or hour

Get a custom demo to see why livestock carriers are switching to Toro TMS to streamline their operations.