Top 5 Load Management Software for Trucking Companies

When choosing a load management software, most options will show you similar features—such as load scheduling, basic driver tracking, and document management—that promise to simplify your trucking operations.

While these features can improve your company’s processes, traditional trucking management software (TMS) usually fall short because: 

• Dispatch teams must re-enter the same data for every load—even recurring ones. 
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• Load info isn’t centralized—cargo details, order schedules, driver availability—forcing your back-office to re-enter what dispatch already logged to create invoices or calculate driver pay. 
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• Drivers face extra hurdles getting dispatch details or uploading documentation—like downloading mobile apps or remembering login information. 

These conventional tools often miss key features trucking companies need. For instance, a generic TMS won’t support commodity-based pay rates or load templates preset with commodity types like gravel or sand. If you’re a long-haul trucking company, you’ll typically need specialized features to optimize loads based on size, weight, or fragility.

In this article, we explore the five best load management software solutions for different types of trucking businesses. 

We’ll start by showing how dry and liquid bulk haulers can use Toro TMS to manage high load volumes, save time on back office tasks, and boost dispatch efficiency.

Toro TMS: The load management software for bulk hauling operations

Toro TMS is built for trucking companies managing high-volume loads daily. Our dispatch-first TMS software for trucking is designed around the load as the central unit of all the different processes in your trucking operations. Once you’ve created a load in Toro, all the data associated with that load is available to everyone else who needs that information—at payroll or billing, for instance—without them having to enter any more data at all.

In our experience, most TMSs force the same load data (such as customer names, addresses, weight, etc.) to be reentered manually into the system at every different process—such as when creating invoices, or filing IFTA declarations. This can mean that the exact same information is copied and pasted as many as six times for every load. 

The only reason this happens is because these tools don’t put the load at the heart of their systems. But when you’re managing as many as 10 loads per truck per day as bulk haulers, this data entry can become literally overwhelming.  

Toro solves the problem of repeat data entry because we allow you to enter load details just once, at dispatch, before they’re available to all other processes downstream without anyone else having to enter that data again. You can:

• Build reusable load templates at dispatch that can be used again and again for recurring orders. 
• Manage dispatch on one screen to track loads, driver availability, and schedules. 
• Send load instructions directly to drivers' phones via text. 
• Track load statuses and driver locations in real-time.
• Process invoices, driver pay, IFTA declarations, and other back office tasks without any further data entry. 

Below, we’ll show you each of these features in more detail and explain how Toro TMS helps automate your load management processes. 

Create loads using premade templates to eliminate repeat data entry

Dispatchers are the first people in your trucking company who create a new load with all the correct information. 

But most TMS tools actually complicate the dispatch process because they’re difficult to use or add unnecessary steps in the process. For instance, many TMSs require you to create a new load from scratch each time, which is especially time-consuming for bulk haulers who have many repeat loads and handle a large number of loads per truck on a daily basis. 

If your dispatcher finds the system too difficult to use, however, they’ll stop using it. That means they won’t enter load data into the TMS, and all the details needed for back-office tasks won’t be available to everyone else in your organization. 

Toro TMS makes dispatch as simple as possible, starting with premade customizable load templates that dispatchers can use to build repeat loads. These templates can be reused for future orders and include all key details you’ll need for bulk hauling, such as: 

• Customer information (contact details, addresses, pay details, etc.) 
• Commodity type and tonnage
• Delivery routes and stop locations
• Total mileage, rates, and appointment times
• Reference or BOL numbers

Once you create a template, it can be saved and reused for recurring or similar orders in the future. Dispatchers can also make changes on the fly, even after a load has already been assigned to a driver. 

Because you’re collecting all important load details right away at dispatch, the system has all the necessary details for downstream tasks. So, your back office teams who are doing accounting, driver settlements, and invoicing already have the information they need because it’s been logged into the system by dispatch. 

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

View driver availability and assign loads on one screen to centralize dispatch

Another limitation of conventional TMSs is that dispatchers have to constantly switch between multiple screens, spreadsheets, and calendars to see which loads are ready to be assigned, what driver availability looks like, and how it'll fit into the company’s schedule. 

That’s why, with Toro TMS, you can centralize your entire dispatch operation on one screen in a drag-and-drop dashboard. This makes it really easy to just quickly send loads to drivers in a few clicks, based on their availability. 

In the dashboard, you can: 

• Assign loads to drivers: Drag and drop loads onto a live driver calendar based on availability to assign them in seconds. That means no more manual scheduling, and it's easier to track where drivers are at a given time.
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• Edit key load details in real-time: Sometimes you’ll need to change order info, such as the load’s tonnage, after the load has already been assigned. Toro automatically updates the changes throughout the system, so accurate, up-to-date information is available to all your teams.
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• Track loads and stay up to date on driver statuses: Monitor live load progress and driver locations via ELD integrations. This allows you to predict potential delays and send updated delivery ETAs to customers.

Our dashboard is both intuitive and easy to use, so dispatchers actually use it as their preferred method for sending load info to drivers—helping you improve your load dispatch operations.  

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

Communicate load instructions to drivers via text message & allow them to upload documents on the go

Once you’ve created loads at dispatch, you typically need to send all relevant details to drivers, including customer names, addresses, pickup or drop-off times, and other relevant information. This usually involves manually copying and pasting these details into a text message and sending it to drivers. 

Many TMSs attempt to modernize this process by providing a mobile app for drivers to download, which handles all communication and document uploads. However, these apps tend to be difficult to use, and it’s simply not the preferred way for drivers to receive load instructions.  

We take a different approach. In Toro TMS, you can automatically send load instructions via text message to drivers. Once loads are built in the system, dispatchers can click “Send dispatch to driver,” and Toro populates a text with all relevant load details. 

Every message also includes a unique URL for drivers to upload documents like BOLs or tickets without apps or logins. Drivers can take a photo of the document, upload it, and click submit. Toro will automatically extract key details and link the digital document to the corresponding order. 

This completely eliminates manual document submissions from drivers and centralizes all your load information in one place. For instance, if one of your accountants needs to find an old BOL to confirm tonnage for a past invoice, they can search the system and find the paperwork rather than needing to track down the physical documentation.

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

Stay up-to-date on load statuses with real-time tracking

When you’re managing a high volume of loads every day, scheduling becomes a challenge because dispatchers lack real-time visibility into load statuses and driver ETAs. 

With Toro, you can set up real-time tracking to monitor load and driver statuses. That means you’ll have a dashboard with complete visibility into where your trucks are, when they should arrive, and any potential delays they might face—no need to ask drivers their estimated time of arrival. 

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Toro syncs directly with your ELDs and third-party GPS tech like Geotab, so you know exactly where drivers are and what’s happening with their loads. 

You can also generate shareable tracking links for customers, so they won't need to call for regular ETA updates. This real-time visibility cuts dispatcher follow-ups, keeps customers in the know, and ensures your loads are delivered on time and managed properly. 

Toro TMS eliminates repetitive load data entry and streamlines dispatching, so you can manage a high volume of daily loads with ease. Book a demo to see how it can work for you. 

4 alternative load management software solutions

While we believe Toro TMS is the best load management software for trucking companies handling a high volume of daily loads, it’s not necessarily the ideal fit for every business. For instance, enterprise fleets or much smaller trucking companies with under five trucks won’t get the most from our system—particularly if they’re managing very few loads a day. 

With that in mind, here are four alternatives worth considering below. 

1. Alvys: AI-powered load management automation

Alvys is an all-in-one TMS for small to mid-sized carriers and brokers who need to streamline load management and dispatching. The software offers over 120 integrations and custom AI workflows that help smaller teams handle more loads. 

Notable Alvys features:

• Automatic load creation and an integrated dispatch planner for driver and load management 
• A driver mobile app with built-in driver chat for faster communication
• Real-time tracking with customer URLs
• Native EDI integration available for driver tracking
• 120+ third-party integrations for accounting, payments, ELDs, etc. 
• Custom reporting and analytics

Alvys offers custom monthly or annual subscription plans, but they don't publicly disclose their rates. You’ll need to fill out a form to receive a custom quote. 

2. Axon Software: Load management features for freight haulers & specialized fleets

Axon Software is a real-time trucking management software with dispatch, load, and fleet management features for carriers of all sizes, including specialized fleets. 

It aims to reduce driver downtime by offering a load board with an intuitive interface to manage new orders, equipment, and drivers in one place.

Key Axon Software features include:

• Color-coded order management for dispatching new loads
• Integrated dispatch system that connects drivers and dispatchers
• Custom mobile app for drivers to receive load details and upload documents
• Real-time tracking to stay up-to-date on load and driver statuses
• Custom reporting and accounting integrations

Axon Software does not publicly disclose pricing, meaning you’ll need to contact their sales team for a custom quote. 

3. LoadMaster by McLeod Software: Enterprise load management capabilities

McLeod Software provides LoadMaster, a load management platform for enterprise-level carriers. It's built for brokers, 3PLs, carriers, and shippers and offers everything a trucking business needs to manage their loads. That includes 30+ functional modules and an additional 100+ integrations. 

Notable McLeod Software features include:

• Load planning capabilities and a dispatch dashboard to manage operations
• Driver load, route, and pay preferences to improve load scheduling
• EDI integration to track loads and driver mileage

Since McLeod Software is built for enterprise fleets, the company only offers custom pricing. 

4. FarEye: Cargo visualization features for route planning optimization

FarEye is a cloud-based delivery and supply chain management platform for trucking companies and 3PLs looking to optimize last-mile load logistics. It’s built for mid-sized to large fleets needing real-time cargo visibility and efficient route planning tools. 

The platform's AI-powered visualization tools allow users to plan loads in 3D, calculate precise load arrangements, and optimize routes to reduce fuel costs.

Key features include:

• Real-time cargo location tracking with integrated GPS
• Dynamic load management and routing optimization capabilities
• Load status monitoring dashboard
• Seamless integration with various carrier networks
• Advanced reporting to track trucking-specific metrics (such as profitability by load, cost per driver, etc.) 

Because FarEye caters to larger trucking fleets, the company only offers custom pricing. 

Automate your dispatch and handle a high volume of truckloads with more efficiency

We’ve explored five load management software options and shown some of the key features that you need as a trucking company to keep your operations running efficiently.

Toro TMS provides everything bulk haulers need, including:

• Reusable templates to streamline load creation for recurring orders.
• Intuitive design for one of the most easy to use trucking tools on the market.
• A simple dispatch interface to manage loads, schedule drivers, and view trucking availability.
• Text-based dispatch instructions with document uploads to simplify driver communication.
• On-site onboarding to get your team up to speed and comfortable with the software. 
• Fast customer support that responds to inquiries within 30 minutes from 9 am to 9 pm.

Ready to ditch your current load management system and see how Toro can improve your trucking business? Book a demo today.