AscendTMS vs TruckMate

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Our analysts compared AscendTMS vs TruckMate based on data from our 400+ point analysis of TMS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

AscendTMS Software Tool
TruckMate Software Tool

Product Basics

AscendTMS is cloud transport management software for businesses of all sizes. It helps shippers, carriers, and brokers manage loads, routes and dispatching. The user-friendly interface features GPS tracking from any device. It simplifies logistics processes by providing shipment creation and carrier selection. It lets managers track, dispatch and process payments.

The platform doesn't require upfront, license or support fees. Users value the solution because it's easy to use and affordable. It offers free training and support. Reviewers also like the free tracking and integration with popular accounting tools.

The free plan suits teams under three users and has functions like shipment management, carrier selection and tracking. For larger teams, the premium plan costs $99 per user per month. It also offers a 30-day free trial of the premium plan.

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TruckMate is a comprehensive transportation management software (TMS) designed to streamline and optimize various logistics and transportation tasks. It is particularly well-suited for trucking companies, freight brokers, and logistics service providers, offering robust solutions for dispatch, billing, driver settlements, and fleet management. The software excels in industries such as freight transportation, logistics, and supply chain management, where efficiency and accuracy are paramount.

One of the standout benefits of TruckMate is its ability to integrate seamlessly with other systems, enhancing operational efficiency and data accuracy. Its powerful features include real-time tracking, automated billing, and advanced reporting capabilities, which provide users with actionable insights and improved decision-making. Users often highlight its user-friendly interface and customizable modules, which cater to specific business needs.

Compared to similar products, TruckMate is praised for its scalability and comprehensive feature set, making it a preferred choice for businesses looking to enhance their transportation operations. Pricing details are typically customized based on individual business requirements, so it is recommended to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote.

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Product Insights

  • Access for Free: Sign up to try the various features and tools without credit cards, contracts or deals. AscendTMS has a special pricing design. It offers a free plan, mainly for smaller teams. The paid plan is also reasonably priced per user, making it a competitive option.
  • Improve Decision-Making: Use GPS tracking and data analysis to get useful insights that support carrier, pricing and route planning decisions. These insights can improve processes and make them more efficient.
  • Minimize Errors: Give employees custom access to information based on their roles. This helps simplify tasks and ensures everyone knows what they need to do. Managing user roles can reduce the chances of errors and make operations more efficient.
  • Report Taxes: File IFTA taxes with the click of a button, and the app does all the heavy lifting. AscendTMS records where businesses bought fuel, their routes, miles through each state and the tax rates. The manual adjustment mode lets managers import fuel card data. The system then calculates the exact IFTA tax for each state.
  • Save Time: Boost ROI by automating load postings, driver tasks and payroll calculation. Managers can save planning and analysis time with fewer tasks to handle.
  • Gain Visibility: Manage and track freight using one platform. It lets companies create loads and pick carriers. Real-time visibility into the supply chain improves efficiency.
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  • Enhanced Efficiency: Streamlines operations by automating routine tasks, reducing manual entry and minimizing errors.
  • Improved Visibility: Provides real-time tracking of shipments, allowing for better monitoring and proactive issue resolution.
  • Cost Savings: Optimizes route planning and load consolidation, leading to reduced fuel consumption and lower operational costs.
  • Scalability: Adapts to the growing needs of your business, supporting increased volumes without compromising performance.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensures adherence to industry regulations and standards, reducing the risk of fines and legal issues.
  • Customer Satisfaction: Enhances communication with clients through timely updates and accurate delivery estimates, improving overall service quality.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Offers comprehensive reporting and analytics, enabling informed decision-making based on real-time data.
  • Resource Optimization: Maximizes the utilization of assets such as trucks and drivers, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
  • Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with other business systems like ERP and CRM, providing a unified view of operations.
  • Risk Management: Identifies potential risks and provides tools to mitigate them, enhancing the overall safety and reliability of your operations.
  • Scalable Architecture: Supports business growth by easily accommodating additional users, vehicles, and routes without significant changes.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Facilitates better communication and coordination among team members, leading to more cohesive operations.
  • Time Savings: Reduces the time spent on administrative tasks, allowing staff to focus on more strategic activities.
  • Customizable Workflows: Allows for the tailoring of processes to fit specific business needs, enhancing operational flexibility.
  • Environmental Impact: Promotes eco-friendly practices by optimizing routes and reducing fuel consumption, contributing to sustainability goals.
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  • Load Management: Use the Load Financials tool to keep track of income, budget and expenses. Easily add financial information to a load and monitor profits or losses. Businesses can also export financial data to an accounting system, which makes it easier to track finances.
  • Document Management: View and scan PoD documents that drivers send. Manage important company documents like driver paperwork, credit applications, carrier packets and contracts. Attaching them to carriers, customers, and loads is quick and easy.
  • Truckload Rate Index: Get a free truckload rate index with AscendAccuRate. Access line-haul rates for any lane (low, medium, high and average RPMs) using pickup and drop-off locations. This tool compiles the averages of hundreds of thousands of actual loads. Stay on top of the changing market with real-time rates.
  • Asset and Fleet Management: Give asset management tools to carriers, brokers and shippers. Manage power units, trailers, containers and drivers. Transfer assets or third-party carriers to any load from one screen. Text messages help track drivers.
  • Driver Payroll and Settlement: Choose data ranges for each driver and select different payment types, such as per pallet, per case, hourly, per mile or on a per hundred pounds basis. The system also considers costs like per diems, stop fees and fuel passes.
  • Claims Management: Let drivers take pictures of the cargo at pickup and delivery locations. This feature protects firms from non-legitimate claims. These pictures, sent via text message, are automatically linked to the correct load. They're date and time-stamped and help reduce the amount of a valid claim. This creates unmistakable proof to support companies in case a claim arises.
  • Ascend Dashboard: Access key information about the business in a simple-to-read format. Access modules like Financial Quick Look, Load Volumes, and National Rate and Fuel Trends.
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  • Comprehensive Dispatch Management: Efficiently manage and track dispatch operations with real-time updates and automated scheduling.
  • Integrated Accounting: Seamlessly handle financial transactions, invoicing, and payroll within the same platform.
  • Advanced Reporting Tools: Generate detailed reports on various metrics such as fuel usage, driver performance, and route efficiency.
  • Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Maintain and enhance customer relationships with built-in CRM functionalities.
  • Electronic Data Interchange (EDI): Facilitate smooth data exchange with partners and clients through standardized electronic formats.
  • Fleet Maintenance Management: Schedule and track maintenance activities to ensure vehicle reliability and compliance.
  • Load Planning and Optimization: Optimize load assignments and routes to maximize efficiency and reduce operational costs.
  • Driver Management: Monitor driver activities, certifications, and performance metrics to ensure compliance and safety.
  • Document Management: Store and retrieve important documents such as bills of lading, contracts, and compliance records digitally.
  • Mobile Access: Access critical TMS functionalities on-the-go through a mobile-friendly interface.
  • Real-Time GPS Tracking: Monitor the location and status of your fleet in real-time with integrated GPS tracking.
  • Customizable Dashboards: Tailor dashboards to display the most relevant information for different roles within your organization.
  • Automated Alerts and Notifications: Set up automated alerts for critical events such as delivery delays, maintenance due dates, and compliance issues.
  • Third-Party Integrations: Integrate with other essential business systems such as ERP, CRM, and accounting software for a unified workflow.
  • Compliance Management: Ensure adherence to industry regulations and standards with built-in compliance tracking and reporting tools.
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Product Ranking

#51

among all
TMS Software

#69

among all
TMS Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Reduce Manual Work: A TMS cuts out manual work and makes processes simpler, saving time.
Save Money: The solution provides smarter routes, combines loads and arranges better transport rates. This leads to major cost savings.
Track Shipments: See shipment routes and take care of issues as they happen.
Update Customers: A TMS keeps firms in the loop about delivery so they can give customers timely updates.
Increase Capacity: TMS solutions can handle more volume and grow with business needs.
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Easy to Use: Many users find the interface straightforward and easy to navigate, which can reduce the time it takes to get accustomed to the system.
Feature Rich: TruckMate offers a comprehensive suite of tools, including built-in accounting features, that help manage various aspects of a trucking business, such as expenses and maintenance.
Customizable Views: Users can tailor how they view and share data, allowing for better communication and collaboration within their teams. This can be particularly helpful for dispatching and tracking shipments.
Scalable Solution: TruckMate is designed to support the growth of warehouse and fulfillment services, making it suitable for businesses looking to expand their operations and customer base.
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Expensive: Starting and maintaining a TMS can cost a lot due to licensing and subscription fees.
Difficult Setup: Teaching employees a new system can take a while. Adding a TMS to existing software can be tough.
Hard to Use: TMS platforms can be hard to use thanks to numerous features that aren’t all essential.
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Outdated Interface: Some users have reported that the software's interface feels clunky and dated, which can hinder user experience.
Steep Learning Curve: TruckMate's extensive functionality can be challenging for new users to learn, requiring significant time and training to utilize effectively.
Limited Truckload Suitability: While TruckMate excels in Less Than Truckload (LTL) operations, businesses focused on truckload shipments might require adaptations or workarounds to effectively manage their operations.
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AscendTMS is a user-friendly digital tool. It helps all types of companies manage their transport needs. It’s especially useful for professionals who work in shipping, load carrying and routing. Supply chain activities can be seen live, which helps improve freight flow.The solution costs nothing for small teams and has a fair price for larger teams. It doesn't involve any extra fees or license costs.

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Is TruckMate truly a "truck's best friend" in the world of transportation management systems? Recent user reviews suggest a somewhat complicated relationship. While TruckMate is consistently praised for its comprehensive suite of tools, particularly its impact on streamlining dispatch, accounting, and document management, a recurring theme in user feedback highlights a steep learning curve as a significant drawback. Users often describe the interface as clunky and outdated, drawing unfavorable comparisons to more modern TMS solutions like Project44, which boasts a more intuitive user experience. This learning curve is particularly impactful for larger businesses with complex workflows, where onboarding new employees onto the system can be time-consuming. However, once mastered, TruckMate's robust functionality shines through. Users rave about its ability to eliminate double data entry, a common pain point in logistics, leading to significant time savings and reduced errors. The platform's customizability is another major plus, allowing businesses to tailor data views and communication workflows to their specific needs. This level of granularity is particularly valuable for companies operating in niche sectors with unique operational requirements. Ultimately, TruckMate emerges as a powerful, albeit somewhat cumbersome, tool best suited for established businesses willing to invest the time and resources needed to fully unlock its potential. Smaller companies or those prioritizing ease of use might find more user-friendly alternatives a better fit.

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