Axis TMS is a cloud-based trucking management solution that helps trucking companies streamline their operations and pay drivers online. It has a centralized platform that can handle a wide range of transportation and trucking management processes, including fleet dispatching, IFTA reporting, customer invoicing, and truck diagnostics monitoring. Monthly fees start at $100 for up to three trucks, with discounted pricing available for 36-month agreements.
What We Recommend Axis TMS For
- Fleet operations: It is designed for dispatch and to track multiple trucks and jobs. It has safety and fleet compliance tools that not only store your driver qualification and truck maintenance records but come with task alerts for tracking driver requests, vehicle breakdowns, medical and insurance expiration dates, and more.
- Trucking companies looking to upgrade from manual dispatch: Axis automates processes and removes most of the paper forms that trucking businesses usually use. It lets you add and track all the information you need for dispatching a haul and invoicing a customer. It even supports e-signatures, allowing your clients to electronically sign off on delivery receipts, invoices, and bill of lading forms.
- Carriers with vehicles operating in different states: Its IFTA add-on simplifies fuel tax reporting across states as it collects all the information needed for filings, such as miles driven in each state and the amount of fuel used.
- Established trucking companies with clear TMS requirements: Given its full-featured platform and real-time monitoring tools, Axis TMS helps manage all facets of trucking operations with ease. Plus, if you are willing to take a chance on a three-year contract, the software offers a lot of value for money with its discounted prices, which include monthly and lump sum payment options.
When Axis Won’t Be a Good Fit
- Independent drivers needing only payroll tools: The platform offers more tools than the average single owner-operator will need. If you only need to process payroll, QuickBooks Payroll could be a suitable option. It can help you pay your drivers, create invoices, and track expenses. It is most helpful if you are using it for your accounting needs already. Keep in mind, though, that there won’t be any special features for managing fleets or calculating booking loads. Read our QuickBooks Payroll review for more details.
- Small trucking businesses with limited budgets: Axis TMS may have all the tools that trucking businesses need, but you have to pay top dollar to use its system. It also charges extra for IFTA reporting and compliance services. For more budget-friendly options, check out our guide to the best payroll software for trucking companies.
- Businesses that have limited IT resources: Some companies prefer simpler, user-friendly software, especially if they have limited IT resources or if their staff is not highly tech-savvy. Axis TMS, being a comprehensive solution, may have a steeper learning curve for those seeking a straightforward payroll system. For a more straightforward payroll solution, Gusto has solid pay processing tools as well as HR solutions. For more information, read our Gusto review.
Looking for something different? Read our guide to the best payroll services for small businesses to find a provider that’s right for you.
Top Axis TMS Alternatives Compared
Best for | Paid Plans Start at | Process Payroll Taxes | Fleet Tracking | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fleet operations | $99 | ✕ | ✓ | |
Small trucking businesses needing a simpler, more straightforward option for payroll and HR | $40 plus $6 per employee | ✓ | ✕ | |
Owner-operators using QuickBooks for accounting and wanting to add payroll | $45 plus $6 per employee | ✓ | ✕ | |
Businesses with limited budget | $29.95/month/3-7 trucks | ✕ | ✓ | |
Need help deciding? If you’re stuck between a few providers, use our guide to help you choose the best payroll solution for your company.
Pricing
Axis TMS has six pricing levels, which depend on the number of trucks you have. All features are available in any plan but the more trucks you have, the lesser the price per truck is. The platform does not have a lock-in contract for their plans, so users can cancel any time they want. They have no free trial, but you can schedule a demo with them.
Below is an overview of each plan:
- 1-3 Trucks: $99/month
- 4-10 Trucks: $299/month
- 11-30 Trucks: $599/month
- 31-50 Trucks: $999/month
- 51-75 Trucks: $1,399/month
- 76-110 Trucks: $1,999/month
All these plans have dispatch and order management, safety and fleet compliance, driver mobile app, real time monitoring, driver payroll, and more. Take note that Axis TMS’s pricing is not readily available on their website. The pricing above was based on the pricing plan their team gave us after a call.
Axis TMS Features
Axis TMS not only automates essential processes for your trucking business but also simplifies truck dispatches, driver payroll, customer invoicing, driver management, and truck maintenance. Here are some of its features to help you determine whether it fits your business’ requirements.
Payroll
Payroll is designed for drivers but can accommodate staff workers as well. You have the option to designate pay by mile, hour, load, and gross percentage. You can set up deductions (such as for benefits), although the system automatically captures on-road deductions from fuel cards. Aside from designating vacation and holiday payments, you can assign different pay rates for different jobs—driving vs breakdown, for example. It even lets you run driver payroll on a weekly, biweekly, and monthly basis.
While Axis TMS sends pay stubs to employees, it does not handle direct deposit or check creation. It will prep and send the year-end tax reports but does not process payroll taxes. However, if you use QuickBooks, then Axis TMS can integrate with its payroll or accounting software to handle these tasks and track your spending.
Dispatch & Order Management
With Axis TMS, you can set up shipments and dispatch schedules, including multiple shipments on a contract or split shipments with cross-docking. You can set up a dedicated lane and let the system create orders for you from the queue. The software also enables you to view truck availability and send dispatch notifications automatically through text.
Axis TMS provides real-time visibility into a shipment’s status, estimated time of arrival, and any delays. You can also configure the software to send customers notifications about delays. In addition, drivers can use the Axis TMS mobile app to send documents, such as delivery receipts and proof of delivery photos. You can then approve or decline these documents, email them to the customer, or attach them to an invoice.
IFTA Management
If you manage interstate shipments, it’s vital that you keep accurate information on fuel consumption by location for IFTA reporting. Axis runs reports by truck or fleet and includes gas or diesel pumped by state and mileage by state. You’ll need to connect your fuel card and telematics provider to the system, but it only takes a click. Axis supports most fuel cards and devices, but you can contact its sales team to ensure you are covered before purchasing the card/device.
Other ways Axis helps you stay compliant is by monitoring and maintaining records on affirmative action, driver safety, driver qualification (as required by the Department of Transportation), employee checks, and truck maintenance. Its Document Resource Center lets you store these, along with insurance documents, company policies, and government forms.
Truck Management
Axis TMS offers truck management tools that include GPS locations, odometer and speedometer readings, and a real-time map view. The system similarly monitors trailers, including dropped and hooked status. You can chat with the driver through the mobile app as well.
In addition to truck monitoring, the maintenance module allows you to create schedules for regular maintenance and repairs based on date or mileage. You can record costs, upload documents, and run reports. This helps you keep compliant with regulations as well as ensure your fleet is running at top efficiency.
Mobile App
The Axis TMS Driver app lets drivers respond to carrier dispatch. While on duty, the app sends location updates to the company. Users can see order offers, check in and out of stops, scan and load documents and photos (and fax them if needed), update a status, make cash advance requests, or send out breakdown alerts, maintenance requests, and more.
The user interface is bright and clean, and it’s relatively easy to use. There is an online knowledge base with illustrated articles and some training videos, but we found it to be a bit thin. However, the search feature pulls up relevant articles, so you can usually find the answer to your question. Additionally, some of the articles only tell you what a feature does, not how to use it.
Freight Brokering
Axis TMS’s freight brokering module streamlines the process of tracking and assigning shipments with multiple carriers. The dashboard provides a quick overview of active loads, loads awaiting bids, and loads with new bids. You can scroll down the spreadsheet-like form to view the details of each load, including mileage and bids. It automatically sends out confirmations after you award a contract.
It can also match orders to carrier trucks that are available, making it easy to know where to send an offer. You can also view carrier trucks to see their status on the map in case you want to personally invite one to take on a job. The module lets you manage costs, invoices, documents, and more.
Accounting Receivable and Billing
Axis TMS’s billing module streamlines the process of approving driver documents and generating invoices. Once a job is complete, you can quickly and easily approve driver documents and generate invoices. The system automatically sorts paperwork and sends alerts if anything is missing. You can also set custom charges or recurring rates for jobs. Invoices can be sent individually or in batches, and the system tracks payment timelines.
Axis TMS integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks accounting software. This integration allows you to automatically synchronize QuickBooks with invoices previously sent to customers.
Axis TMS Ease of Use
- User-friendly interface
- 24/7 Customer support
- Setup assistance
- Knowledge base
- Training videos
When you first get the software, it will lead you through the setup of your company settings. Be sure to have all your information handy, such as insurance certificates, direct deposit information, employee or driver data, and decisions on how you want to track or pay drivers. You’ll need to have your drivers download the mobile app and register as well.
What Users Think About Axis TMS
What Users Like | What Users Don’t Like |
---|---|
Ease of use | Has some performance issues |
Provides a comprehensive suite of tools for running a trucking business | Excessive windows to open when navigating through the software's solutions |
Excellent support | Complaints from drivers about the mobile app not showing information |
There are very few up-to-date Axis TMS reviews online, as of this writing. Those who left feedback on third-party review sites (such as Capterra) appreciate its ease of use, good customer support, and the training tools provided to new users. However, some clients complained that too many windows needed to be open when navigating among steps in a task. A few others noted that its system glitches from time to time.
At the time of publication, Axis TMS earned 4.5 out of 5 on Capterra based on nearly 20 reviews.
Axis TMS Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does Axis TMS offer a free trial?
Yes, Axis TMS offers a seven-day free trial. To start a free trial, you can visit the Axis TMS website and fill out a form. You will need to provide your name, email address, phone number, and company information. Once you have submitted the form, you will receive an email with instructions on how to start your free trial.
What kind of support does Axis TMS offer?
Axis offers chat support and 24/7 live rep support. Aside from this, they also have a knowledge base with articles and tutorials on how to use the software. In addition to these general support options, Axis TMS also offers premium support packages to its customers. These packages include features such as priority support, 24/7 support, and on-site support.
Bottom Line
Axis TMS is a powerful and easy-to-use trucking management software solution that can help you streamline your operations and take away the headaches of managing drivers, trucks, trailers, and shipments. It is especially ideal for businesses with multiple trucks or those that work with carriers. While Axis TMS can get pricey as you add more vehicles to your fleet, it is worth the investment as it provides a comprehensive suite of tools to handle all aspects of trucking operations. To learn more about Axis TMS and its features, sign up for a free seven-day trial.