The best trucking accounting software can be a standalone trucking-specific program or a versatile accounting solution that seamlessly integrates with specialized trucking tools. We evaluated the leading solutions based on price, customer support, ease of use, and whether they have essential accounting features like invoicing and bill management and trucking-specific tools, such as carrier and driver management.
Here are our five best trucker accounting software:
- QuickBooks Online: Best overall trucking accounting software when integrated with RAMA Logistics Software (RLS)
- Tailwind TMS: Best invoicing and billing software with trucking features
- Q7: Best standalone trucking-specific accounting software with payroll features
- Zoho Books: Best mobile accounting app for independent truckers
- Rigbooks: Most affordable and easy-to-use trucking solution for small fleets
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To develop this guide, we carefully examined the features required for the efficient operation of trucking businesses. If necessary and available, we sign up for these platforms and closely study how the features work in real-world scenarios. This enables us to understand the unique strengths and weaknesses of each trucking accounting software we evaluate and provide you with the best answers to any questions you may have, aligning with our Fit Small Business Policy.
Best Trucking Accounting Software: Quick Comparison
Trucking Accounting Software Quiz
Which trucking accounting software is best for you?
QuickBooks Online: Overall Best Trucking Accounting Software When Integrated With RAMA Logistics Software
Pros
- Is a robust accounting software; has more features than other similar software
- Has scalable monthly plans; ideal for trucking companies with expanding fleets
- Offers direct integration with RAMA Logistics Software (RLS) for trucking features
- Allows you to track mileage from your smartphone
- Has a vast network of QuickBooks ProAdvisors nationwide for easy access to professional support
Cons
- Requires separate subscription to trucking management software, such as RLS
- Has no direct phone support in QuickBooks Online Plus and lower plans; RLS also has no phone support
- Requires a steep learning curve, especially with the integration
QuickBooks Online offers four subscription options, all of which come with either a free 30-day trial or 50% off for three months:
- Simple Start: $30 per month for one user
- Essentials: $60 per month for three users
- Plus: $90 per month for five users (our recommendation for truckers)
- Advanced: $200 per month for 25 users
Meanwhile, RLS costs $45 per month for one user or $80 per month for eight users. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial without providing your credit card details. Read our detailed review of RAMA Logistics Software or visit RAMA Logistics Software for more information.
QuickBooks Online has enhanced standard accounting features that can be easily customized to nearly any type of business, making it our overall best small business accounting software. It has no trucking-specific features, but when you add RLS, it becomes a powerful solution for trucking management and accounting.
While QuickBooks Online handles all your accounting processes, RLS helps you accomplish trucking-related tasks. For instance, you can use RLS to manage your loads, dispatch orders, and track delivery status. You can then transfer the load information to QuickBooks to create invoices, track expenses, and generate reports.
Although there are other QuickBooks trucking integrations available, RLS stands out due to its direct integration with QuickBooks. This means the platform can be purchased directly from the QuickBooks App Store, and you can launch it from your QuickBooks account. Other QuickBooks trucking integrations require complicated setups and third-party connectors.
Tailwind TMS: Best Invoicing & Billing Software With Built-in Trucking Features
Pros
- Has comprehensive bill payment and invoicing features
- Integrates with QuickBooks Online and Desktop (depending on subscription)
- Includes customer and carrier self-service portals
- Offers GPS-confirmed shipment and event tracking
- Has a multiple branch or division management capability
Cons
- Is more expensive than similar software
- Isn’t a complete bookkeeping system—unless integrated with QuickBooks
- Lacks integrated payroll
- Has no bank reconciliation features, which can be an issue for truckers who handle a large volume of transactions
- TMS Pro: $135 per user, per month; can handle up to 25 loads
- TMS Enterprise: $195 per user, per month; can manage up to 50 loads
- TMS Unlimited: $265 per user, per month; supports unlimited loads
You can add as many users as needed, but each additional user is billed a full subscription fee.
Most freight brokers will be well served by choosing the Pro plan. The Pro and Enterprise plans have a 30-day free trial available with no credit card required.
While Tailwind TMS isn’t a complete bookkeeping solution, it’s great for invoicing and bill payment, which are two major needs of a trucking company. It has comprehensive accounts payable (A/P) and accounts receivable (A/R) features that let you track bills and payments from different personnel involved in your operations, such as vendors, employees, carriers, and customers. The Invoice List and Bill Posting modules are intuitive and comprehensive, and they help you review and track bills and invoices easily.
Tailwind’s TMS billing and invoicing modules provide greater flexibility than those in other trucking-specific software. For instance, trucking companies have the flexibility to post related bills together with the invoice or post the expenses and bills separately. This allows you to customize your billing workflows based on your specific requirements.
You might consider upgrading to the Enterprise plan to offer customer and carrier self-service portals. Customers can log in to view their account information, shipments, and invoices, whereas carriers can access available loads, shipments you have dispatched with them, and amounts you owe them.
Q7: Best Standalone Trucking-specific Software With Payroll Features
Pros
- Is a full-fledged bookkeeping solution with built-in trucking features
- Is available in a desktop and cloud-based program
- Has a built-in trucking payroll management system
- Offers an extensive list of trucking management features
- Has custom features, such as the mileage interface, which can be added for an additional fee
Cons
- Doesn’t disclose pricing
- Has a desktop version that’s incompatible with Mac
- Is a complex system; not ideal for owners who manage their own books
- Requires an additional fee to use additional features, such as document management
You need to contact Q7 directly for a free demo and a customized price quote.
Q7 by Frontline Software Technology is the only specialized trucking software on this list that has built-in accounting features—making it our best standalone trucking company accounting software. It allows you to manage bookkeeping tasks, such as paying bills, sending invoices, and reconciling bank accounts. It also has a powerful fleet maintenance program that will track your fixed assets and help you schedule routine maintenance, whether it’s based on months or miles driven.
Since Q7 doesn’t require integration with accounting systems, you can manage all aspects of your trucking business—from load management to invoicing and financial reporting—without having to purchase and integrate external accounting software like QuickBooks. However, while it’s an all-inclusive software, we still believe QuickBooks Online with RLS integration is generally better, as QuickBooks has more robust accounting features. Also, it’s easier to use and seek professional support help, if needed, with QuickBooks.
Zoho Books: Best Mobile Accounting App for Independent Truckers
Pros
- Has a feature-packed mobile accounting app
- Allows you to call customer support directly
- Has a free plan for businesses that make $50,000 or less in annual revenue
- Has many accounting features but is more affordable than other software like QuickBooks
Cons
- Charges a fee for each additional user
- Has no trucking-specific features
- Doesn’t integrate with trucking management software
- Free: Free for businesses that make $50,000 or less in annual revenue
- Standard: $20 per organization, per month; up to three users
- Professional: 50 per organization, per month; up to five users
- Premium: $70 per organization, per month; up to 10 users
- Elite: $150 per organization, per month; up to 10 users
- Ultimate: $275 per organization, per month; up to 15 users
There is a 14-day free trial for the paid pans. If needed, you can pay $3 monthly per every additional user. You may also purchase the following add-ons:
- Advanced auto-scans: $10 for 50 scans per month in all plans
- Snail mails: $2 per credit in all plans
Just like QuickBooks Online, Zoho Books isn’t custom-tailored for trucking businesses. However, it has a powerful mobile accounting app that can help independent truckers in many ways. For instance, you can capture receipts, record expenses related to fuel, tolls, maintenance, and other business costs, and then categorize them for reporting and tax purposes.
Additionally, the Zoho Books app, which leads our roundup of the best mobile accounting apps, allows you to create professional invoices on the go and send them to clients or brokers directly from your mobile device. Self-employed truck drivers needing basic tracking of their income and expenses can even save money with Zoho Books’ free plan.
Rigbooks: Most Affordable & Easy-to-Use Trucking Management Solution for Small Fleets
Pros
- Allows you to add unlimited users
- Offers a free trial with all core features
- Is an affordable solution for detailed load tracking
- Allows you to track miles per jurisdiction for easy International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) reporting
Cons
- Is not a complete bookkeeping system
- Doesn’t allow you to send invoices in the lower plans
- Has no mobile app
- Basic Entry: $19 per month; $19 per additional truck
- Leased O/O: $29 per month; 24 per additional truck
- Independent O/O: $49 per month; $29 per additional truck
- Small Fleet: $149 per month for up to five trucks; $29 per additional truck
You can try Rigbooks for free for 30 days.
Rigbooks is ideal for small fleets with one or two trucks. For as low as $19 per month, you can track business expenses, fuel mileage, trips, and orders for a single truck. It’s an affordable option for small trucking companies needing to track cost per mile and understand which of their loads are the most profitable.
As one of our best trucking accounting software, Rigbooks has the simplest user interface (UI) among all the software listed here, making it a great option for trucking owners without an accounting background. If your trucking company doesn’t require accounting features and solely focuses on trucking management, then Rigbooks is a cost-effective solution.
How We Evaluated the Best Trucking Accounting Software
To ensure the accuracy and integrity of our list, we evaluated the best trucker accounting software using an internal rubric scoring system with six categories, each with a calculated weighted score.
15% of Overall Score
We ranked each truck accounting software based on its affordability, considering the number of users included in each plan and the costs to add an extra seat.
30% of Overall Score
Regardless of the industry, specialized accounting software should include general bookkeeping features like A/P, A/R, and bank account reconciliation.
30% of Overall Score
The best trucking accounting software should be able to manage and track dispatches, orders, fuel and mileage, driver settlements, and IFTA reporting.
10% of Overall Score
Most trucking business owners likely don’t have accounting experience, so the best bookkeeping software for truckers should be easy to understand and use.
10% of Overall Score
We checked the availability of different customer support options, including phone support, email, and live chat.
5% of Overall Score
We used average user review ratings from several websites like G2.com and Software Advice.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Trucking accounting software has unique features, such as the ability to dispatch drivers and track load status. Meanwhile, general purpose bookkeeping software lets you perform common accounting tasks, such as invoicing, billing, and expense tracking but they often lack specialized trucking features.
Trucking companies that need to track income and expenses and manage trucking operations in one platform should use trucking accounting software.
If you need specialized tools like load and dispatch management, then consider integrating QuickBooks Online with RAMA Logistics Software. However, Q7 is a great standalone trucking-specific accounting solution while Rigbooks is ideal if you have a small fleet and want an affordable platform.
Yes, you can use free general bookkeeping software like Wave for your trucking business. However, a free solution might not be enough if you have complex trucking management needs. This is where we recommend premium software like Q7 or even an integration between QuickBooks Online and RAMA Logistics Software.
Bottom Line
Overall, there’s no single accounting or trucking management software that can cover all the various needs of truck drivers and fleet managers. To determine the right fit for your company, you have to assess your budget and needs and determine what particular features you require.