The 6 Best Trucking Payroll Software Vendors in 2024
The best trucking payroll software, tested by in-house HR tech experts at SSR. Find pricing info, feature breakdowns, advice on product demos and more below.
Top Trucking Payroll Software
Running payroll in the trucking industry can be different than in most other fields. Since drivers can sometimes be compensated by the mile or load instead of getting a weekly or monthly paycheck, having the right payroll software can be key to saving time and headaches for HR.
While some of these solutions are geared specifically toward trucking companies, others are general payroll providers whose solutions adapt to the needs of any trucking business. Some are general bookkeeping tools, while others are full-on trucking management systems.
If you’re looking for a software solution that can run driver payroll, we’re confident that you’ll find at least a couple of these options to your liking. These are the best trucking payroll software vendors as of 2021.
To identify the few companies that would make sense to recommend as trucking payroll software vendors, we talked to business owners and HR professionals at trucking companies of various sizes, mainly in the US. We leveraged our years of experience in the payroll space, engaging in conversations with each product team and some of their trucking clients.
Our final selection was guided mainly by vendors’ performance across three critical criteria: trucking-friendly payroll features, ease of use, and customer support.
- Trucking-Friendly Payroll Features: Naturally, we placed significant emphasis on payroll software that caters to the unique needs of trucking companies. The chosen solutions may provide specialized functionalities such as driver pay calculations, per diem tracking, compliance with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, and seamless integration with fleet management systems.
- Ease of Use: User-friendliness is paramount for efficient payroll management within the fast-paced trucking industry. We focused on software solutions that prioritize intuitive interfaces and straightforward workflows.
- Customer Support: We prioritized the payroll software vendors who are well known for their reliable assistance. The chosen solutions are very customer-centric, striving for uninterrupted payroll operations and timely issue resolution.
Our selection process also prioritized tools boasting a contemporary user experience (UX) and streamlined workflows that effortlessly guide both payroll managers and trucking business owners. To gain deeper insights into our methodology, delve into our comprehensive criteria for evaluating HR tech vendors.
Related HR Software Categories
Gusto
ADP
QuickBooks
Truckbase
Axon Software
Axis TMS
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Gusto
Gusto's powerful payroll software makes it easy to pay contractors, including contract drivers, whether they operate within the U.S. or globally. While it can accommodate businesses of any size, it is particularly well-suited for small to medium-sized companies.
PROS
- Gusto supports payments for domestic and international contractors.
- Supports online signatures, automatic deductions, and automated tax filing.
- Flexible payroll schedules and unlimited pay runs.
- Unlimited contractor payments in the U.S.
- Responsive customer support.
- Transparent pricing. No long-term contract is required.
- Free account setup.
- The dashboard feature keeps tabs on compliance tasks
- The hiring and onboarding sequence is nicely streamlined between HR and the new hire
- Post-offer, pre-start tasks are made easy with integrations like CorpNet (state tax set up) Checkr (background checks)
- Easy payroll for U.S.-based W-2 folks, domestic, and international contractors
- Person-to-person phone support, email, and other customer service resources
- The business model is responsive to customer needs
CONS
- While it’s one of the best payroll tools around, it’s not built specifically for the trucking industry and might lack features for this market.
- No built-in accounting tool for earnings and expenses monitoring.
- The 'Simple' tier plan lacks in-built time tracking and online signature features, necessitating third-party integrations.
- Premium plan or Plus plan with add-ons offer features like federal/state compliance alerts and broker/health insurance plan integration, not available with the Simple plan.
- No provision for a free trial.
- Gusto can support payments for international contractors, but not employees
- No native accounting feature to keep earning and spending under the same roof
- Analytics dashboard is simplistic
Gusto offers unlimited contractor payments in the U.S., ensuring hassle-free processing. With features like online signatures, automated tax filing, and flexible payroll options, it is a convenient and efficient solution for managing trucking payroll.
The platform's automatic deductions streamline benefits administration, while person-to-person support and licensed benefits advisors ensure excellent customer service.
Gusto's transparent pricing, responsive business model, and free account setup make it an attractive choice for small to medium size trucking businesses.
Note that the platform lacks a native accounting feature for tracking earnings and spending, and advanced features, like time tracking and online signatures, are only available through third-party integrations.
Additionally, the analytics dashboard is simplistic, and federal/state compliance alerts and broker/health insurance integration are only included with the Premium plan, or as add-ons with lower-tier plans.
This is a good tool for trucking businesses seeking efficient payroll management.
American Canning, Matchless Builds, Citizen Pilates, Pain Clinic, Distant Moon.
- Simple Plan: $40 per month plus $6 per person.
- Plus Plan (Limited Time Sale): Starting at $60 monthly plus $9 per person.
- Premium Plan: Customized plan options available by contacting sales.
- Contractor Only Plan: $6 per person per month, designed for businesses with contractor drivers and no W-2 employees.
Best For
Gusto offers robust payroll software for contractor drivers within the U.S., and the ideal business size is small to medium.
I use Gusto daily for various HR and payroll-specific tasks. When an applicant has made it through the interviewing and screening process, I send an offer letter using Gusto. I also send a background check through Gusto's provider, Checkr.
After the applicant accepts the offer and completes the background check, Gusto walks me through the hiring and onboarding process for the new employee. I enter worksite-specific information such as the new employee's supervisor, which department they will be working in, assign risk class codes for worker's compensation, and assign any company-paid time off/sick time policies to their file so that these will accrue during each payroll.
The applicant is then invited to enter their personal information so that we can complete their I-9 and sign them up for direct deposit, wage withholding with the W-4 form, etc.
Gusto has a user-friendly and intuitive interface for basic payroll and onboarding functions. Their app is easy for our employees to understand and navigate. They integrate with several other third-party apps, such as Checkr for background checks and Guideline for 401k plans.
My company purchased Gusto because it was recommended to us by our CPA as a great payroll provider for small businesses. We needed to find a way to automate as much of the payroll process as possible. We looked for software that would file new hire reports for us, automate the onboarding experience, and pay our employees accurately and on time. We also needed something easy to use and that had the option to integrate with other frequently used apps. I have used Gusto for over two years.
I have experienced several "bugs" when we have unique issues with employees, such as messages indicating an overdue payroll from a year previous after entering an employee's promotion. Their customer service team is available during business hours for calls, but I have been given inadequate solutions several times when speaking with one of these representatives. Their reporting function is very limited and doesn't allow for complex custom reports.
Gusto is an affordable solution for small businesses that don't require complex reporting. If you have a company with 50 employees or less, it may be a great solution. I have used other payroll and HRIS systems, such as ADP, Paychex, and Paylocity, which have more advanced capabilities, and I would recommend one of those for mid- to large-sized companies. The biggest difference between Gusto and these other systems is the ability to create custom reports and formulate data analytics as a tool for talent acquisition planning.
If you're in the market for a tool like this, consider the size of your business and what you will be using the tool for. If you're operating a small business and just want the basics covered, a platform like Gusto may be affordable and practical. If you want the ability to create data analytics and grow your talent, you'll need a system with advanced custom reporting capabilities. Government-required reports such as OSHA 300 and annual EEOC reporting will require data each year, so you'll want to have a tool to handle these needs without manual number crunching.
Gusto meets virtually with customers on a quarterly basis to review their accounts and ensure customers are aware of all the capabilities they have access to. They accept feedback and send ticket requests to their support team for consideration when updates are requested. Since I started using Gusto, they've expanded by giving companies the ability to address employee performance, send out monthly anonymous employee surveys, and upgraded their payroll entry process so that data can be imported from other apps.
Small to mid-sized businesses without complex reporting needs will find Gusto very helpful.
Large businesses (100 employees or more) or those that want to create complex reports and utilize data analytics should look for more robust tools.
ADP
An affordable payroll solution from one of the top names in this type of software, used by thousands of organizations.
PROS
- Native, all-in-one technology suite for recruitment, payroll, and compliance.
- 17 RPO service centers in 14 countries and provide services in 42 different languages.
- Dedicated team of AIRS-certified recruiting professionals.
CONS
- Technology options outside ADP’s dedicated HR tools are limited.
As what is probably the best-known company in the payroll services space, it’s no surprise that ADP has an offering that could adapt to the trucking industry. Although not made specifically for trucking companies, ADP Run is their simple, fast, and affordable payroll solution for SMBs. It is used by nearly 700,000 organizations.
They strive to make the payroll process effortless, so you have more time to run the other parts of your business. You can do payroll and tax filing in just a few easy steps, pay employees by check, direct deposit, or paycard, and it’s all doable from either the phone, the web, or their mobile app. One thing to note, however, is that they lack trucking-specific features like being able to pay drivers by the mile.
Should you run into any snags with the rest of their offering, ADP has 24/7 customer support from a team of payroll experts. They can also manage health insurance for truckers in all 50 US states. It is also worth mentioning that ADP does have other products for larger businesses, and not just for payroll, so they can certainly grow with you.
Best For
I typically use it every week. I use it to check my bi-weekly pay stub and access payroll info. We also use it to post job applications and advise HR of vacancies. Previously it was used to submit performance reviews which were done quarterly or semi-annually depending on the role (now using PATI). I would also use it to review the organizational chart for contact info when needed. I also found the quick links and HR/benefit information to be very useful and would frequently login just to find links and information about other company resources.
I really like that all the HR resources are essentially located in one place, especially with links embedded to external sites (eg. benefit provider). I also really like that I can access all my payroll info online in one place. The organizational chart feature is also really helpful for identifying the reporting structure for areas of the business I was less familiar with and help me connect with the appropriate team member on cross-functional projects.
We bought ADP to cut back on internal payroll costs, provide employees with online access to their payroll info, avoid manually mailing out paper T4's every year, consolidate HR information and links into 1 platform, streamline data entry requirements for the payroll team, help move employee calls and inquiries to the ADP team, free up internal payroll/HR time, and streamline HR recruiting and tracking request. I have been personally using it for around 2 years now I believe.
The login process always feels very cumbersome with the multiple authentication steps and 2FA. The performance review functionality was extremely tedious - there were a lot of different screens and it wasn't easy to locate reviews or edit them - it just seemed much more complicated than it needed to be and a lot of my managers struggled to complete their reviews even with instruction manuals. I also wish there was a way to inquire about any payroll discrepancies directly - employees would have to email me (with no visibility as a District Manager) and I would have to forward payroll and it always seemed to slow down the efficiency, especially when the answer was something simple.
More functionality and works as a total company website as opposed to just a payroll viewing platform. Much more visually appealing and easy to navigate than some other platforms (like some SAP ones I've seen)
How much functionality you want out of the platform - just access to paystubs or a fully integrated HR platform. Customization options - for example we could add custom fields like t-shirt size for team events and/or self-declaration options (eg. covid vaccination status)
We're still relatively new to the platform, so it's hard to say what is an ADP change or just an organizational learning, but I have seen the addition of new self-declaration fields in the employee profile. The benefits section and external links continue to expand as well. We struggled with the performance review section, but I believe this is now being worked on in the backend by our L&D team.
For a large organization looking to streamline HR / payroll operations, particularly if trying to move away from paper-based payroll/pay stubs.
Likely a smaller organization that just doesn't have the need for such a complex, integrated system
QuickBooks
Quickbooks is one of the highly-trusted names in financial tracking, payroll, expense reports, and even time and attendance software for small businesses.
PROS
- Unlimited pay runs, auto full-service payroll, and same-day deposits included.
- Supports unscheduled payrolls and automatic year-end tax filings.
- Reminders for tax readiness provided.
- Pricing transparency. 30-day free trial available.
CONS
- No employer app.
- More expensive than some competitors like Patriot.
- Limited third-party integrations.
- No global payroll features.
As one of the most popular payroll and accounting software in the world, QuickBooks’ offering for the trucking industry fits the niche particularly well. More than 10,000 transportation SMBs use the product to manage labor costs, tackle payroll tax calculations, track time, and much more.
The QuickBooks accounting platform can help to provide same-day direct deposits to drivers, manage health benefits & workers comp, create customizable payroll reports, generate stubs, and much more. Payroll can be automated along with taxes and forms, almost in a set-it-and-forget-it manner.
The main benefit of QuickBooks in relation to trucking companies is that it’s got built-in time tracking, letting you account for every hour worked and then approve payroll when ready. Additionally, it helps that QuickBooks is a fuller accounting solution, so you can manage all your finances in one place.
Best For
I use Quickbooks for monthly invoicing, financial statements, and to keep track of account receivables. We don't currently have it integrated with other softwares, but are thinking about integrating it with our workforce planning software in the future if that is possible. In terms of workflow, I access Quickbooks at least once a week to load new invoices, match receipts, upload receipts from my phone, and download our monthly PnL report. We have a separate system that we put the PnL report in that helps us track our cash flow in a way that accounts for projections.
It is easy to use - the interface is intuitive. I like the app and the fact I can do receipt tracking on my phone. I like that I can easily give my employees a company card and have them forward receipts into Quickbooks.
We work with a CPA firm who helped us to integrate Quickbooks across our organization. We began using Quickbooks in 2018, when our firm had just under $60,000 in revenue a year. Today, we use Quickbooks to manage the company's $1.7M and growing annual budget. We used Quickbooks because we wanted to have accurate timely financial statements across the organization, track all of our expenses, and manage our businesses PnL easily. I've been the primary user for the past 5 years.
I wish that it had better cash flow capabilities - the current capabilities do not account for projections. I also wish that when adding users there was an option to add employees who just had employee cards who need to email receipts into Quickbooks instead of having to take up a user seat - right now we have some employees emailing receipts to a company user to forward them on because there is only five seats in our plan. I also wish Quickbooks integrated better with my bank - the bank connection is always breaking and needs to be updated.
I haven't used similar tools - before Quickbooks I did everything on a spreadsheet. I did choose Quickbooks because it came highly recommended from my CPA firm.
People should think about their needs for financial reporting. People should also think about their needs for billing, and tracking employee expenses.
It works great for my consulting firm!
I think it will work for most people, but I can see it being a challenge for people who have always tracked receipts and expenses manually to shift.
Truckbase
Truckbase is a fully-fledged trucking dispatch software product made specifically for long-haul carriers. While payroll is handled via integrations, the platform offers dispatching, invoicing, settlements, truck tracking, and more.
PROS
- AI-powered load importer eliminates data entry.
- Seamless ELD integrations for truck tracking.
- User-friendly interface requires minimal training.
- Customized, hands-on onboarding.
- Exceptional customer service and support.
- AI-powered load importer eliminates data entry.
- Seamless ELD integrations for truck tracking.
- User-friendly interface requires minimal training.
- Customized, hands-on onboarding.
- Exceptional customer service and support.
CONS
- No built-in accounting and payroll module. There is a driver pay and settlements module, but it’s mostly to feed data into a seconday payroll tool or manual process.
- Not suitable for fleets with fewer than 10 trucks.
- Not a good fit for service shippers or pure brokers since they focus on carriers.
- Limited mobile phone access.
- No free trial is offered, only a money-back guarantee.
- No built-in accounting and payroll module. There is a driver pay and settlements module, but it’s mostly to feed data into a seconday payroll tool or manual process.
- Not suitable for fleets with fewer than 10 trucks.
- Not a good fit for service shippers or pure brokers since they focus on carriers.
- Limited mobile phone access.
- No free trial is offered, only a money-back guarantee.
Truckbase is a comprehensive trucking dispatch software designed specifically for over-the-road (OTR) carriers. While not able to handle payroll natively (you have to set up an integration), the platform excels in providing a unified suite of services, including dispatching, invoicing, settlements, truck tracking, and EDI integrations. They're the only dedicated trucking software company that we know of that’s doing so much to leverage AI, so that’s why we include them on this page despite the payroll drawback.
To give you an example, a standout feature of Truckbase is its AI-powered load importer, which significantly reduces manual data entry, a common pain point for many trucking companies. Additionally, the platform’s real-time ELD integrations offer live truck tracking, enhancing visibility and reducing the need for check calls. This is particularly useful for companies managing medium to large fleets where real-time data is crucial for operational efficiency.
One of Truckbase's most significant strengths is its ease of use. Unlike competing solutions that often require extensive training, Truckbase’s intuitive design allows users to become proficient quickly. This user-friendly approach is complemented by its highly praised customer support, which offers customized and hands-on onboarding to ensure a smooth transition and continuous support.
Again, Truckbase has its limitations. Its major drawback, at least for the context of this page, is that it cannot handle payroll within the platform. You have to set up an integration with another provider, but the platform is crucial in ensuring the right amounts and extra compensation owed to drivers based on mileage, stops, or rates.
Truckbase is currently used at companies like Herlache Truck Lines, Package Runner, Z Brothers, Nica's Freight, among many others.
Pricing for Truckbase is not publicly disclosed and is usually quoted based on individual company needs. Prospective users are encouraged to book a demo to review the options and get a tailored pricing quote.
Best For
Truckbase is best suited for medium to large OTR carrier companies with over 10 trucks looking for an all-in-one dispatch and operations management solution that offers AI features and seamless integrations. As expressed before, it’s also only suitable if you’re willing to use it in tandem with a payroll tool of your choice, which we hear is an excellent combo for large trucking companies.
Axon Software
As a fully-fledged trucking management system, Axon offers real-time and meaningful information that is instantly updated across every area of the business.
PROS
CONS
This Canadian company has been doing trucking software exclusively for decades, boasting a trucking accounting software tool that can help to increase cash flow and staff retention. It aids in saving time for fleet owners by streamlining payroll, settlement processes, accounts receivables, payables, invoicing, and other recurring financial tasks.
While it’s not the most modern-looking solution out there, Axon Software is notable for its real-time approach to the handling of trucking data. Information entered into the system automatically updates your dispatch, driver pay, fuel management, fleet maintenance, accounting, routing, and billing.
Best For
Axis TMS
Axis is a trucking command center with all the features you'd need to run a trucking business smoothly, although payroll is offered as an add-on.
PROS
CONS
Axis is a trucking management system which claims to have all the tools you’d need to run such a business. Their trucking software features includes a driver mobile app, a billing module, carrier functionalities, maintenance management, an IFTA add-on, and brokerage.
As for trucking payroll, Axis does it as an add-on. You can run payroll weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, and do auto-recurring or amortized deductions. Their systems also lets owner operators choose between paying drivers by the mile, load, or hour.
Lastly, Axis is also notable for being the only vendor on this list that does hardware for trucking as well as software. They sell tablets for truck drivers, dash cameras, asset trackers, and sensors.
Best For
TruckLogics
Up-and-coming vendor in the trucking payroll space, with years of experience on pure trucking management software.
PROS
CONS
As a trucking management software company, it makes sense that TruckLogics has a part of their product made specially to pay contractor drivers. While not fully available yet, the system will be integrating with PayWow in order to offer a specialized trucking payroll solution within their platform. If you’re not convinced by the vendors above, this one might be worth keeping an eye on, or getting in touch with.
Best For
Final Advice on Buying Trucking Payroll Software
The main question with picking out trucking payroll software is whether to go with a full trucking management system, or pick a payroll-focused solution and integrate it with what you already use.
On the one hand, you’d get a myriad of trucking features and specialized support, but on the other you’d get a more modern solution with better UX and far more payroll & HR features.
Our advice here would be to make a list of the 3-5 key features that you need and see which vendors from this list fulfill all of them. If you’re leaning towards a payroll-focused vendor, it’s just a matter of making sure they integrate well with your other software.
The best way to make sure of these two factors, is to get a demo with the vendors that you shortlist. Then, show up to that with a detailed set of questions from you and your team, take notes, and don’t be afraid to take control of the demo or even request a trial of the solution.
It could be a lengthy process, but in the long run, considering all the man hours and tedious tasks that it will save you, it will certainly be worth it.
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