Last Updated: August 3, 2023
Upper
(5.0) 
Starting price
$80/month
Free trial
7 days
Key features
Optimize routes for trucks, Monitor truck locations in real-time, Cut down on unnecessary mileage
Upper is the best truck routing software to manage fleet operations, like planning & optimizing routes and scheduling routes in advance. This truck routing software optimizes routes based on specific trucking requirements, like avoiding low bridges, narrow roads, and areas with weight restrictions.
With just a few taps on Upper, you can instantly create the most efficient delivery routes for trucks to follow. You can expect a significant reduction in fuel costs knowing how route optimization software can drastically reduce the distance traveled on business routes.
You also get the ability to collect proof of delivery and track your drivers in real-time and delight your customers with timely services.
Features
- Simply import CSV or Excel file to add hundreds of stops at a time
- Plan and optimize routes based on time or distance as per your preference
- Plan driver routes considering different factors like time window, service time, priorities, and vehicle type
- Prioritize urgent deliveries and delight your customers
- Schedule optimized routes in advance and dispatch them to drivers
- Drivers can collect proof of delivery with photos, notes, and e-signatures
- Swap routes between drivers in case of emergencies and make last-minute changes on the fly
- Choose between left or right curbside delivery to avoid taking unnecessary turns, saving delivery time and fuel
- No need to re-plan the entire route again; reverse it in a tap
- Drag & drop any stop and update your timeline automatically
- Make quick modifications even after routes are optimized with a multi-selector tool
- Monitor driver’s compliance with optimized routes in real time by looking at their movements actively
- Use the customer notification feature to keep your customers informed about their delivery status or with accurate ETAs
- Upper allows verifying incorrect & duplicate addresses before you optimize the route
- Set priority deliveries while planning the route
- Have the routes be dispatched to the drivers through multiple channels with just one click
- Get highly detailed reports and analytics to improve business operations
- Archive planned routes and refer to them whenever you require
- Dedicated driver app that allows dispatchers to allocate tasks and drivers to communicate delivery status and details
- Integrate Upper with other businesses platforms with our API
What People Say About Upper
Saved 10 hours per week & delivering 3x more meals with Upper Route Planner. It’s easy to take proof of delivery, the speed is great, it’s super super fast!
Ben Parker,
Delivery Manager of Flavors2Go
RouteXL
(3.5) 
Starting price
€35/month
Free trial
Up to 20 Addresses
Key features
Plan a route with multiple stops, Flexibility to customize routes, Seamless integration with other systems
RouteXL is perhaps best known for offering a completely free variant of its route planning solution. However, this free variant is heavily limited in terms of its usability. This is why RouteXL does still offer other packages that are more accommodating for heavier workloads.
Starting at just €35 per month, RouteXL stands as one of the most affordable route-planning software on the market. But it still misses out on important features, such as proof of delivery and active driver tracking. Looking forward to exploring some top alternatives for RouteXL? Check out this blog on top RouteXL alternatives.
Pros
- Dispatchers have many route-sharing options available, including the option to export routes to satellite navigation devices.
- Easy modification to the route plan is possible using the drag-and-drop functionality from RouteXL
- You can save any previously created routes to use them anytime in the future, eliminating the need to make the same route repeatedly.
Jared. B
Free! How can you beat that? Also, the software has the ability to add multiple stops and locations. It also has the ability to save previous routes and add details to each stop. Overall, RouteXL is very comprehensive.
Cons
- Because the map color scheme lacks contrast, navigating through the user interface and planning routes becomes a lot more confusing.
- There is no dedicated driver app that is offered by RouteXL, making features like live driver tracking and proof of delivery impossible.
- New users often require a lot of time to adapt to the interface because of its layout and configuration
John. M
I feel it could be more user-friendly and intuitive.
Samsara
(4.1) 
Starting price
N/A
Free trial
30 days
Key features
Truck-specific navigation, Real-time GPS tracking, Vehicle diagnostics to improve efficiency
Samsara, an all-in-one platform for fleet management, provides businesses with more than just optimized routes, as it also provides a myriad of fleet management solutions, including hardware solutions. Their hardware solutions include advanced dashcams and tracking for your fleet vehicle’s safety and compliance.
Seeing how they are able to incorporate so many fleet management solutions, they become the go-to option for enterprise businesses of all types. They use Samsara to simplify their daily operations and reduce costs.
Pros
- Samsara has a massive product lineup that has a lot of hardware solutions for you to implement and use with its routing system.
- The advanced AI camera and fleet management systems from Samsara allow you to track your driver’s actions to avoid any future liabilities.
- Samsara software provides real-time visibility into fleet activities, asset locations, and operational data.
- Get detailed reports and visualizations that help identify trends, optimize operations, and improve overall performance.
Tate. F
Everything you need is included, and in one place. Fleet tracking, cameras, HOS, safety, performance, and dispatch tools all live in one place. Additionally, the team is very responsive in creating one-off or custom integrations should you need them.
Cons
- Customers report that the driver app from Samsara is very laggy and glitchy when used, as it has a lot of problems with editing logs.
- According to past customers of Samsara, the customer service is not up to the mark, and they often employ unethical sales tactics to sell the product.
- The breadth of features and functionalities offered by Samsara may be overwhelming or unnecessary for smaller businesses with simpler operational needs.
Mihail. S
Driver app its hard to use and it’s slow. Hard time to edit logs. Crossing border glitches. Doesn’t give warning to driver in case if driver forget to do DVIR.
Onfleet
(4.7) 
Starting price
$500/month
Free trial
14 days
Key features
Real-time data analysis, proof of delivery
Onfleet is the last-mile delivery solution that is made for larger fleets with many delivery vehicles to manage and optimize routes for. Along with all the standard features that go into creating an efficient route, Onfleet also has additional features, such as driver chat and proof of delivery.
These features can be immensely useful in the right scenarios and are definitely something to have at your side when you need it. Onfleet’s end-to-end route planning, dispatch, communication, and analytics platform does all the heavy lifting for you, so you can focus on your customers. Refer to this blog to check Onfleet alternatives.
Pros
- The user interface of Onfleet is easy to use for new dispatchers due to its clean and intuitive design.
- The inbuilt driver chat window is a very convenient feature if you want to communicate last-minute details to any staff members.
- On Onfleet, the KPIs are represented visually, which makes it very easy and quick to grasp, leading to faster analysis of business operations.
Jillian. T
With us needing to do 2,000 deliveries per day, we really needed a straightforward and high-capacity route optimization too. OnFleet is that and everything more. I love that there’s a driver app, in-app communication, and real-time tracking.
Cons
- The pricing of Onfleet is quite high, considering the features that it offers to customers.
- The accuracy of the ETAs is not dependable, as the time estimates are often too pessimistic.
- The software doesn’t have mobile support for dispatchers.
- It has quite a lengthy process for adding drivers and assigning them to teams.
Hannah. K
The price point feels a little bit too high since the last increase
FleetUp
(4.4) 
Starting price
N/A
Free trial
7 days
Key features
Simplifies Route Planning & Drag-n-Drop Your Location Data
FleetUp is an all-in-one platform for fleet management. It provides complete visibility into your vehicles, containers, equipment, and drivers. With the help of its mobile app, fleet managers centralize and accelerate communication among drivers. It also tracks staff time cards, assigns assets to operators, and even sends job orders.
FleetUp offers real-time diagnostics and previous & current GPS locations of vehicles and shipments. It improves driver efficiency by identifying high-risk drivers and reducing traffic violations and mishaps.
Pros
- The software is easy to use, making onboarding and integration hassle-free for most teams.
- From the experience of existing and previous customers, customer service is usually helpful and active.
- FleetUp enables you to conduct daily vehicle inspections in a disciplined manner.
Lesley. J
Customer Service is awesome, but the software is great too. Being able to find a fleet at any time has saved us time and $$!
Cons
- Connectivity to the fleet may be lost in rural areas with poor service range making it unreliable for operations outside cities.
- FleetUp’s pricing structure may be relatively higher compared to some other fleet management solutions in the market.
Carrie. L
If you’re in a spotty internet area, then you get no signal.
Route4Me
(4.4) 
Starting price
$199/month
Free trial
7 days
Key features
Curbside Delivery, Time Window, Recurring Routing
Route4Me is an easy-to-use route scheduling and optimization software that helps plan routes and dispatch them to the mobile app, which comes with built-in navigation. It is specifically created for any business dealing with daily deliveries and logistics services.
Route4Me enables businesses to reduce their scheduled route planning time to 10 minutes per day. Companies looking for a routing software solution will save time and money than built-in GPS truck navigation. You might also want to check out some Route4Me alternatives in the market that will help you save more operational costs.
Pros
- Route4Me is great in terms of ease of use and also connects to GPS apps with a click
- Stops can be moved and rearranged even when a route is being carried out, making it easy to accommodate last-minute changes.
- Route4Me provides a mobile app that allows drivers to access their routes and navigation instructions on the go.
Matteo. G
Very easy to use with a fantastic interface that doesn’t require any kind of training. Platform speed is very high, and API availability makes Route4Me the standard de facto about route planning systems.
Cons
- There is very limited support for issues, as the only way to submit a complaint is by raising a ticket which usually ends up being inconclusive
- Sometimes, when the site is under heavy load, it cannot process requests properly and often crashes completely.
Stacy. S
Sometimes I can’t get a job to show up on the route where it is supposed to. When I need to rearrange the jobs it will throw one job way out in left field so to speak and all but ignore it. And then I have to report it as a problem on the map so customer service can fix it for me
RouteSavvy
(4.7) 
Starting price
$39/month
Free trial
7 days
Key features
Simplifies Route Planning &
Drag-n-Drop Your Location Data
RouteSavvy is a routing software that has helped many businesses organize and start optimizing routes to boost their bottom line. Given how early they started to offer route optimization services, they have a lot of relevant experience in the industry.
The price for their route planner by itself is quite affordable, though you will not get the GPS tracking and mobile app with it. Those options may be purchased as add-ons according to your requirements.
Pros
- Convenient features like Excel import speed up operations and allows for streamlined processes and enhanced productivity.
- It is easy to onboard new workers and teams onto RouteSavvy because of its simple-to-use interface.
- RouteSavvy is known for its cost-effectiveness, which makes it for small businesses or those with budget constraints.
Tamiann. P
I love that this product was able to be set up with “bulk” entry, using a spreadsheet to enter all of our locations. It made it very fast and easy to get over 500 addresses into the program. The program is easy to learn and quick to set routes. It has been an extremely cost-effective solution that meets our needs beautifully
Cons
- RouteSavvy is not a cloud-based route planner, so edited data is often not saved properly on your route plan.
- RouteSavvy has limitations in terms of advanced features or customization options.
- The software does not provide real-time tracking or live updates on the progress of deliveries or service appointments.
Verified LinkedIn User
After a short while, caching becomes an issue. stops removed sometimes stay on the list. locations or stops don’t always show up on the map, and you have to zoom way out and lets the locations or stops load to see them. The same goes for routes. It is a somewhat difficult process to transfer stops from one route to another. no ability to change the departure date.
Track-POD
(4.6)
Starting price
$35/month
Free trial
7 days
Key features
GPS Vehicle Tracking, Activity Tracking, Alerts/Notifications
Track-POD is mainly designed to help businesses generate proof of deliveries. But it also has routing capabilities of routing operations. It can handle route planning for thousands of stops, making it very useful for larger shipping routes.
You also get features like 2-way communication between the driver and dispatcher for added clarity when conducting logistics.
Pros
- Using Track-POD, dispatchers can easily plan a route with a lot of stops as the software is not prone to slowing down under load.
- Facilitates two-way communication between managers and drivers using an inbuilt chat feature for quick transfer of information.
- The software offers customized proof of delivery templates, and shares live tracking links with customers.
Pavlos M.
This software is easy to use with many features that can make your life easier. You can see all your orders and routes on the map. So planning becomes child’s play. It gives a very detailed analysis of your working day/period. The support team is great. Quick responsive, and willing to help. Track-POD loosens your hands and really helps you control your delivery business.
Cons
- Users have reported that the driver app often crashes randomly without any obvious reason, hindering the progress of drivers.
- Track-POD is known for having limited customization options, including limited custom fields, which do not allow you to plan routes with additional parameters.
- The support is not immediate, so users have to keep waiting for a long to get solutions for their queries.
Jake W.
There are many features that are essential that just aren’t implemented. For example, being able to see an updated ETA for delivery in the admin UI. The app has the info, so why not show it? They have a good API but make certain data hidden for no good reason. A complete lack of webhooks is also completely unexplained. The driver mobile app itself will randomly crash and require deleting and reinstalling. The whole ‘flow’ of the mobile app is confusing. Editing orders and routes after starting them is convoluted and unnecessarily difficult. If the drivers miss a step in the app, the admin user cannot fix it.
DispatchTrack
(4.6) 
Starting price
N/A
Free trial
7 days
Key features
Real-time visibility dashboards, AI-powered route optimization
DispatchTrack is an easy-to-use last-mile delivery solution for truckers that will help to refine the speed and scope of your deliveries. DispatchTrack places a lot of emphasis on sustainability and claims to lower your CO2 emissions by 10% while showing the emissions for every stop.
This lowering of emissions is a natural by-product of route optimization as it lowers the overall length of any route. It also contributes to lower fleet operating costs, such as fuel costs and maintenance costs.
Pros
- Companies that are environmentally conscious can use DispatchTrack as it allows for the tracking of carbon emissions produced by your fleet.
- Using DispatchTrack, you can track the progress of drivers in real-time as they enable GPS tracking on the driver app.
- The software allows users to schedule appointments with ease and give customers a delivery ETA.
- DispatchTrack enables businesses to enhance customer communication by providing automated notifications.
Susan E.
Increased efficiency, less overtime, less fuel used. We know where our truck is at all times. We were able to provide proof that our truck did not cause damage to a building because of the GPS feature.
Cons
- The mobile app is very slow, even with a good internet connection, and sometimes fails to boot up entirely.
- Proof of delivery system from DispatchTrack is prone to glitching by multiplying or failing to upload the images that were captured by the drivers.
- It has limitations when it comes to integration capabilities with other systems or applications.
- Users have reported mixed experiences with DispatchTrack’s customer support.
Melendezmr1
If you don’t have the internet, forget it! This won’t even open! Pictures will constantly multiply, or not show up. My company is a $26 million a year business in Massachusetts, and I am disappointed in the performance of your Mobile platform.
Logistia Route Planner
(4.7) 
Starting price
$19/month
Free trial
7 days
Key features
Accurate ETAs, Adjust Routes & Seamless Execution
Logistia is a simplistic yet capable route planner that lets you plan routes based on priority, vehicle capacity, time windows, and delivery areas. You can not only plan multiple routes but can also edit them on the fly at any time in case of an emergency.
Using Logistia, both the dispatcher and the customer get a live tracking link that shows the precise location of the designated driver. The Logistia Route Planner is also capable of integrating itself with e-commerce platforms that make your workflow more streamlined.
Pros
- The live tracking link for both customers and dispatchers provides reassurance regarding the progress of deliveries.
- Users can easily integrate Logistia with any existing e-commerce platforms with their pre-made integrations.
- The software provides all the tools to add, optimize & navigate smoothly to all your customers’ addresses in no time.
Graham R.
This was the only app that filled my need of providing a logistics solution to my team while also integrating with Shopify. I had been running demos of other route optimizers and found the lack of Shopify integration meant that I spent an incredibly long time importing and generating routes. Logistia is simple to import orders, generate routes for multiple drives and is able to notify customers of their estimated delivery time. The best part is that once the order has been marked as “Delivered” on Logistia it automatically marks the order as fulfilled on Shopify.
Cons
- Users report that the map sometimes fails to show up on the screen when the app is in use, making it difficult to proceed with operations.
- The app is a bit buggy and often doesn’t load maps when in use. User experience is confusing and takes a while to get the hang of.
- The software is not tech-savvy, so users have to learn to use the program that takes time.
Jon H.
The app is a bit buggy and often doesn’t load maps when in use. The user experience is confusing and takes a while to get the hang of. Could be simpler.
WorkWave Route Manager
(4.3) 
Starting price
N/A
Free trial
4 days
Key features
Automated Scheduling, Track vis GPS, and Customer Notification
WorkWave has a long history of providing field service management software to different businesses and has developed dozens of software solutions over a span of 40 years. One of these solutions for route planning and optimization is the WorkWave Route Manager.
The WorkWave Route Manager allows delivery businesses to not only plan routes for their fleet but has several fleet management features, such as its ability to connect to ELD devices. This helps you actively track the performance of your fleet operations. If you need a less invasive option to track your fleet in the same way, then here are some suitable WorkWave Route Manager alternatives.
Pros
- Time window planning allows companies to accommodate the needs of customers with specific time windows
- Supports hard-wired GPS and ELDs for telematics as an optional add-on for easier compliance with ELD regulations.
- Not only do they have wonderful customer service, but they are always on top of new technology changes.
Steven K.
Workwave is a very flexible product and easy to use. The integration with our work order management system was very easy, and we were able to improve our field technician productivity by 25%.
Cons
- The route manager from WorkWave is quite expensive compared to the other route optimization software.
- Key functionalities like customer notifications, GPS tracking, and barcode scanners are not in the basic plan.
- There is no dashboard, so there’s no way to get an overall view of the driving behavior.
PC*MILER
(4.7) 
Starting price
$84.99
Free trial
15 days
Key features
Streamline routing process for truckers, quick to deploy with updates
PC*MILER is a dedicated fleet management solution that helps businesses in the transportation industry to streamline processes related to route planning and optimization. This gearing towards routing specifically for trucks is reconfirmed by their advanced geographic information systems (GIS), which has a comprehensive street-level digital map of North America.
According to PC*MILER, this map has the most details regarding truck restrictions on the market, making it ideal for fleets with larger trucks that need to keep track of restrictions. They also support global routing operations on their web app.
Pros
- A detailed list of all the truck restrictions across North American road systems to help you route according to your truck’s dimensions.
- PC*MILER offers the MileOn app for drivers to plan their routes which are powered by the same systems as PC*MILER.
- Integrations are available with other business applications like Microsoft Excel for faster routing operations.
Adam S.
What I like most about PC*MILER is that it can be integrated into Microsoft Excel, which makes it easy to calculate and estimate route distances for large amounts of data.
Cons
- PC*MILER’s Pricing can get expensive quickly if you have multiple users and additional add-ons.
- A lot of user data is collected by PC*MILER, yet there is not much clarity as to what they use the data for.
- It is an excellent tool, but it is a pretty basic tool compared to other routing software currently available.
Jeff D.
Add-ons can get pricey as many used to be included in the base product but have been rolled out into separate modules over the past 8 or so years. Licensing is fairly expensive.
GSMtasks
(4.6) 
Starting price
€14
Free trial
14 days
Key features
Complex Multi-Stop Routes, Live Tracking
GSMtasks is a service dispatch software. The routing engine of GSMtasks dispatches plans to and manages mobile fleets of drivers, couriers, and technicians. With efficient route & task optimization, it reduces fuel costs and improves efficiency.
GSMtasks offers a real-time web dashboard for dispatchers and fleet managers, an intuitive app for drivers and driver tracking, and automatic SMS notifications for customers.
Pros
- GSMtasks has a very active and helpful customer service team that is ready to assist you with any issues that you may have.
- Crew workers can quickly adapt to the user interface as it is easy to navigate and understand for the crew.
- The customer service is straightforward, friendly, and extremely helpful.
Heather P.
Daily use of the software is user-friendly and easy to learn. Some great features like route optimization and customizable PODs. The support team is excellent. Developers are open to requests and are quick to fix any bugs (of which there haven’t been any we haven’t inadvertently created ourselves).
Cons
- There are a lot of unexplainable glitches and crashes when using the software, which makes users question its reliability in high-priority operations.
- This software’s extra features like API integration are relatively expensive.
- Advanced customization is not as clear or easy to implement.
Johann K.
Technical problems from day-to-day – poor quality. It really makes you mad if you are in a hurry, but the app just crashes.
Rand McNally
(4.6) 
Starting price
N/A
Free trial
NA
Key features
Live Tracking, ELD Compliance, Excellent Implementation Support
Rand McNally is mainly known for its fleet management solutions, such as ELD devices and hardware trackers. A lesser-known product from RandMcnally is their cloud-based route planning and optimization software for creating and managing efficient routes for your fleet.
Because Rand McNally offers similar fleet management solutions like Samsara, it becomes ideal for those who want superior staff monitoring capabilities.
Pros
- A bunch of Great API integrations are made available for instant use with popular business platforms.
- Because Rand McNally also has hardware solutions, a complete fleet management ecosystem is available.
- The customer support team is friendly, which makes it easy for you to get answers to your questions.
Brian M.
a great api with very responsive servers which make integration a simple exercise. The breadcrumbs’ sliding time scale is great and the distance traveled by each vehicle
Cons
- The web app is riddled with bugs that prevent the app from functioning in a reliable manner
- Using the routing platform requires staff to go through a steep learning curve which may make the adoption of the software difficult.
- The mapping portion does not work with the browser.
Dereck S.
The mapping portion does not work with our browser. I contacted customer support, however they were unable to help me and told me to contact my IT department. We are a small company, and have very limited IT help. I’m not sure what happened as the mapping used to work. Now the program is essentially useless to us.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Does truck routing software take into consideration the size of the vehicle and its load capacity?
Yes, many truck routing software does give you the option to select your vehicle type, which gives the software a rough estimate of its size and capacity. The route will then be optimized to follow ways that have enough clearance for your vehicle while accommodating all the delivery stops.
-
Will my staff require special training to use truck routing software?
No, usually, your truck routing software will be built to be as user-friendly and straightforward as possible to allow for easy onboarding. To ensure that users are informed, many routing systems will have dedicated support teams or guides to help you navigate through the software.
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How can companies benefit from using truck routing software?
Apart from streamlining the route optimization process to make operations more efficient and reduce delivery costs, truck routing software does come with additional benefits. Such benefits include improving delivery times and customer satisfaction with timely deliveries.
-
What are the top features to look for in good truck routing software?
Ideally, good truck routing software will have the following features to make performing services and deliveries easier.
- Ability to collect proof of delivery
- Live driver tracking
- Customer notifications
- Delivery data reports
- Easy dispatching options
Conclusion
Using a route planner to manage all of your route planning is undoubtedly better than using Google Maps, given the additional perks granted by routing software. Such perks include not having to spend hours planning the perfect delivery route and saving money on fuel and maintenance costs.
Given the automated workings of a route planner, they are the best option for creating efficient truck routes in a jiffy. The real challenge is comparing and finding the best software solution for your fleet with all the options that are available to you.
Though, why go through the hassle at all when you have Upper? Upper is the best route planning and optimization software that amps up your route planning process with its host of amazing features. If you are still unsure, try it out today for yourself with our our 7-day free trial. Experience it yourself and decide how this software is beneficial for your business.
