The Best Trucking Payroll Software for 2023

Axon Software

Axon Software is a cloud-based transportation management system and payroll software solution designed explicitly for the trucking industry. Its payroll-specific features help trucking companies to manage their payroll and track driver hours.

Unlike ADP and Gusto, Axon software calculates IFTA, fuel taxes, and other trucking-specific taxes and fees. It also provides a secure payroll platform that complies with federal and state regulations.

Axon Software offers customizable reporting and integrates with other trucking-specific systems such as TMS, electronic logging devices and accounting systems.

Key features

• Compiles government forms and reports, including W2, W3, 1099, T4 and T4As.
• Enables truck drivers to share their GPS location and communicate with in-house administrators via phone or text message.
• Manages driver, owner, operator and carrier calculations for wages and expenses.
• Provides an end-to-end report on equipment revenue, cost-per-mile and miles-per-gallon.

Pros

• Real-time truck location tracking.
• All-in-one solution for trucking business operations, including dispatching, accounting, payroll and maintenance.
• Tracks IFTA and fuel tax.
• Automatically compile government forms and documents, such as W2s, W3s, 1099s, T4As and more, with a single click.

Cons

• Steep learning curve.
• Lacks transparent pricing.

Pricing

Pricing information is available upon request. Potential buyers can also book a free demo to evaluate product features.

QuickBooks

QuickBooks is one of the most popular and widely used payroll software solutions for trucking companies. It is a comprehensive accounting software program that manages finances, tracks income and expenses, creates invoices, and generates financial reports and payroll. QuickBooks also offers integrations specifically tailored to the trucking industry for fleet management, dispatch and driver tracking.

QuickBooks integrates with tools such as HyperTrack and RAMA Logistics Software, allowing users to easily monitor fleets, track mileage, track load status, dispatch trucks and freight, and pay drivers and carriers. Integrating these tools makes it easy for users to stay on top of their company’s transportation operations and ensure timely payments.

Key features

• Accepts cards, eChecks and ACH transfers.
• Allows users to automate recurring invoices, track invoice status and send payment reminders.
• Automatic tax calculations.
• Federal and state payroll tax filing.
• Offers direct deposit.
• Benefits administration.
• Allows users to create and e-file unlimited 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms.
• Manage 1099 contractors
• Download payroll reports such as history, bank transactions, tax payments, and paid time off.

Pros

• Same-day or next-day direct deposit available.
• Tax penalty protection.
• TMS integration.
• Time tracking capability.
• Available in all 50 states.
• 401k plans

Cons

• No IFTA tracking.
• Learning curve for new users.
• Limited support.

Pricing

QuickBooks offers multiple pricing plans — and frequent discounts — so businesses can choose the features they need while staying within their budget. They also offer a 30-day free trial. These are some of the company’s most commonly purchased pricing packages for payroll:

• Payroll Core + QuickBooks Simple Start: $37.50 per month plus $5 per employee per month (without current discounts, this package is $75 per month).
• Payroll Core + QuickBooks Essentials: $50 per month plus $5 per employee per month (without current discounts, this package is $100 per month).
• Payroll Premium + QuickBooks Plus: $80 per month plus $8 per employee per month (without current discounts, this package is $160 per month).

Gusto

Gusto is one of our best payroll processing solutions for small businesses and trucking companies. The platform provides businesses with the resources they need to manage payroll, benefits, HR and compliance for driver staff, contractors and other employees. It is a cloud-based service that can be accessed from anywhere, making it ideal for remote employees.

Gusto also offers several other useful features for trucking companies, including an automatic time-tracking feature that records hours worked by drivers and contractors across different projects or sites. Although Gusto integrates with Timeero — a time, mileage and GPS tracking software solution — compared to QuickBooks, Gusto lacks key TMS or fleet management integrations. This may limit the utility of Gusto for larger trucking companies.

Key features

• Files federal, state and local taxes.
• Integrates with accounting, time tracking and expense management tools.
• Allows users to generate and download reports for payroll history, bank transactions, contractor payments, paid time off and tax payments.
• Adds pre-tax deductions for benefits and post-tax deductions such as garnishments.
• View and export payroll data.

Pros

• Next-day direct deposit is available.
• Supports multiple pay schedules.
• Unlimited payroll runs.
• Works for hourly and salaried employees.

Cons

• Health benefits not available in all states; limited to 39 states.
• Simple plan has limited features.
• Lacks TMS integrations.

Pricing

Gusto offers three pricing plans, plus a contractor-only payment option:

• Simple: $40 per month plus $6 per employee per month.
• Plus: The vendor is currently running an offer that goes for $60 per month plus $9 per employee per month. The regular price is $80 per month plus $12 per employee per month.
  • Gusto offers 25% discounts for the first six months; therefore, your first three months could cost $60 per month plus $9 per employee per month.
• Premium: Quotes available upon request.
• Contractor only: $35 per month plus $6 per contractor. The base price is discounted for the first 6 months.

ADP

ADP, otherwise known as Automatic Data Processing, is a payroll software provider that offers businesses of all sizes and industries — including trucking companies — a suite of services that can help with payroll and other HR management tasks.

The company’s payroll platform includes tax filing and direct deposit options, as well as integrations with TMS solutions such as TripLog. The platform also includes support for managing driver and non-driver employee designation benefits, like retirement accounts or health care contributions. It’s customizable, so users can tailor the features and modules to specific business needs.

Key features

• Payroll debit cards and multi-state payroll in all plan levels.
• Tax reporting with W-2s and 1099.
• Labor law poster compliance.
• Conducts single-county background checks, including SSN validation, criminal history and search for the current county of residence.
• Time and attendance management.
• Supports over 100 third-party integrations.

Pros

• 24/7 support.
• Same-day direct deposit is available.
• Feature-rich platform.
• Comprehensive reporting and analytics.
• Automated processes for payroll, benefits and tax filing.

Cons

• Lacks IFTA reporting.
• Lacks transparent pricing.
• Tax filing costs extra.

Pricing

ADP offers four payroll plans. Specific information about each pricing plan is available upon request.

Axis TMS

Axis TMS is cloud-based trucking management software that provides carriers and fleets with an end-to-end solution for managing their business. This platform enables users to easily track, manage and improve the efficiency of their trucking business operations.

Axis TMS provides users with a wide range of features to streamline processes related to driver payroll, customer invoicing, dispatch, route optimization and fuel tax reporting. Trucking company users can work with both software and hardware solutions from Axis TMS; hardware solutions include tablets for drivers, dash cameras, asset trackers and sensors.

Key features

• Pro app allows users to manage payroll, keep track of payment status, generate and distribute invoices, and send real-time notifications to drivers.
• Truck location monitoring along the defined route, with ETA calculator, arrival status and trailer availability status included.
• IFTA mileage and fuel sync.
• End-to-end document scanning.
• Automatic invoice generation.
• Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly payroll runs for drivers.

Pros

• Provides niche features that are relevant to trucking companies.
• Helpful support team.
• Offers various payment options, including pay-per-load, pay-per-mile and pay-per-hour.

Cons

• The user interface could be improved.
• Users have reported that the solution is infrequently glitchy.

Pricing

Axis TMS pricing is categorized into two groups: Monthly payment plans for customers with less than 150 trucks and enterprise plans for customers with over 150 trucks. Driver payroll is included in all plans.

Monthly payment plans

• One to three trucks: $100 per month.
• Four to 15 trucks: $315 per month.
• 16 to 40 trucks: $600 per month.
• 41 to 75 trucks: $1,125 per month.
• 76 to 150 trucks: $2,250 per month.

Enterprise customers

• Enterprise Tier (12-month agreement): $25 per truck plus $4,500 one-time server setup fee.
• Enterprise Tier (36-month agreement): $17.50 per truck plus $3,500 one-time server setup fee.

Add-ons

• IFTA tax costs an extra $50 per submission.
• Tax filings service cost starts at $75.

TruckLogics

TruckLogics is an online trucking software platform that helps trucking companies manage their business operations. It provides tools to manage customer relationships, route optimization, driver management, dispatching, fuel tracking, invoicing and fleet tracking.

TruckLogics also offers features for compliance, analytics and reporting. Its integrated payroll module allows you to manage driver payroll, calculate wages and track driver hours. It also includes tools for IFTA and document management.

Key features

• Manages income and expense transactions.
• Manages received payments.
• Integrates with Motive, QuickBooks, EFS, DAT, Google Maps and Promiles.
• Provides year-end tax reports.
• Driver payments reporting.

Pros

• Users can track freight using the mobile app.
• Invoice generation.
• Generate IFTA tax reports.
• Intuitive user interface.
• Affordable pricing.

Cons

• Users reported slow page load time.
• Reporting features could be improved.

Pricing

TruckLogics offers a 15-day free trial. The company offers various plans for different business sizes that are payable monthly or annually:

Owner Operator

For customers with one to two trucks:

• Pro: $9.95 per month or $8.95 per month billed annually.
• Preferred: $19.95 per month or $17.95 per month billed annually.
• Premium: $29.95 per month or $26.95 per month billed annually.

Small Fleet

For customers with three to seven trucks:

• Pro: $29.95 per month or $26.95 per month billed annually.
• Preferred: $49.95 per month or $44.95 per month billed annually.
• Premium: $69.95 per month or $62.95 per month billed annually.

Mid-Size Fleet

For customers with eight to 14 trucks:

• Pro: $49.95 per month or $44.95 per month billed annually.
• Preferred: $69.95 per month or $62.95 per month billed annually.
• Premium: $89.95 per month or $80.95 per month billed annually.

Large Fleet

For customers with over 15 trucks:

• Pro: $79.95 per month or $71.95 per month billed annually.
• Preferred: $99.95 per month or $89.95 per month billed annually.
• Premium: $119.95 per month or $107.95 per month billed annually.

Other plans and add-ons

• Leased Operator: $7.95 per month or $7.15 per month billed annually.
• Broker: $39.95 per month or $35.95 per month billed annually.
• IFTA reports for business owners: $24.95 per report.
• IFTA reports for service providers: $19.95 per report.