(650) 332-8623The 7 Best Dispatch Software for Trucking or Service Businesses 2025
Looking for dispatch software for your trucking or service business? We’ve reviewed 7 of the best dispatch apps on the market to help you choose!
A dispatch software simplifies dispatch work, reduces repeated manual entry, and prevents your business from losing money to dispatching errors. Check out my top 7 recommendations for the best dispatching software for trucking and field service businesses.
When your clunky spreadsheet can no longer keep up with your business needs, your team suffers from forgotten loads or missed maintenance appointments. These could have been avoided if you had a more efficient dispatch program.
With a dispatch app, your small business will no longer have to guess where your drivers or techs are, who’s assigned to what, or who can accept emergency calls.
In this article, we’ll help you cut through the noise by reviewing the best dispatching software to simplify your operations, whether you’re dispatching trucks or field service workers.
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Live, map-based, and GPS-verified crew and truck dispatching |
Enterprise contractor job routing |
Recurring maintenance agreement scheduling |
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Dispatch software is essential for industries like HVAC, where managing multiple crews and job sites can get complex. If you’re in the HVAC business, check out our guides for industry-specific tips.
What Is a Dispatch Software?
A dispatching software is like a command center where owners, ops managers, and dispatchers assign loads or service calls, line up routes, and keep trucks and technicians moving without chasing each other over the phone.
On one screen, you can see who’s empty, who’s under a load, who’s finishing an installation, and what’s coming next. Typical users include fleet owners, driver managers, service managers, and CSRs.
Core outcomes are the ones that actually move the needle: real-time visibility, cleaner compliance for HOS/IFTA and DVIRs, accurate payroll and driver settlements or tech timesheets, faster customer updates, and fewer missed appointments.
A dispatch software mainly serves two types of businesses.
For trucking, a truck dispatch app centralizes pickup and delivery details, driver availability, trailer type, and route constraints, then pushes assignments to a driver’s mobile with BOL/POD capture and e-signatures.
For field service, a field service dispatch software matches the right tech to the right job by skills, zone, and parts on hand, then sends “on my way” texts and tight ETAs to customers.
Whether you run reefers that need a 35° setpoint or HVAC teams juggling emergency calls between 3–5 pm, dispatch management software allows you to create, assign, and track jobs from a single place without answering hundreds of phone calls or texts in between.
How Dispatch Software Works
Everything starts with a job. In trucking, that’s a load with pickup, delivery, trailer type, weight, and rate. In field service, that’s a work order with problem description, parts needed, and service window.
You drop the job into a calendar or map, and the system suggests the best driver or tech based on availability, HOS (hours of service), or shift hours, skills, territory, and current location. Many tools include a drag-and-drop board, route planning, and capacity checks, so you can build a day’s plan in minutes instead of juggling spreadsheets.
Once assigned, details hit the mobile app. Drivers or technicians get turn-by-turn, job notes, and required documents. They can chat with the office, send “on my way” texts, capture photos, collect signatures, and submit BOL or proof of delivery from the cab or job site.
GPS pings feed live ETAs, so dispatch can reroute around traffic, fill backhauls, or slide an emergency service call into an open slot.
When the work is done, the platform updates its status, triggers invoices or settlements, logs time, and pushes data to accounting.
Lastly, reporting ties it all together with dashboards for on-time performance, utilization, and revenue per truck or per tech.
Benefits of Dispatch Software
Faster job assignment
Drag-and-drop scheduling and smart suggestions help you place the right driver or tech on the next job in seconds. A good dispatch management software reads availability, HOS or shift hours, skills, zones, and current location, so you stop chasing people by phone.
Real-time visibility and accurate ETAs
Live GPS and status updates show who is empty, en route, onsite, or done. With a dispatching software overseeing your fleet or service techs, you can reroute around traffic, slot an emergency call, or recover a late pickup without guessing.
Cleaner communication from the office to the road
Built-in calling, texting, and in-app chat keep everyone on the same page. Customers get “on my way” alerts and tech arrival windows while drivers receive load notes, gate codes, and lot numbers.
Less paperwork and fewer errors
Digital BOLs, PODs, service forms, photos, and signatures flow from mobile to back office. Dispatch system software auto-fills job data, which cuts rekeying and reduces mistakes on rates, parts, and addresses.
Better capacity and route planning
Map views and routing tools help balance workloads and reduce deadhead or windshield time. A good dispatch software lets you plan multi-stop days, set skill filters, and keep crews working tight territories.
Accurate time, pay, and job costing
Time tracking and job status feed payroll, driver settlements, and tech commissions. Many dispatch programs sync to accounting, so invoices go out faster, and profitability is clear per truck, lane, tech, or service type.
Scales with your size
From dispatch apps for small businesses to full truck dispatching software, you can start simple and add features like customer portals, parts tracking, maintenance reminders, and IFTA or HOS tools as you grow.
How Much Does Dispatch Software Cost?
Most vendors price in two simple ways. The first is per seat. You pay for each office user and each mobile field user. The second is a flat plan up to a set number of users, then a higher tier as you grow.
Month-to-month is common for small teams, while annual contracts with a discount show up more in mid-market fleets and service shops.
Here are ballpark ranges to set expectations. For field teams, entry plans for field service dispatch software often start around $25 to $60 per user per month for core scheduling, a mobile app, and invoices. Mid-market packages that add advanced automations, capacity planning, and service agreement tools run about $79 to $149 per technician. Premium suites with deep reporting and call center features can reach $200 to $350 per tech.
For fleets using truck dispatching software, a basic TMS plus dispatch scheduling software feature is often $25 to $100 per truck per month. If you add ELD or telematics, budget another $15 to $40 per vehicle. AI dash cams, route optimization, and load board connectors are usually extra.
Trials are common. Expect 7 to 14 days on self-serve plans. A few dispatch apps for small businesses offer a limited free tier for tiny teams. One-time onboarding can be free for a DIY setup, whereas guided implementation for small to midsize firms often lands between $500 and $3,000.
How to Choose the Best Dispatch Software
Below are the must-check criteria that separate solid dispatch management software from the rest.
Scheduling that mirrors the jobsite
Plans change by the hour. You want a drag-and-drop board that supports crews, subs, multi-day work, and skill tags. The best scheduling and dispatch software lets you load balance by capacity, shift start times, location, availability, and travel, so you keep trucks and technicians productive with less windshield time.
GPS-verified time and location
A business that hinges on the speed of job completion needs real-time location tracking. Look for precise GPS trails, smart geofences, and automatic location stamps on clock-ins, notes, and photos.
This transparency empowers dispatchers to know exactly where the service techs are, who’s the best person to take on an emergency service call, and optimize routes accordingly. In the same way, it can also help them manage their fleet more efficiently by finding the right drivers to cover a load when needed and choosing the fastest route to the drop location.
Mobile app your team actually uses
The app should be simple enough for a first-time user to clock in, see today’s jobs, get turn-by-turn directions, add notes and photos, and mark tasks as done.
The best field service dispatch software can easily be adopted by business drivers or technicians, no matter how tech-savvy they are. This means less time tinkering with the app and more jobs completed on the road.
Built-in communication and collaboration tools
Jumping from one app to another can slow a dispatcher’s work down. Great dispatching software solutions have team communication tools baked into their platform. Office and field teams can exchange task-specific updates instead of getting a deluge of disorganized emails or text messages.
Open integrations and dependable support
Choose a system with an open API and native links to accounting, calendars, inventory, and—if you run trucks—ELD/telematics. Ask for uptime stats, response times, and live onboarding.
Reliable dispatch programs pay for themselves when the schedule gets tight and you need help fast.
The Bottom Line
Managing schedules, crews, and job updates across multiple sites is no small task—especially when you’re relying on tools that can’t keep up. That’s where dispatch software comes in, helping you coordinate every moving piece without missing a beat.
The top dispatch software options we’ve covered offer a range of features, but only Workyard brings together real-time GPS tracking, drag-and-drop scheduling, built-in job costing, and compliance tools in one easy-to-use platform.
From last-minute reschedules to keeping payroll accurate down to the minute, Workyard is built for how construction and field service teams actually work.
Whether you’re running emergency HVAC calls, juggling subcontractors across job sites, or trying to avoid costly delays, Workyard gives you complete control and visibility of your field crews.
Try Workyard free for 14 days and see how it can transform how you dispatch, schedule, and manage your mobile workforce.
Our Scoring System Explained
Our 8-part scoring system was created to help you understand the potential value of any software we review simply and fairly.
We created it after reviewing dozens of software products, which we covered in depth, but without providing a direct and simple way for readers to compare products on their merits – without spending a lot of time looking through our articles for the information they needed to make an informed decision.
Every app we review will include Customer Support and Company scores, which we’ll explain in more detail below. Many of the factors reviewed in this article will also be consistent across most (or all) of our software reviews, with some differences:
The 8 factors assessed and their contribution to a product’s overall score may differ slightly from product to product based on various factors, such as the use case we’re reviewing for, the type of business these products are tailored to, and other considerations. However, all reviews will feature an 8-part score, weighted and combined to calculate each product’s overall score.
How We Score Software
All factors in our reviews are scored on a 10-point scale – technically 11 points – from 0-10. However, we only give products a score of 0 if it does not include an essential feature at all, and we try to avoid giving out 0 scores if a product can demonstrate any functionality in line with the specific factor being reviewed.
In general, the 0-10 range translates as:
- 9.0 – 10 – One of the absolute best in its category (amazing).
- 7.5 – 8.9 – Very good, but with some minor issues (very good).
- 6.0 – 7.4 – Mediocre performance with notable shortcomings (average).
- 3.0 – 5.9 – This feature is not ready for prime time (borderline).
- 1.0 – 2.9 – This feature actually makes its product worse (unacceptable).
- 0 – The product doesn’t include this important feature at all.
How We Calculate Overall Scores
The 8 factors reviewed are weighted based on an overall total of 100%:
- Ease of Use: 20%
- Time Tracking Accuracy: 20%
- Scheduling Features: 15%
- Job Tracking: 15%
- Integrations: 10%
- Customer Support: 15%
- Company: 5%
Methodology for Each Factor
Ease of Use
We evaluate a product’s ease of use based on three main considerations:
- How easy is it to set up this app?
- How easy is it for managers to use the backend dashboard?
- How easy is it for frontline workers to use the (mobile) app?
These three considerations cover the main ways you and your team would use the software being reviewed – when you first obtain it, when someone (a manager, executive, team leader, or similar role) needs to use it to manage people, money, data, and other things, and when workers you’re tracking use the app (usually a mobile version of the software designed for frontline and/or field team members) to clock in, clock out, record time worked, or address other day-to-day needs.
Time Tracking Accuracy
Every minute matters when you’re trying to control payroll costs. This factor accounts for various features and common needs in time-tracking apps, such as…
- How accurate or precise is its GPS tracking capability?
- How accurate – and how customizable – is its geofencing feature?
- How accurate is its travel and mileage tracking (if available)?
- Can it automatically clock workers in and out based on the above?
- Can you set and/or restrict rules for clocking in and out?
- Can the app continue tracking workers while offline?
- How easy is its mobile app and/or kiosk for frontline workers?
Scheduling Features
Many construction businesses prefer to manage as many aspects of employee labor activity as possible in a single app, which is why many time-tracking apps also include worker scheduling as a core feature.
When we consider a product’s scheduling features, we look at:
- Its dashboard customizability (daily, weekly, or monthly views).
- Its project-based scheduling and visibility.
- Its real-time updates and notifications for workers.
- Its real-time map views of worker locations for best-fit scheduling.
- Its recurring schedule (copies to subsequent weeks, etc.) functionality.
Job Tracking
This factor helps you understand if the software can also provide insight into specific projects, which is particularly handy when your business deals with many customers or clients who generally need shorter-term work. Effective job tracking typically also includes accurate job costing functionality for construction companies.
We assess several things when calculating a product’s job tracking score:
- Its project-based tracking for multiple projects per day/week/etc.
- Its ability to track multiple / many projects simultaneously.
- Its use of (and your ability to customize) construction cost codes.
- Any built-in job costing views.
- Any integrations for cost coding (QuickBooks etc.)
Integrations
No business can operate on a single app, which is why integrations with other apps and tools are such important aspects of modern business software.
To calculate a product’s integration score, we’ll examine:
- How many native integrations (the simplest connection) does it offer?
- How effective and easy-to-use are its integrations with payroll software?
- Does it have robust data import and export features?
Customer Support
Learning how to use a new app can be frustrating, even if it’s meant to be the most user-friendly app around. That’s why great customer support is so essential when considering which time-tracking app to use.
Customer support scores are calculated based on:
- Live support channels available (phone, email, chat, etc.).
- Live support hours (business hours only, 24/7, etc.).
- The strength of the product’s online help center and/or FAQs.
- What other users say about support in online reviews.
Company
A great company with a highly customer-friendly approach can often make up for shortcomings in their software products – at least up to a point.
When assessing this score, we’ll examine:
- Transparency (easy-to-find pricing, etc.)
- Trial period (duration, feature availability, credit card requirements, etc.).
- Subscription flexibility (contracts, required durations, etc.).
- Ease of cancellation or pausing subscriptions.
- Customer perceptions (online product reviews).
- Website (a minor consideration, but great companies tend to have great websites).
Any questions about our scoring system? Have any suggestions on how we could make it even better? Click here to send us your feedback – we’d love to hear from you!
Dispatch software is a digital tool designed to simplify and speed up day-to-day operations of fleet-based and service industries. These include:
- Scheduling and routing – dispatch software optimizes creation of delivery routes and schedules based on factors such as driver availability, vehicle speed and capacity, traffic, weather, and customer preferences.
- GPS tracking – dispatch software provides managers and dispatchers real-time updates on vehicle location and activity. Advanced solutions include granular detail on braking, cornering, and efficiency.
- Mobile access – the best dispatch platforms are accessible even on mobile devices, enabling dispatchers to relay critical information to drivers and field service technicians on the road.
- Integration – dispatch software solutions should be able to seamlessly integrate with external systems such as accounting, payroll, and CRM to ensure optimization of business processes.
- Scalability – the best dispatch software should be designed to scale according to different business sizes and needs.
Dispatch software is central to increasing efficiency and reducing errors in many industries including transportation, logistics, field service, emergency services, and healthcare to name a few.
Trucking dispatch software is a digital tool that helps dispatchers manage and streamline operations within a trucking fleet. Dispatch software plays a crucial role in scheduling, routing, and tracking shipments and vehicles, enhancing operational efficiency, improving route planning, ensuring timely deliveries, and facilitating real-time communication between dispatchers, drivers, and customers.
The essential features of dispatch software include:
- Real-time GPS tracking – dispatch software enables real-time monitoring of fleet movements. It provides immediate information on location, status, and potential issues during transit. This feature enhances transparency and communication between drivers, dispatch, and customers, building trust and improving the service experience.
- Scheduling and dispatching – dispatch software utilizes AI and machine learning to optimize real-time dispatch decisions. It takes into account factors like traffic conditions, driver availability, and delivery windows. This feature reduces human error, streamlines operations, and improves service delivery.
- Integration – dispatch software seamlessly integrates with other systems and platforms. This feature improves data accuracy, operational coherence, and workflow efficiency. Dispatch software usually integrates with GPS, ERP, CRM, and other logistics systems.
- Customizable and scalable solutions – dispatch software offers flexibility for tailoring solutions to specific operational requirements. It is often designed to scale up as the business grows. This feature ensures the software adapts to changing needs without compromising efficiency.
These features are critical for efficient dispatch operations, driver and field service staff safety, and customer satisfaction.
There are several good free dispatch software options available online. Here are some highly viewed and highly rated options:
- Workyard – the app provides several dedicated solutions for field service companies. Its GPS tracking is among the most accurate in the field, providing real-time location data and updates to dispatchers. It also features a live map view where you can track employees’ and vehicles’ whereabouts in real time. Workyard also offers scheduling, time-tracking, and job-tracking features to streamline business processes.
- Motive – this dispatch software offers real-time tracking, route optimization, and automated scheduling. It integrates with other systems and platforms, making it a versatile choice for logistics and transportation management.
- Omnitracs – this dispatch software is designed for small to mid-sized trucking and logistics companies. It specializes in optimizing routes and managing loads, making it a favorite among smaller and mid-sized companies looking for a smart, efficient solution.
- ServiceTitan – this dispatch software helps field service companies optimize routes and schedules, reducing drive time and fuel costs while ensuring technicians with the right skills are sent to the right jobs. Its color-coded, drag-and-drop interface allows for quick scheduling changes, and its route optimization tool navigates traffic problems to minimize delays.
These are some of the top-rated free dispatch software options available. Each has its unique features and capabilities, so it’s essential to evaluate them based on your specific business needs and workflow.
Prioritize live GPS with refresh in seconds, drag-and-drop scheduling, and a driver mobile app that works offline. Look for HOS awareness, multi-stop planning, document capture, and automated ETA texts. Solid reporting should show on-time rate, revenue per truck, and deadhead.
Good dispatch apps for small businesses also include simple rate entry, lane templates, and one-click driver settlements. Finally, check integrations for accounting, fuel cards, ELDs, and load boards. If the UI takes more than a day to learn, keep shopping.
Entry plans often run $25–$100 per truck per month for basic scheduling, GPS, and a driver app. Add $15–$40 per vehicle for ELD or telematics.
Advanced route optimization, AI cameras, or load board connectors are usually extra. Implementation ranges from self-serve at $0 to a few thousand dollars for guided setup and data migration.
Pricing varies with user seats, number of vehicles, features enabled, and contract length. To compare apples to apples, calculate the total monthly cost per active truck, including add-ons and messaging fees.
Start with accounting to eliminate rekeying and speed invoicing. Next, connect ELDs to pull HOS, location, and odometer data into planning and compliance. Fuel card and toll integrations improve cost control and IFTA. Load board links streamline tendering, while TMS or CRM connections help with rate history and customer SLAs.
For field operations, consider parts/inventory and photo storage. Strong APIs let you automate status updates, POD syncs, and detention clocks across systems.
Look for dispatch programs that keep setup simple: quick customer and lane templates, mobile document scan, and clear per-truck pricing. Dispatch apps for small business should offer fast load entry, turn-by-turn for drivers, POD capture, and automatic settlements.
Favor tools with built-in factoring export, fuel card sync, and easy QuickBooks mapping. If you run mixed work like local P&D and occasional long haul, make sure the platform supports multi-stop routes, recurring customers, and geofenced arrivals so you get accurate ETAs without extra clicks.
