If you've been shopping TMS software and Truckbase came up, you've probably noticed it's not exactly priced for a two-truck operation. Truckbase publishes a $290/month minimum billed annually, or $490/month billed monthly per their Capterra listing, and their pricing is consultative beyond that. For a small fleet trying to get organized, that floor matters. This article looks at what you actually need from a Truckbase alternative and how HaulerPro stacks up on the features that count: dispatch, documents, invoicing, IFTA mileage, and driver management.
For a broader look at how to evaluate TMS software as an independent carrier, see the TMS for owner-operators guide.
What Small Fleets Actually Need From a TMS
A small fleet's TMS checklist is different from a mid-market carrier's. You're not running a 50-truck operation with a dedicated IT team. You need software that earns its spot from day one, without a six-month implementation or a sales-call pricing conversation every time something changes.
- Dispatch that doesn't require a dedicated dispatcher. Owner-operators and small fleet managers often wear three hats. The dispatch screen needs to be fast and clear.
- Documents attached to the right load. BOLs, rate cons, and PODs need to land on the load record, not get lost in an email thread or a folder on someone's desktop.
- Invoicing that happens right after delivery. The faster the invoice goes out, the sooner cash starts moving. One-click invoicing from a completed load is the standard you should expect.
- IFTA mileage data without manual math. Sorting through fuel receipts and state-by-state miles by hand every quarter is a time drain. Good TMS software captures per-jurisdiction miles from dispatched loads automatically.
- Pricing that scales with your team, not against it. When you add a driver or a dispatcher, your costs should scale predictably, not spike.
Truckbase: Where It Fits and Where It Doesn't
Truckbase markets real-time fleet visibility through integrations with over 30 ELDs (per their homepage), QuickBooks Online and Desktop sync, and a dispatch workflow positioned around minimal data entry. On their Capterra listing, Truckbase self-describes as specialized for heavy haul, oversize, and complex moves. Their main site pitches a broader carrier audience. The positioning varies by channel.
What's consistent: Truckbase's pricing floor. At $290/month billed annually (or $490/month billed monthly), a solo owner-operator or a two-truck carrier is paying for a platform sized for a larger operation. There's no free trial. If your fleet is small and your margins are tight, that starting point deserves scrutiny.
Truckbase does not list IFTA as a named feature on their public marketing site or Capterra listing, so if IFTA mileage tracking is a priority, you'd want to confirm that directly with their team before signing up.
How HaulerPro Compares on the Core Features
HaulerPro is built for independent carriers and small fleets across reefer, dry van, flatbed, hotshot, box truck, and LTL. From owner-operators up through fleets of 15 or more trucks. Here's how the core features break down.
Dispatch
HaulerPro's dispatch is one screen. You assign a load to a driver, the driver gets a consent-based text notification when the load is assigned, and they open the driver app to manage their side of the run. Managers and dispatchers see load status when drivers update it. No GPS hardware, no ELD required to get started.
Documents
Drivers scan documents from the phone app and they attach to the specific load the driver scanned them for. PODs auto-attach to the invoice generated for that load. Rate confirmations and delivery documents attach to the load record when the driver scans them. Nothing routes to a global inbox or gets lost in the process.
Invoicing
One-click invoice from a completed load. The POD is already attached. You're not chasing paperwork before you can bill.
IFTA Mileage
Per-jurisdiction miles are auto-captured from dispatched loads using route polygon intersection across the 48 contiguous states. Fuel receipts are scanned and stored on the load record. At the end of the quarter, the panel aggregates your miles by jurisdiction and you export an ifta_miles.csv. That file is your input when you work with your accountant or your state's IFTA administering agency to complete your quarterly filing. HaulerPro captures the mileage data. The filing is yours to complete.
Driver Settlements
HaulerPro generates driver settlement statements from dispatched loads. Pay bases include percentage of load, flat per load, per mile, per day, and per hour. Per-settlement deductions (fuel advance, escrow, insurance) show as labeled lines with gross pay, total deductions, and net pay on one statement. Double-pay protection means a load already settled once can't be paid again on a later statement.
Expenses and Profitability
Log expenses per load or per truck. You see real profit on every run, not just revenue. The Dispatch KPIs card on the Finance tab shows loaded revenue per mile, all-in revenue per mile, and the deadhead ratio for delivered loads in a chosen period, for the fleet and by driver, alongside on-time delivery data.
Pricing: What You Actually Pay
HaulerPro pricing is per user, not per truck. Every login counts: managers, dispatchers, and drivers.
- 1 to 2 users: $59/month
- Each added user: $29/month
- Up to 5 users (Starter): $95/month
- 11 to 15 users (Growth): $250/month
Annual billing is 10 times the monthly rate, which works out to two months free. There's a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. For fleets over 15 users, contact sales.
A two-truck carrier with two driver logins and one owner login pays $88/month. A five-person team pays $95/month on the Starter plan. Compare that to Truckbase's $290/month annual floor and the difference is real money on a small fleet's P&L.
What to Consider When Switching
If Truckbase isn't the right fit right now, here are the practical questions to ask any alternative before you commit:
- Does pricing scale with users or trucks? Per-user pricing and per-truck pricing feel similar until you start adding drivers with logins. Know what you're paying per seat.
- Is there a free trial? Any TMS worth switching to should let you try it before you pay. Truckbase does not offer one. HaulerPro's 14-day free trial requires no credit card.
- Does IFTA mileage capture come standard? If you cross multiple states, this is a quarterly necessity. Confirm whether it's built in or an add-on.
- How does document handling actually work? Ask whether scanned documents attach to the load automatically or require manual sorting. The answer matters at 2 a.m. after a long run.
- What does support look like? HaulerPro offers founder-led support from someone who built the software around how carriers actually work.
Related Reading
If you're still working through the broader TMS selection decision, the TMS for owner-operators guide covers what features matter most at different fleet sizes, how to evaluate pricing models, and what questions to ask before signing up for any platform. You can also browse all HaulerPro comparisons to see how HaulerPro stacks up against other tools in the market.
Try HaulerPro Free for 14 Days
If Truckbase's pricing floor is too high for where your fleet is right now, or you want a TMS that handles dispatch, documents, invoicing, IFTA mileage, and driver settlements without a consultative sales process, HaulerPro is worth a look. Built for the Carriers Who Built Themselves. Start your 14-day free trial. No credit card required.