The 6 Best Trucking Payroll Software

ADP is cloud-based payroll software with extensive HR solutions. Although ADP’s feature set is robust and flexible, it’s the software’s third-party integration with TripLog that makes it a good payroll solution for trucking companies.

Using ADP and TripLog together expands the functionality of both programs. Where ADP lacks built-in IFTA tracking, TripLog can track IFTA and generate tax-compliant reports. Two-way sync in real-time means businesses can keep data updated and accurate across both platforms.

ADP Pricing

ADP does not publish its prices, so you’ll need to contact the company directly for a customized pricing package. Keep in mind that ADP tends to be fee-heavy, so be sure to ask about add-ons and fees for your pricing package.

ADP Features

ADP is a well-regarded payroll solution. Trucking companies can easily run payroll using ADP with its essential payroll features, including direct deposit, check-printing, auto-scheduled payroll, employee management, PTO, and more.

Here’s a deeper look at ADP’s standout features:

• HR resources library
• Time tracking and attendance (add-on)
• TripLog mileage tracking integration
• Background checks (add-on)
• Mobile app for employers and employees
• Extensive reports
• Benefits administration
• Multistate payroll (extra cost)

Is ADP Right For You?

ADP’s payroll-first solution can adapt to trucking-specific payroll needs and is our pick for the best overall trucking payroll software. The software’s TripLog integration adds essential trucking payroll features: mileage tracking and IFTA reporting.

Trucking businesses looking for a payroll solution that integrates with their transportation management system (TMS) may consider looking elsewhere, as ADP does not have any TMS software integrations.

QuickBooks is one of those universal payroll software options with the flexibility to serve businesses in the trucking industry. The software offers a proprietary mileage tracking software add-on, but trucking companies can also choose from several mileage-tracking third-party integrations, including HyperTrack, Timeero, and TripLog. We recommend TripLog, as it’s the only solution with built-in IFTA tracking and reporting.

Trucking companies can choose between QuickBooks Desktop or QuickBooks Online for their payroll needs. If you pay more than 150 workers, you’ll default to QuickBooks Desktop, as QuickBooks Online has a 150-user limit cap.

QuickBooks Payroll Pricing

QuickBooks Payroll pricing starts at $45/month + $4 per person. However, the platform consistently runs discounts for its services, including a 50% off promotion — if you time it right, you’ll be able to land some decent savings.

Unfortunately, QuickBooks is a bit on the fee-heavy side; the software’s pricing terms’ fine print lists most of these extra fees. So be aware that services such as multistate payroll runs, direct deposit for contractors, and payroll tax support may cost you extra.

QuickBooks Payroll Features

QuickBooks Payroll has a wealth of features, but you’ll pay extra for them. With the software’s many integrations, essential payroll features, and a suite of HR solutions, QuickBooks Payroll has earned its spot among the top contenders in the payroll software category.

QuickBooks Payroll’s features include:

• Federal and state payroll tax filing and payment
• Local payroll tax support (in some cases)
• Unlimited payroll runs
• Multistate payroll
• Reimbursements
• Multiple pay rates
• Employee management
• Time tracking

Is QuickBooks Payroll Right For You?

If your trucking business is already using a product within the QuickBooks software suite and wants to stay within the QuickBooks ecosystem, QuickBooks Online Payroll could be a good fit for your business.

With more mileage tracking integrations than ADP, QuickBooks is a great payroll solution for trucking businesses looking for a payroll solution that can integrate with the mileage tracking solution they are already using.

Axon is a transportation management system (TMS) with trucking dispatch, fleet management, accounting, payroll, fleet maintenance, ticketing, warehouse management, and fuel tax services.

Trucking businesses utilize TMS software to manage essential business operations, from tracking truck routes to scheduling truck repairs. Axon includes trucking payroll services within its system, so businesses using the software can easily pay drivers and office staff.

Axon Pricing

Axon does not publish its prices online, but interested customers can reach out for a customized pricing package that suits your business’s needs.

Axon Features

Axon offers a comprehensive TMS solution for trucking businesses looking to manage operations from a single hub. As not all TMS options include payroll, Axon stands out as a solution with built-in trucking payroll software.

Axon’s payroll software includes everything you can expect from traditional payroll software, plus a few trucking payroll features, such as:

• Office and driver payroll
• Set multiple pay rates and schedules
• PC*MILER integration
• Check and direct deposit for contractors
• Fuel tax calculation

Is Axon Right For You?

Axon earned our pick as the best all-in-one trucking payroll software for its robust payroll features and comprehensive TMS software. As a TMS, Axon goes beyond payroll. With Axon’s platform, you can easily manage your entire trucking operation within a single software solution.

Gusto is a cloud-based payroll and HR software with unlimited payroll, benefits administration, time tracking, payroll tax support, and more. Gusto is generally flexible enough to serve as the go-to payroll software across multiple industries, but its functionality is a bit limited when it comes to trucking payroll.

Although trucking businesses can track mileage with Gusto’s Timeero integration, Gusto lacks built-in or integrated IFTA tracking and reporting. However, for small trucking businesses or trucking companies that leave IFTA and mileage tracking to their TMS software, Gusto is a solid payroll solution with a robust feature set.

Gusto Pricing

Gusto is transparent about its pricing, with its employee and contractor payroll plans starting at $40/month + $6 per person paid. If your business will only be paying contractor drivers, Gusto’s Contractor-Only plan costs $6/month/person.

If your business opts to use any of Gusto’s benefits or add-on services, they’ll cost extra. Further, if your business needs to pay international contractors, there are administration fees to consider.

Gusto Features

Gusto’s payroll features are comprehensive and include essentials such as direct deposit, check-printing, unlimited payroll runs, deductions, and reimbursements.

Gusto’s reports, time-tracking, and benefits administration features are a bit limited compared to other popular payroll tracking options in that they aren’t as fully fleshed out. However, Gusto keeps things concise and plays to its strengths, offering excellent core payroll features and steadily improving its features.

Gusto’s payroll features include:

• Unlimited payroll runs
• PTO tracking and management
• Direct deposit and check-printing
• Employee and contractor payments
• Federal, state, and local tax filing
• Deductions and garnishments
• Customizable reports
• 131+ integrations

Is Gusto Right For You?

Gusto is a great payroll solution on its own. However, Gusto’s only mileage tracking integration doesn’t support IFTA tracking and reporting. For this reason, Gusto likely wouldn’t scale well for larger trucking businesses with more complex payroll and tax reporting needs.

However, if you are starting a trucking company or your current trucking business handles IFTA tracking and reporting manually, or through a separate TMS system, Gusto could be a great payroll software.

Axis is a TMS solution made for trucking companies of all sizes, from a single truck to enterprise-sized fleets. The software focuses on automating trucking operations, from dispatch to payroll and everything in between.

While payroll isn’t the focus of Axis’s TMS, it’s every bit as functional and trucking-specific as the rest of the software’s services. However, if you are looking for payroll software that allows you to pay office staff and drivers, Axis isn’t the right fit.

Axis Pricing

Axis offers a variety of pricing packages starting at $75/month, with each package having access to all of Axis’s features. Pricing is based on the size of your trucking company’s fleet and your level of commitment. Customers can choose from packages that support anywhere from one to 150+ trucks or from monthly no-commitment agreements to 36-month contracts.

Axis Features

Axis boasts all the features one would expect from a TMS system, plus built-in payroll for drivers. Axis’s payroll features focus on driver payroll, so trucking companies can get drivers paid in a way that works best for them.

• Driver mobile app (iOS and Android)
• Driver eSigning
• Pay hourly or per hour, mile, or load
• Reimbursement requests and management
• QuickBooks integration
• Safety and fleet compliance support
• Secure document storage
• Fleet-focused factoring services

Is Axis Right For You?

Axis boasts a rich feature set for trucking companies of any size and addresses common trucking pain points, from flexible pay rates to safety compliance.

As a payroll solution, Axis earned our best trucking company payroll software for driver payments because of its ease of use, payment flexibility, and how well it works as a part of the complete Axis TMS software.

As Axis doesn’t support office staff payments, it’s not a good fit for businesses that want to keep driver and office payroll combined in a single software platform.

Strategy Systems is a complete transportation management system (TMS) software solution offering payroll, dispatch solutions, EDI services, accounting, driver management services, fleet maintenance, and CRM. While not exclusively a payroll software solution, Strategy Systems’ payroll solution is built for trucking companies.

Strategy System’s payroll software supports payments for both office staff and drivers, same-day direct deposit, tax support, expense reimbursement, and automated mileage calculations.

Strategy Systems Pricing

Strategy Systems does not publish its pricing online, so you’ll need to contact the company directly for pricing information. Additionally, purchasing Strategy Systems’ payroll solution as a standalone product is not possible, so you’ll be paying for the entire TMS solution.

Strategy Systems Features

Strategy Systems is our pick for the best trucking payroll solution for small trucking companies. Strategy Systems’ payroll software can do everything a traditional payroll software can with the addition of trucking-specific features, including:

• Expense reimbursements
• Payroll tax filing
• Same-day direct deposit
• Deductions
• Track extra stops
• Automated mileage calculation
• Office payroll support
• QuickBooks integration

Is Strategy Systems Right For You?

Strategy Systems is a good fit for small to mid-sized trucking companies looking for a comprehensive TMS system with built-in payroll. Trucking businesses searching for a standalone payroll product should look elsewhere, though.