- Freight broker software side by side
- Eleven freight broker tools worth a look
- Which freight broker tool to start with
- Check operating authority before anything else
- One broker TMS versus a stack of specialist tools
- Questions to ask a freight broker software vendor
- Signs your brokerage needs better software
- My plain advice on choosing freight broker software
- Frequently asked questions
The best freight broker software helps a brokerage cover loads, vet carriers, track freight and keep cash moving, usually with a broker TMS at the centre and specialist tools around it. Some are full transportation management systems, while others solve one job such as carrier identity, capacity or cargo insurance. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
A brokerage lives or dies on speed and trust, and there isn't much room for either to slip. You have to find a truck quickly, be sure the carrier is who they say they are, keep the shipper updated and pay the carrier on time, often for dozens of loads at once.
The eleven tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. If you're weighing up how brokers and 3PLs create value for shippers, my piece on how 3PL logistics helps shippers gives useful context.
Freight broker software side by side
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free allowance or an open source version. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to start for free, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Banyan Technology | Freight management software | Connecting to many LTL carriers | Not stated |
| Denim | Factoring and payments for brokers | Factoring, payments and collections | Not stated |
| Descartes 3G TMS | Unified transportation management software | 3PLs managing many modes | Not stated |
| Descartes Aljex | TMS for freight brokers | Small and mid-size brokerages | Not stated |
| Highway | Carrier identity and vetting | Stopping fraud and double brokering | Not stated |
| Loadsure | Freight insurance | Per-load cargo cover | Not stated |
| Parade | Capacity management for brokerages | Finding trucks without endless phone calls | Not stated |
| Revenova | TMS built on Salesforce | Brokers who already live in Salesforce | Not stated |
| Tai TMS | Freight broker TMS | Running a brokerage from one system | Not stated |
| Trucker Tools | Load tracking and freight matching | Tracking loads and matching carriers | Not stated |
| Turvo | Collaborative transportation management software | Shared visibility with shippers and carriers | Not stated |
Eleven freight broker tools worth a look
Banyan Technology
Best for: Shippers and 3PLs who want freight management software with carrier connections for LTL, truckload, parcel and final mile shipping.
Denim
Best for: Brokers and trucking companies who want factoring, payments and collections handled by one provider, easing cash flow between loads.
Descartes 3G TMS
Best for: 3PLs and shippers who want one TMS across modes and partners, with control and visibility across every mode.
Descartes Aljex
Best for: Small and mid-size brokerages that want a long-established, broker-focused TMS, now part of Descartes.
Highway
Best for: Brokerage compliance teams who want to confirm carrier identity before tendering a load, cutting the risk of fraud and stolen freight.
Loadsure
Best for: Shippers and brokers who want per-load cargo insurance and other freight cover bought digitally as each load moves.
Parade
Best for: Brokerages that want capacity management, with live carrier bids on a lane so reps can cover loads with fewer calls.
Revenova
Best for: Salesforce users in brokerage and 3PL work who want their TMS and CRM in one place, built on the Salesforce platform.
Tai TMS
Best for: Brokerages that want a TMS built for freight brokers, covering the day-to-day running of the brokerage in one system.
Trucker Tools
Best for: Freight reps who want digital load tracking and freight matching, with a carrier portal that keeps drivers and reps in sync.
Turvo
Best for: 3PL and brokerage teams who want a collaborative TMS where shippers, carriers and staff see the same shipment record.
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Which freight broker tool to start with
- A broker TMS at the centre: Tai TMS, Descartes Aljex or Revenova.
- Shared visibility across modes and partners: Turvo or Descartes 3G TMS.
- Stopping fraud before you tender a load: Highway.
- Finding trucks with fewer calls: Parade or Trucker Tools.
- LTL and parcel carrier connections: Banyan Technology.
- Cash flow and cargo cover: Denim and Loadsure.
Check operating authority before anything else
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says companies that arrange for the transport of federally regulated commodities owned by others, for a fee, in interstate commerce, generally need interstate Operating Authority in addition to a USDOT number.
That applies to your brokerage and to every carrier you use. Keep your own authority current, and make sure your software stores each carrier's authority details and flags anything that changes before a load is tendered.
One broker TMS versus a stack of specialist tools
A single broker TMS keeps quotes, loads, carriers and invoices in one record, which is simpler for a small team and easier to train new reps on.
Most growing brokerages add specialist tools around it, for carrier vetting, capacity, tracking or factoring, and that's fine. It works well when the tools talk to each other, so check integrations before you sign anything. If they don't, your reps end up retyping loads.
Questions to ask a freight broker software vendor
- Does it integrate with the load boards we post on?
- How does it vet carrier identity and authority?
- Can shippers track their loads without calling us?
- Does it handle carrier payments and invoicing?
- Can we see margins per load and per rep?
- How long does onboarding take for a team our size?
Signs your brokerage needs better software
- Reps cover loads by phone and spreadsheet. Centralise it.
- You've had a carrier identity scare. Add vetting.
- Shippers call for every update. Share tracking links.
- Carrier payments run late. Fix cash flow first.
Do you make freight brokerage or TMS software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing freight broker software
Start with the broker TMS, because everything else plugs into it, and choose one your reps can learn in a week. Then add carrier vetting before you add anything clever, because one fraudulent carrier can wipe out a month of margin.
Keep the shipper experience in mind too. Tracking links and quick answers win repeat business, and my guide to choosing a logistics partner shows what shippers look for when they compare brokers.
Frequently asked questions
What is freight broker software?
Freight broker software is the set of tools a brokerage uses to quote, cover, track and invoice loads, usually built around a broker TMS.
Do freight brokers need operating authority?
Generally, yes. FMCSA says companies arranging interstate transport of regulated freight for a fee need Operating Authority as well as a USDOT number.
What is double brokering?
Double brokering is when a load is re-brokered without the shipper's or original broker's knowledge, often as part of fraud.
How do brokers check carriers?
Many use carrier identity and vetting tools to confirm who they're dealing with before tendering a load.
What is freight factoring for brokers?
Factoring turns unpaid invoices into cash sooner, so a broker can pay carriers without waiting for the shipper.
Is a TMS the same as freight broker software?
A broker TMS is the core piece, but most brokerages add tools for vetting, capacity, tracking and payments.


