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Trucker Path is one of the most popular driver-focused mobile applications for truckers, with over one million users today. And, as of its release two years ago, Trucker Path’s operations and driver relationship platform Command has extended the company’s appeal to fleet managers, too.
Across both platforms, it delivers driver-first features rare in the fleet management software space, such as community reviews of truck stops, live parking space updates, and gas prices, plus truck-based navigation with driver-manager messaging. However, while its app is a strong performer for drivers, our research shows Trucker Path’s fledging Command platform is still missing many features other competitors provide.
In this review, we’ll run through both the Trucker Path app and the Command web app, assessing how the interface, features, pricing and more compare to the top picks on the market.
Truck-specific navigation on paid plan; easily dispatched with messaging tools
User-generated near-live parking availability and truck stop information
Integrated load board for truck fleet managers
Limited fleet management capabilities, like less advanced route optimization
Lack of advanced reporting or analytics
Less integrations, including for dashcams
Trucker Path Review: Test Summary
Here’s a summary of what Trucker Path offers according to our research and testing of its platforms.
Trucker Path Review: Test Summary
There’s no denying that Trucker Path’s mobile app is one of the most useful tools for truckers you’ll find. It’s simple to use, allowing truckers to get truck-specific navigation and information on truck stops, gas stations, rest areas, and other points of interest on their routes.
Drivers can read reviews of any relevant spots, as well as get crucial updates on parking availability at any stops, as reported by users. I’d say it’s pretty much essential for truckers to have Trucker Path open on their windscreen-attached smartphone while driving to make their life simpler.
The Command platform, designed for fleet managers, more closely resembles the fleet management software we have reviewed extensively. However, I’d argue it lacks the depth of features found in more advanced systems like Verizon Connect, missing maintenance tools and offering less extensive reporting and integration options, for instance.
That being said, it’s just as easy to use as its mobile app. You can track your drivers, dispatch them on jobs in one click, and message them instantly. Notably, unlike most other tools I’ve tested, it has an integrated load board to help connect shippers and carriers, meaning you can find and assign loads to drivers without leaving the web app.
If your drivers are all using Trucker Path for navigation – and they likely are – it could be well worth integrating your operations by using its Command management system too. If you’re looking for the most extensive and advanced fleet management features around, however, we’d recommend taking a look at our best fleet management software roundup for alternative picks.
Trucker Path Review: Interface Layout and Core Navigation
First, let’s look at the mobile app and web-app software for Trucker Path and Trucker Path’s Command platform in terms of general layout and navigational features.
Mobile app interface: Designed for drivers
After launching and logging into the Trucker Path mobile app, available on Android and iOS devices, I was greeted with its Map view – as you might expect from a navigation app. Key landmark features like “Truck Stops,” “Parking,” “Weigh Stations,” and “Fuel Prices” are prominently displayed for quick access or you can input an address to navigate to.
The app’s map interface uses intuitive icons to represent these different amenities, and you can click any individual one to show only them on the map, making it easy to find what you need quickly.
Below the map is a bottom navigation bar to access the other tools within the app, as seen in the image above. Namely:
- Map: View nearby truck stops, parking, and other points of interest.
- Trips: Plan truck-specific routes avoiding restrictions.
- Messages: Interact with other drivers and share updates.
- Me: Manage your account settings and preferences.
- More: Any additional tools and settings.
Command platform: Web-based fleet management
The Trucker Path Command platform is designed for fleet managers, providing tools to monitor drivers and optimize operations in collaboration with its driver app. In fact, Trucker Path specifically labels it the “first and only Operations & Driver Relationship (ODR) platform” on the fleet market.
By default, you’ll land on the Command dashboard, as you can see below.
The dashboard offers an overview of your fleet operations at present, with key performance metrics detailing things like revenue per mile, loads to assign and much more.
Above the dashboard is a static navigation bar that can take you to the following pages:
- Map: Real-time GPS tracking of drivers.
- Dispatch: Overview of planned and completed routes.
- Messages: Communication hub for dispatchers and drivers.
- Fuel: Track and monitor your drivers’ fuel usage and locate discounted fuel.
- Accounting: Create invoices, settle payments, and integrate financial data with QuickBooks.
Overall, the Command platform is similarly user-friendly to the app. Tools are well-signposted via icons and text for its top navigation bar and the same for sub-tools within each section on its left-hand static navigation bar.
Both have an appealing aesthetic befitting of modern web and mobile software and resemble other fleet management software I’ve used like Verizon Connect Reveal or Quartix.
Trucker Path Review: Features
Now you know what the software roughly looks like across platforms, next up is our assessment of Trucker Path’s mobile app and web app features. We’ll start with a discussion of the mobile app’s array of tools.
Mobile app features: Trucker-friendly focus
The Trucker Path mobile application has a few core features that are worth considering – especially if you are a trucker. Let’s go through them one by one.
Truck-specific navigation
Trucker Path’s original and core selling point is its Truck-centric navigation which regular tools like Google Maps don’t cater to.
When you input a location via the application’s map tab, you’ll find that Trucker Path offers navigation tailored for trucks, taking into account height, weight, and hazmat restrictions. You’ll need to enable “Optimize Routing For Trucks” in the setting so that your specific truck can be accounted for in the route creation.
You’ve also got more general driving settings you can toggle on if you have a preference to avoid tolls, tunnels, harsh turns, and unpaved roads. These options are invaluable for truck drivers who, more so than other vehicles, need to be certain that the route they are taking is suitable in the name of safety (and convenience, too).
If you or your fleet manager is planning routes in advance, you can use the Trip tab. This will give you a detailed breakdown of your trip with estimated arrival times for each stop and points of interest en route.
Once you commence a route you’ll receive weather and hours of service warnings to let you know if any adverse conditions are coming your way or if you are closing in on your legal Hours Of Service (HOS) limits.
Our research has found that Trucker Path has improved its navigation tools over recent times by adding additional warnings including traffic lights and stop signs to its route graphics.
This makes it a lot easier to make turns knowing the exact number of traffic lights or stop signs ahead of you. Equally, its satellite view is also valuable in this regard, allowing truckers to look at their destination and get an idea of how they could maneuver their vehicle upon arrival.
However, we have found some users complain about the reliability and quality of the GPS navigation itself, compared to alternatives like Hammer GPS.
That’s primarily because recent updates have seen the default navigation for free users reportedly only be appropriate for cars rather than semi-trucks and trailer trucks. This severely limits its utility as a GPS for truckers unless you opt to pay its monthly fee, so be sure that you can and have enabled “Optimize Routing For Trucks” toggle on the navigation settings before setting off.
Truck stops: Live parking availability and amenity reviews
The app provides detailed information on reportedly over 20,000 truck stops in the US, including amenities like showers, restaurants, and fuel stations.
User reviews and ratings help drivers choose the best stops with the latest information, like weigh station statuses and wait times, much like how the Waze app allows users to report traffic or collision incidents on the road. This can often tell you if truck stops require payment, for instance, or if a stop has Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). With crowd-sourced reviews of around 500,000 points of interest, you should be fairly well accounted for (albeit, this will depend on the locations you frequent most).
One of the standout features here is the ability to see real-time data on parking availability at truck stops and rest areas, as shown in the image above as ‘some spots’. Drivers can see which locations have available spots, reducing the stress of finding parking, and it’s something users of the app regularly highlight as a core feature as to why they use the app over others.
These statuses are informed by users on the platform, so they may not always be up-to-date or accurate. But it generally gives a solid barometer of whether there is available parking and there’s a time last updated stamp to let you know if the latest information is new or old.
Fuel and weighing stations
With around 11,000 fueling locations on the app for drivers to rate – not including the fueling locations designated as truck stops – there are plenty of resources to find a place to top up on gas using Trucker Path, too.
Providing up-to-date fuel prices allows drivers to plan refueling stops to save on costs. Drivers can also view the status of weigh stations (open or closed) and read recent reports from other drivers.
I think it’s fair to say that Trucker Path’s active community is the lifeblood of its app’s best features. As the above image shows, it also allows users to track their contributions, reply to comments or questions by other users, and get notified about any interactions to keep these conversations going, too.
Drivers get involved as Trucker Path incentivizes users to give updates on road conditions, such as unlimited access to certain features on free accounts. It’s unclear whether these incentives are standardized, however, and have reportedly changed several times over recent years. It’s worth saying that these incentive notifications won’t block your navigation screen when en route, as this would be unsafe for drivers.
Command platform features: Basic fleet oversight
Targeted for small fleets, Trucker Path’s Command TMS platform offers parking, navigation, track and trace, and operations software via the all-in-one web app.
Real-time tracking
Fleet managers can track the real-time locations of drivers, helping with dispatching and route adjustments. To do this drivers either need to enable location sharing from within the driver app, or have an ELD device installed in their vehicle and connected to a driver’s profile through Trucker Path or with a third-party provider such as Motive or Samsara.
After that, you’ll be able to see the driver’s location within their profile on Command or via a specific load a driver is handling. To see all drivers on the system, you can use the map view.
The map view displays each driver as favicons of their initials so you can identify each driver individually. Each icon will have a little circle to show whether they have been assigned a load (green), are currently completing a load (blue), or are yet to be assigned a load (orange). Hovering your mouse over each icon will give a more detailed breakdown of the load or driver, including the address of their current location, contact details, the ability to message, and more.
Those signifiers are a little different from most other vehicle tracking software I’ve tested, which tend to use arrows to signify the direction of travel and a color to show whether that vehicle is stationary, idling, or moving. Given this is tracking software specifically for trucks, however, I believe Trucker Path’s system is more practical for managers as loads will be the priority above live information on truckers’ movements.
In any case, managers can monitor trip progress to see if drivers are adhering to routes through a map on the driver’s profile, as well as set alerts to automatically be notified of deviations from routes or other things, like delays.
Messaging
Another handy feature is Trucker Path facilitates direct communication between dispatchers and drivers on the platform itself.
Navigating to the message center (by clicking the message icon on the top-right of the dashboard) opens the messaging interface to chat with drivers. On the left are ongoing conversations and on the right active message threads appear after being clicked.
The platform supports text, images, and voice messages, as well as group messaging with chosen participants. As we’ll come to shortly, you can send routes on here too, which drivers will then be able to access on the mobile app.
Integrating messaging within the platform means drivers won’t need to jump between apps while on the road. It’s a useful feature some fleet software miss out on, such as Quartix. Albeit other fleet management platforms like Verizon Connect, Samsara, and GPS Insight do offer in-built messaging.
Routing
Basic routing tools in Trucker Path Command allow managers to plan and assign routes to drivers.
There aren’t any advanced optimization algorithms as you might find with Verizon Connect or Samsara, but routes are adjusted in real-time based on road closures, traffic conditions, and weather events or edited by managers themselves.
Once you’ve created a route, you can send it directly to a driver on the messaging system or as a text message. Drivers can view the stops on the app, as outlined previously, as well as points of Interest (such as truck stops, rest areas, and weigh stations) along said routes.
It’s also useful that you can create preferred lanes for specific drivers or vehicles within your fleet.
In other words, if you have found there’s a problematic aspect of Trucker Path’s routing that regularly takes your drivers down a path you would rather avoid, or you simply want to be sure that your drivers take a specific route or avoid certain areas, you can set points to correct that by editing the routing profile of a driver/vehicle.
Load Board
A feature that we haven’t come across in fleet management software is Trucker Path’s load board. In essence, this tab of the web app provides fleet managers with a streamlined way to find, book, and manage freight.
Trucker Path has a separate platform called TruckLoads which allows users to access thousands of available freight postings from shippers and brokers. Within Command, fleet managers can search for loads based on criteria like location, route, and price, making it easier to find high-paying freight that fits their drivers’ schedules.
Once a suitable load is found, managers can directly contact the broker or shipper through the platform to secure the load.
The load management system in Command lets you track all active loads in its centralized view. It includes features like My Loads, which displays the status and details of each load, including delivery progress and driver information.
There’s also a timeline view of drivers and their scheduled loads, providing a clear overview of who is available for upcoming shipments. This is a valuable tool for optimizing the process of dispatching by matching available drivers with pending loads.
Dispatching tools are found on some advanced systems like Verizon Connect, but they tend to be closed systems for dispatching your own fleet drivers to jobs you’ve created. With Trucker Path, you are managing, creating, and securing load postings from a network of other truckers.
Accounting and reports
Trucker Path also gives you the ability to look into the data behind your fleet and generate reports on driver activities, mileage, and fuel consumption plus key financial data. Here’s an overview of the key reporting capabilities:
- Driver activity reports: Fleet managers can access detailed reports on individual driver performance, including data on completed trips, time spent on the road, and any delays or detours.
- Mileage tracking: The platform automatically compiles mileage data from each trip, drawing information directly from integrated ELDs or the driver’s mobile app. This data can be used to track vehicle wear and maintenance needs, as well as for regulatory compliance like International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) reporting.
- Fuel consumption analysis: Trucker Path Command helps fleet managers monitor fuel expenses with real-time data integration of fuel usage per trip. You can make cost comparisons between different fueling locations, which should help managers plan out more fuel-efficient routes going forward.
- Financial reports: You can generate financial reports, such as driver settlements and customer invoices to ensure drivers are compensated accurately based on completed loads and that billing processes remain transparent. Integrations with accounting tools like QuickBooks can make it easier to export this data if the tools aren’t advanced enough for your accounting needs.
Integrations
Handily, Trucker Path can integrate with external tools for further oversight of fleet dynamics. That includes integrating fuel cards to track fuel spending, its own brokers’ platform for more streamlined management of loads and freights, cargo insurance powered by MiKargo247 for all-risk coverage up to $1 million per load, managing third-party ELD devices from the likes of Samsara and QuickBooks accountancy tools, too.
There’s no denying that other tools have more supported third-party software options for specific tools, such as Verizon Connect which offers several marketplace add-ons for things like compliance, fuel management, safety, maintenance, and other fully-embedded API integrations. It also lacks integration with often essential dashcam hardware.
Still, while limited, Trucker Path’s range of potential integrations could be considered less limited than some other fleet software, like GPS Insight, depending on your needs. We recommend asking Trucker Path’s support to get an exact answer on whether a specific integration is possible with its Command platform.
Trucker Path Review: Customer Support
Trucker Path offers some basic customer support, namely through:
- Email support: Available during business hours (these hours aren’t stated).
- Live chat: Users can talk with Trucker Path agents via its chat (though you won’t get a response unless agents are online during business hours).
- Help center: An online knowledge base with FAQs and guides.
- Community forums: Engage with other users for tips and troubleshooting.
There is no phone support, which could be a drawback for users needing immediate assistance or who want to speak with someone in person.
How Much Does Trucker Path Cost?
Trucker Path has different pricing and bundles depending on whether you are looking to get an integrated app and Command platform solution or just its mobile app.
Command platform pricing
- Command base subscription: $99 per month (includes 1 Operator seat and 2 Driver seats with Diamond Level subscription to Trucker Path mobile app).
- Additional operator seats: $50 per additional seat, per month
- Additional driver seats: $30 per additional seat, per month (includes Diamond Level app subscription).
Trucker Path’s Command platform pricing is pretty straightforward, albeit a little expensive given the amount of features on offer. Starting from $99 per month for two driver seats, and $30 per extra driver, is on par with the most expensive fleet management software we’ve reviewed like Verizon Connect (according to our research, as Verizon uses a bespoke pricing structure it keeps private).
We can be sure that Trucker Path – because of that high $99 per month starting fee – is very likely to be more expensive than GPS Insight, which has a pricing of between $14.95 to $32.95 per vehicle, per month, or Azuga which has pricing from $25 to $35 per vehicle, per month.
Still, these platforms don’t have the driver-centric features that Trucker Path offers, such as reviews of truck stops and live parking availability. That may swing the balance in its favor if you are looking to keep your fleet drivers happy.
Mobile app pricing
- Basic version: Free, with access to essential features.
- Pro subscription: $19.99 per month, offering ad-free usage, enhanced navigation, and additional features like weather overlays. Discounts for yearly payments are possible but variable. At the time of writing, it is $150 for one year.
It’s worth noting that mobile app users have complained about the difficulty of canceling a Trucker Path app subscription so this is something to look into.
Trucker Path vs Competitors
Given the differences between Trucker Path and most fleet management software we’ve tested, as outlined throughout this Trucker Path review, it holds a unique position in the market.
Here’s a look at how it compares at a glance before we dive into its specific benefits and drawbacks versus the competition.
GPS Insight | Quartix | Spireon | GPS Trackit | RAM | Linxup | ||||
| | | | | | ||||
4.7 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.1 |
Pricing (Software) | Pricing (Software) From $14.95 to $32.95/month | Pricing (Software) From $25/month | Pricing (Software) | Pricing (Software) From $25 to $35/month | Pricing (Software) From $14.90 to $22.90 | Pricing (Software) On request | Pricing (Software) From $23.95 | Pricing (Software) From $15.99 | Pricing (Software) Starts at $25 per month |
Best For Best overall fleet management system | Best For Small to medium-sized fleets | Best For Pay-as-you-go | Best For Managing vehicles | Best For Efficient routes | Best For Fleets of cars | Best For Fast updates | Best For Smaller fleets | Best For Affordability | Best For Minimizing downtime |
Strengths vs competitors
There are a few core reasons why Trucker Path may be the option for your fleet over other software solutions.
Large, active community user base to help drivers
Trucker Path’s extensive community contributes to up-to-date information with coverage across a wider range of locations than a single company could update. This makes the app pretty reliable for its most useful tools such as parking availability or reviews of truck stops (albeit, this approach does rely on honesty from the community).
This aspect of Trucker Path can help drivers plan routes more effectively and reduce time spent searching for suitable spots to refuel on cheap gas, park to have a rest, and more.
That’s not something most fleet management software offers, even those with dedicated driver apps since they often have a closed system. In other words, you’ll only be able to communicate with those within your fleet of associated accounts and that’s all. Similarly, driver route maps tend to focus on navigation rather than offer details about what is on the routes a driver will be taking.
For instance, even our highest-rated fleet management software Verizon Connect Reveal does not offer real-time parking data, pricing for gas, or any user-generated reviews of notable points of interest. Instead, it focuses more on route optimization and fleet management, so Trucker Path Command offers a unique benefit in this area that your drivers will thank you for suggesting (if they aren’t using it already).
Integrated load board access
Trucker Path Command integrates directly with a load board, allowing users to find and book freight within the same platform. This streamlines operations by reducing the need to switch between different applications or integrate third-party apps.
GPS Insight lacks this feature, meaning users must use separate systems to manage loads and fleet tracking, which can be less efficient. The same is true of Verizon Connect Reveal, although it does have a jobs scheduler tool that could work for a similar purpose and can integrate with third-party trucker apps, too.
Ease of use and quick deployment
I’ve found Trucker Path Command to be noticeably user-friendly and can be quickly deployed without extensive training or setup. GPS Insight and Verizon Connect Reveal offer much more complex systems that may require longer implementation times and training sessions for staff, making Trucker Path a more convenient option for fleets seeking a swift setup.
Weaknesses Compared to Competitors
Compared to platforms like Verizon Connect and GPS Insight, Trucker Path’s Command platform lacks quite a few advanced fleet management tools. That list includes:
Automated route optimization
While Trucker Path Command includes basic navigation, it does not offer automated route optimization. Verizon Connect Reveal, on the other hand, has sophisticated route optimization algorithms that consider factors like traffic conditions, delivery windows, and vehicle load capacities to generate the most efficient routes. That can help make significant fuel savings and improve your fleet’s delivery times, too.
Limited vehicle diagnostics and no maintenance scheduling
Trucker Path Command does not provide in-depth vehicle diagnostics or maintenance scheduling. In contrast, GPS Insight offers advanced features like real-time engine data monitoring, fault code detection, and proactive maintenance alerts. These features could help prevent breakdowns and extend your trucks’ lifespan.
Advanced reporting and analytics
Trucker Path Command lacks sophisticated analytics and customizable reporting capabilities compared to its rivals, too. GPS Insight offers reporting tools that allow fleet managers to generate detailed reports on things like fuel usage, driver performance, and operational efficiency.
These insights enable data-driven decision-making, a feature not fully available with Trucker Path Command which limits itself to general overviews available via its dashboard or a few accountancy tools.
Minimal support for international operations
Besides feature limitations, it’s also worth noting that Trucker Path Command primarily focuses on the US market and has limited support for international tracking or cross-border operations. You can’t get its mobile application in the UK, for instance.
Quartix and Verizon Connect, however, operate in multiple countries including the UK and Europe, providing better support for fleets with international routes.
Verizon Connect offers easy self-installation, traffic alerts, and automatic route optimization. Learn more about its fleet management software by visiting Verizon’s website.
Trucker Path holds a unique position in the fleet market. Unlike the majority of fleet management software, it puts the driver experience first rather than fleet operational functionalities. It’s large, active user base facilitates communication between a community of truckers who provide reviews of top truck stops, places with parking spaces, and the prices of gas at refueling locations.
Things aren’t perfect for drivers, with our research telling us it doesn’t offer the most reliable navigation for trucks (and none at all via its free plan). A better alternative in this regard is likely to be the truck-optimized Garmin Dezl GPS which will only cost a one-time fee for the hardware. That hardware doesn’t get you the live updates Trucker Path can provide, however, so for long-term truckers, it may just be worth investing in both to have you covered.
For managers, its Command platform is lacking the smarts of our highest-rated fleet management software solutions like Verizon Connect, GPS Insight, and others. It misses out on tools for vehicle maintenance, detailed reporting, and advanced route optimization, amongst others.
Still, for small to medium-sized trucking fleets that don’t require these features, Trucker Path’s streamlined tracking and dispatching, integrated load board, and overall ease of use for drivers and management alike, may mean it is worth investing in.
Still unsure about how much you need to invest in your fleet management system? Use our free quote comparison tool to get the most accurate prices straight from the leading providers in the industry.