AscendTMS
ascendtms.com
What it is
AscendTMS is transportation management software for freight brokers, carriers, fleets, third-party logistics providers and shippers. Its road-freight tools cover load management, financials and profit monitoring, route review, load documentation, and branch and department management. Load searching, posting and truck matching are included; access to DAT or Truckstop.com services requires a separate subscription. Users can post loads to as many as 53 load boards, though subscriptions may be required. AscendTracker can request a driver's GPS location and status by text message, without a driver app. Carrier checks include verification, qualification and fraud detection using an MC or DOT number. Basic costs $69 a month per user, Premium $119 a month per user, and PRO $149 a month per user. Premium adds accounting functions, while PRO includes shipper profiles and leads, e-signatures, KPI reporting, outbound EDI and order management. The software runs on Android, iOS and the web, and offers a 30-day trial. Subscriptions are monthly, with no setup fees or contract periods and cancellation at any time.
Spec sheet
- What it does
- AscendTMS is a cloud transportation-management system for freight brokers, carriers, 3PLs and shippers.Read 14 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Product
- AscendTMS is transportation management software for freight brokers, carriers, fleets, 3PLs, and shippers.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Platforms
- The maker describes AscendTMS as a web-based platform and says e-signature recipients can sign from a phone, tablet, PC, or Mac.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- API
- GetApp states that AscendTMS includes an API for connecting third-party solutions.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Integrations
- The maker lists integrations spanning load boards, factoring, finance, GPS/ELD, carrier onboarding, insurance, licensing, communications and payments.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Support
- Official support operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern, with phone, email and web-form channels.Read 14 Oct 2026 · support.ascendtms.com
- Headquarters
- The maker lists its address as 1463 Oakfield Drive, Suite 116, Brandon, Florida 33511.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Accounting
- Premium accounting includes receivables, payables, advances, statements and Excel financial exports.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Carrier tracking
- AscendTracker can use a text message to obtain a driver's GPS location and status without requiring a driver app.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Carrier vetting
- AscendTMS includes carrier verification, qualification, and fraud detection based on a carrier's MC or DOT number.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Cloud deployment
- The service runs from a web browser without installation, hardware or setup.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gartner.com
- Company founded and size
- LinkedIn lists the company as privately held, founded in 2015, with 201–500 employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Company headquarters
- LinkedIn lists headquarters at 1463 Oakfield Drive, Suite 116, Brandon, Florida 33511.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
- Company history
- The About Us page says InMotion Global's founder led the company and that the first version of Ascend TMS was created in 2002.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Company legal name
- Crunchbase identifies the legal entity as InMotion Global, Inc., also known as AscendTMS.Read 14 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Document management
- Users can scan or text paperwork, then search, tag, download, print, email and attach documents to records.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- EDI
- Outbound EDI sends tenders and receives acceptance, status, appointment and invoice updates.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Electronic signatures
- PRO provides device-independent electronic signatures for load, shipper and driver confirmations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Factoring
- Instant load funding is integrated with Triumph Business Capital and supports wire, ACH, fuel-card, T-Check, money-code and check payments.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Founded-year discrepancy
- Crunchbase describes the company as founded in 2002, while LinkedIn and the maker's About page state 2015.Read 14 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Funding and ownership
- Crunchbase lists a Series A round with Triumph Investment Fund and Tim Higham among the investors, but does not disclose the amount.Read 14 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
- Hosting
- The company About Us page says its servers use Amazon Web Services Cloud.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- IFTA
- The IFTA module calculates state miles and fuel taxes and can import fuel-card data.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Licence
- The terms prohibit sublicensing, resale, modification, derivative works, mirroring and reverse engineering, indicating proprietary software.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ascendtms.com
- Limit: performance and interface
- Gartner reviewers report bugs requiring browser zoom adjustments, while other feedback mentions unresolved limitations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gartner.com
- Limit: pricing add-ons
- Some GetApp reviewers say add-ons or credits can become expensive and costs may rise as teams grow.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Load board posting
- The product page says users can post loads to as many as 53 load boards, and notes that load board subscriptions may be required.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Load boards
- The system can post, unpost and update loads across as many as 53 load boards, subject to board subscriptions.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Load management
- The platform manages loads, dispatch activity, financials, documents, customers and carriers in one system.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- No setup or contract
- The pricing page states there are no setup fees or contract periods and that subscriptions are billed monthly with cancellation at any time.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Payroll
- Driver-pay reports support mileage, percentage, hourly, case, pallet, hundredweight and accessorial compensation methods.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Praise: usability and support
- Independent reviewers repeatedly describe the interface as easy to use and the support team as responsive and helpful.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Praise: value
- Review summaries commonly praise affordability, a free tier or trial, and broad functionality for the price.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- PRO features
- PRO includes live shipper profiles and leads, e-signatures, KPI reporting, outbound EDI, and order management.Read 9 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Rating on G2
- 4.4 out of 5 from 9 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
- Rating on Gartner Peer Insights
- 3.8 out of 5 from 3 ratingsRead 14 Oct 2026 · gartner.com
- Rating on GetApp
- 4.9 out of 5 from 367 reviewsRead 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- Release activity
- The September 17, 2026 release added an asset-planning calendar, Shipper Shield compliance document, CBP Form 7512 documents and a newer PTV API.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Route optimization
- Route tools calculate distances and ETAs using route stops, weather and traffic information.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
- SDK and API documentation
- No public SDK or dedicated developer-API documentation page was located in the reviewed official resources.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Security limitation
- The terms disclaim guarantees that the service will be secure, uninterrupted, error-free or virus-free.Read 14 Oct 2026 · ascendtms.com
- Self-hosting
- The product is presented as hosted cloud software and the reviewed pages provide no self-hosted installation option.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gartner.com
- Tracking
- AscendTracker uses driver text messages to collect GPS positions and load-status responses without a driver app.Read 14 Oct 2026 · thefreetms.com
- Workflow automation
- An If-This-Then-That workflow engine updates load statuses and sends staff notifications.Read 14 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Plans and prices
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Load financials include profit monitoring.
- Carrier tracking can work by text message.
- Carrier checks use MC or DOT numbers.
- Plans have no user limit.
- Monthly subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.
Limits
- DAT and Truckstop.com access needs separate subscriptions.
- Load board subscriptions may be required.
- Plans are paid after the trial.
Who it suits
AscendTMS is aimed at freight brokers, carriers, fleets, 3PLs and shippers that need load management and carrier checks. Premium and PRO add financial management and shipper-facing functions for teams that need them.
AscendTMS in depth
Read the full write-up
Overview
AscendTMS is road-freight management software for brokers, carriers, fleets, 3PLs and shippers. It suits teams that want load operations and carrier checks alongside optional financial and shipper-management tools. Its per-user pricing is straightforward, but DAT and Truckstop.com services cost extra through those providers.
Key features
Load management covers documentation, route review, branch and department management, and load financials with profit monitoring. That breadth helps operations track both shipment activity and its profitability. Load tendering, searching, posting and truck matching support the surrounding workflow; posting can reach up to 53 load boards, though subscriptions may be required.
Carrier verification, qualification and fraud detection use an MC or DOT number, giving brokers checks during carrier selection. AscendTracker can obtain a driver's GPS location and status by text message without requiring a driver app, which avoids making app installation a prerequisite for tracking. Integrations connect with load boards, financial institutions, factoring companies, GPS tracking services and communication providers.
Load-board access needs a closer look: searching, posting and truck matching are included, but using DAT or Truckstop.com services requires a paid subscription to those services. The distinction matters for teams budgeting around those particular networks.
Pricing
All three plans are monthly per user, have no user limit, and include more than 230 standard features. There are no setup fees or contract periods; subscriptions are billed monthly and can be cancelled at any time. Basic is $69 a month ($69 per user per month) and carries no separate driver, truck or load charges. It is the entry point for teams that need the core operation without the higher-tier features.
Premium costs $119 a month ($119 per user per month), adds 33 premium features, and includes the first 30 days free. Its accounts receivable and payable management, advances, customer statements and Excel financial exports make it the appropriate step up for businesses bringing financial administration into the system.
PRO costs $149 a month ($149 per user per month), includes premium features and the first 30 days free, and adds Shipper CRM Live, live shipper profiles and leads, e-signatures, KPI reporting, outbound EDI, order management and AI. It is aimed at operations that need those shipper, reporting and transaction tools; teams that do not need them can avoid the additional per-user cost with Basic or Premium. A separate 30-day trial is also offered.
Platforms
AscendTMS runs on web, Android and iOS. The company says its servers use Amazon Web Services Cloud. Support is available by phone and email Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Time; email or a form can be used outside those hours.
Who it's for
AscendTMS is a fit for road-freight businesses that want load oversight, carrier vetting and tracking in one system, with the option to add accounting or shipper-facing workflows by plan. Brokers may value the MC/DOT-based checks and load-board workflow; teams that need financial controls should compare Premium, while those needing CRM, e-signatures or outbound EDI should weigh PRO. It is less compelling for buyers whose essential DAT or Truckstop.com access would make separate subscriptions a significant part of the budget.
Pros and cons
Pros: Load tools combine documentation and route review with profit monitoring, giving teams operational and financial visibility over loads.
Pros: Carrier vetting uses MC or DOT numbers, and text-based AscendTracker requests location and status without a required driver app.
Pros: Monthly per-user billing has no setup fee or contract period, and Basic has no separate driver, truck or load charges.
Cons: DAT and Truckstop.com services require paid subscriptions beyond the included load-board functions.
Cons: The financial and shipper tools are tier-dependent, so buyers needing those workflows must budget for Premium or PRO rather than Basic.
Alternatives
For a different transportation-management shortlist, compare Transportation Management Software; for trucking-focused options, see Trucking Software; and for dispatch tools, browse Dispatch Software.
Aptean Industrial Manufacturing ERP Traverse Edition is a paid alternative with Android, iOS, web and Windows support, a free trial, and custom pricing. Consider it when those platform requirements or an ERP-oriented option better fit the buying brief.
NextUp is paid, runs on Android, iOS and web, offers a trial, and uses custom quotes that vary by company and size. Choose it when quote-based pricing is preferable to a published per-user fee.
TruckingOffice has an ELD Monthly Subscription at $23 a month and a stated $125 one-time truck data reader; its FAQ also gives a $20/mo/truck figure. It is worth comparing for a reader focused on that subscription and hardware setup.
Bluerock TMS is a paid, tailored solution with pricing by expert contact, so it is an option for buyers seeking a customized offering.
CargoWise is a paid option with Android, API, iOS, self-hosted, web and Windows platforms; its listed value-pack prices include $0.20 for eCommerce and 0.45 USD for Contract Warehouse Manager. Compare it when those package-based offerings or platform choices suit better.
Convoy Platform has a free Carrier app with no sign-up or monthly fees, though it requires a carrier account and DOT information. Its free carrier access to loads may suit carriers seeking that narrower no-monthly-fee option.
Drivin is paid, runs on Android, API, iOS and web, and charges monthly rental according to vehicle count, with no user or vehicle limit; the amount is custom. It may suit buyers comparing a vehicle-count-based rental model.
Shipwell TMS is a paid option with customized quote pricing; consider it if a sales-led quote is preferred.
Verdict
Choose AscendTMS if your road-freight operation needs load management, carrier verification and tracking, with higher plans available for accounting or shipper workflows. Its strongest case is the combination of broad load operations and tiered capabilities under cancellable monthly per-user billing. Look elsewhere if DAT or Truckstop.com access is central and separate service subscriptions undermine the budget, or if the per-user model does not suit your operation.
Verdict
AscendTMS brings load operations, carrier vetting and plan-specific financial or shipper tools together for freight businesses. Check separate load-board service costs and compare the included features across its per-user plans.
Where Specifiction places it
- Transportation Management Software#1 of 389.2
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