Buyer’s Guide

Freight broker software, and how to choose it.

Most brokerages don’t set out to run six systems — it happens gradually. Here’s what the software has to handle, what AI actually automates, and the questions worth asking before you sign.

Polt Command

LIVE

ACTIVE LOADS

1,284

▲ 6.2%

ON-TIME %

99.7%

▲ 0.4%

AT RISK

3

AI flagged

Active Loads

Auto-built by AI

Chicago, IL → Dallas, TX

#PL-48213 · Ryder Fleet

IN TRANSIT

Atlanta, GA → Miami, FL

#PL-48219 · Knight-Swift

BOOKED

Newark, NJ → Columbus, OH

#PL-48224 · Werner Ent.

AI BUILT

Phoenix, AZ → Denver, CO

#PL-48231 · Schneider

DELIVERED

Live Tracking

99.7% visibility

Route from Chicago to Dallas

Chicago, IL

Dallas, TX

On-time · ETA 4h 12m

Load Volume · This Week

▲ 18% vs last

M

T

W

T

F

S

S

Intake to Invoice

One Record

Carrier Vetting

Margin Visible

Load Intake

Carrier Sourcing

Rate Confirmation

Tracking & Check Calls

Documents & POD

Invoicing & Settlement

Margin Reporting

No Per-Seat Fees

What the software has to handle

A brokerage doesn’t own trucks. It owns relationships, information and margin — so broker software has to run the space between the customer’s load and the carrier hauling it, not a fleet.

Built for brokers.

Not fleet software with the truck fields hidden, and not a shipper TMS with margin bolted on at the end.

One system of record.

Every load, carrier and document in one place, so nobody exports from three systems to answer one question.

Priced to grow.

Volume-based pricing means hiring a rep doesn’t get weighed against the software bill.

$999

Per month, up to 225 loads

Volume

Based pricing, not per seat

Open

API & EDI access

Where AI changes the work

Specific about what is automated — and what still needs a person.

⚡LOAD BUILDERLIVE
TENDEREMAILEDI→
Chicago, IL → Dallas, TX
AI BUILT
LOAD
#PL-48213
CARRIER
Ryder Fleet
RATE
$2,310
4.2s

Reads the tender

Turns a tender email, PDF or EDI request into a fully built load, without manual re-typing.

⚡RATE AGENTLIVE
Carrier asks $2,450
Polt counters $2,180 · live market
AGREED · $2,310 ✓
MARGIN FLOOR $2,050ASK $2,450

Negotiates rates

Works customer and carrier rates in real time against live market data.

⚡CHECK CALLSLIVE
#PL-48213Chicago → DallasON TIME ✓
#PL-48219Atlanta → MiamiON TIME ✓
#PL-48224Newark → ColumbusON TIME ✓
0 CALLS MADE BY YOUR TEAM

Runs the check calls

Handles carrier check calls and status updates without your team picking up the phone.

⚡EXCEPTIONSLIVE
Detention risk · Newark, NJ
Rescheduling dock window…AGENT
Resolved · dock 14, 6:40 PMDONE ✓

Surfaces exceptions

Flags the loads that need a person, instead of leaving them to be discovered late.

⚡ANALYTICSLIVE
MARGIN / LANE▲ 18%
78.6
% ON-MARGIN
99.7%VISIBILITY
50+ hrsSAVED / MO

Shows the margin

Operational data on where margin is made or lost, by lane, customer and rep.

⚡FRAUD SHIELDLIVE
✓Ryder FleetMC 412887VERIFIED ✓
✓Werner Ent.MC 118330VERIFIED ✓
✕FastHaul LLCMC 998102BLOCKED ✕

Checks the carrier

Vetting and fraud checks that act on risk, not just alert on it.

Buying Guide FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Software that runs a freight brokerage’s operations: building loads from customer tenders, sourcing and vetting carriers, tracking shipments, handling documents, invoicing, and reporting on margin. It differs from fleet software, which manages trucks, and from shipper TMS, which manages a shipper’s own freight.

Pricing models vary. Some vendors charge per user per month, which increases as you hire; others charge by shipment volume. Polt starts at $999 per month for up to 225 loads. When comparing, ask for the total cost across every tool you would still need alongside it.

They do different jobs. A load board helps you find capacity. A TMS runs the load once you have it: building it, tracking it, documenting it and billing it. Most brokerages use both.

Usually yes, through integrations or an API. Polt integrates with Truckstop, Denim and Descartes MacroPoint, and provides an open API. Ask any vendor which integrations are live today rather than on a roadmap.

It depends on how many integrations are involved and how much historical data is migrated, and it varies by plan tier. Ask for a written timeline and who is assigned to it before signing.

See it run one of your own tenders.

Book a demo and bring a real load — the fastest way to judge any freight broker software.