# Best McLeod Alternatives for Small Fleets (2026) | Hemut Canonical page: https://hemut.com/alternatives/mcleod Last updated: 2026-10-29 If this disagrees with the HTML page, the HTML page wins. McLeod alternatives # Best McLeod alternatives for small and mid-size fleets (2026) The best McLeod alternatives for a small or mid-size asset carrier are Hemut Command, Truckbase, AscendTMS, TruckingOffice, Alvys, Rose Rocket and PCS. Pick by fleet size and how you like to buy: TruckingOffice and AscendTMS cost least to start, Hemut and Truckbase are built for growing asset carriers, and Rose Rocket and PCS are vendor-led rollouts closer to how McLeod sells.  [Get started for free](https://command.hemut.com/signup)[Hemut vs McLeod in detail](/compare/hemut-vs-mcleod) Last reviewed October 28, 2026. Each vendor's price and trial come from its own pages, opened that day and listed under Sources; Hemut facts come from hemut.com/pricing and the product. Hemut wrote this page, so weigh it with that in mind. ## McLeod alternatives compared: fit, price and trial What each vendor publishes, with the price linked to the page it came from. Where a vendor publishes no price, the cell says so. Who it fits Published price Free trial Hemut Command Asset-based carriers, not pure brokerages [$99 a month with 3 trucks included; $302 for 10 trucks](/pricing#pricing) 30 days, no card; no free tier Truckbase [Asset carriers of about 5 to 50 trucks](https://www.truckbase.com/) [From $290 a month, billed annually](https://www.truckbase.com/pricing) None on its pricing page; demo AscendTMS Brokers, carriers and 3PLs; priced per user [$69, $119 or $149 per user a month](https://www.thefreetms.com/pricing) 30 days TruckingOffice Owner-operators and small fleets [$25 to $90 a month on Basic, $35 to $130 on Pro, by truck count](https://www.truckingoffice.com/tms/transportation-management-system-pricing/) 30 days, no card Alvys Fleets and brokers; billed per load [Not published; quoted on load volume](https://alvys.com/pricing) 14 days on Foundations Rose Rocket Carriers and brokers wanting a configurable platform [Starting at $2,080 a month](https://www.roserocket.com/pricing) None on its pricing page PCS [Asset carriers with 50 to 1,000 trucks](https://pcssoft.com/products/tms/carrier) [Not published; demo request](https://pcssoft.com/lp/request-tmp-demo/) None on its carrier page McLeod, for reference Large carriers and brokers [Not published; demo request](https://www.mcleodsoftware.com/) None on its home page Prices and trials as published on each vendor's own page on October 28, 2026. "None on its pricing page" means we did not find one there, not that none exists. ## The 7 options, one by one Hemut first, since we know it best, then the rest in rough order of fleet size and price. Each entry says who it fits, what it costs, what it does well and what to check before you sign. ### Hemut Command **Who it fits:** Asset-based trucking carriers. Hemut Command is a TMS built for asset-based trucking carriers; it is not built for pure freight brokerages. **Price:** $99 a month includes 3 trucks, then $29 per truck for trucks 4 to 15 and $24 per truck for trucks 16 to 30, so a 10-truck fleet pays $302 a month on Command. Fleets over 30 trucks get a quote. Every plan is on the [pricing page](/pricing#pricing). **Free trial:** 30 days with no load limit and no credit card to start. There is no free tier. **Good at:** Taking the retyping out of the office. Rate confirmations (PDFs) and EDI 204 load tenders are read into loads, and AI voice agents make routine check calls to drivers and record the answers on the load. Driver settlements and invoices are built from that same load record, invoices sync with QuickBooks, and IFTA reports come from imported EFS fuel card transactions and the fleet's own miles. Truck positions from Samsara, Motive, Geotab or Omnitracs show ETAs and arrival times on each load. Factoring paperwork and maintenance records, which many carriers buy separately, are covered too. And Hemut works alongside McLeod: a carrier on McLeod can add Hemut's automation without replacing McLeod first. **Watch for:** Hemut is newer than the legacy platforms, McLeod included, so it has fewer years of installs behind it. There is no free tier, and Hemut costs more than TruckingOffice at every fleet size TruckingOffice publishes a price for (see both on the [Hemut pricing page](/pricing#pricing) and the [TruckingOffice pricing page](https://www.truckingoffice.com/tms/transportation-management-system-pricing/)). Its EDI support reads 204 load tenders, so check any other EDI message your customers need before you switch. ### Truckbase **Who it fits:** Growing asset-based carriers. Its [home page](https://www.truckbase.com/) says it is turnkey at 5 trucks and powerful enough for 50. **Price:** Priced per truck, per driver, per load or as a flat annual rate, with a stated minimum of $290 a month billed annually. No other rate is published on its [pricing page](https://www.truckbase.com/pricing). **Free trial:** None on its pricing page, which offers a free demo. **Good at:** Built for the same buyer as Hemut. Its [home page](https://www.truckbase.com/) lists QuickBooks sync, driver settlements by load and driver, an AI load importer, EDI, a customer portal and connections to over 30 ELDs, and its pricing page includes free live onboarding and unlimited US-based support. **Watch for:** The minimum is billed annually, so you commit to a year up front. Factoring, routing and fuel card integrations are marked "coming soon" on its [home page](https://www.truckbase.com/), so check them if you rely on any. ### AscendTMS **Who it fits:** Brokers, carriers, 3PLs and shippers. It is priced per office user rather than per truck, which suits a fleet with many trucks and a small office. **Price:** $69 (Basic), $119 (Premium) or $149 (Pro) per user a month, with no setup fee or contract, and no charge for drivers, trucks or loads, per its [pricing page](https://www.thefreetms.com/pricing). **Free trial:** 30 days free. **Good at:** A long feature list for the money. Its [pricing page](https://www.thefreetms.com/pricing) lists over 140 pre-installed integrations, invoicing, driver and carrier settlements, driver pay reports, IFTA reports, document management and driver tracking by text message, with setup, support and training free. **Watch for:** The bill grows with every office user, and full accounting (receivables and payables) needs Premium. AscendTMS has long been marketed as a free TMS, but its [pricing page](https://www.thefreetms.com/pricing) showed no free plan when we checked, only the 30 day trial, so confirm what you are signing up for. ### TruckingOffice **Who it fits:** Owner-operators and small fleets that want simple load and trip entry at a low, flat monthly price. **Price:** Basic is $25 a month for 1 to 2 trucks, $55 for 3 to 7 and $90 for 8 or more; Pro is $35, $75 and $130 for the same sizes. PC\*MILER mileage is an add-on from $5 a month. All on its [pricing page](https://www.truckingoffice.com/tms/transportation-management-system-pricing/). **Free trial:** 30 days, no credit card. **Good at:** Simple, predictable billing: a flat price by fleet size, no per-user fees and no contract, per its [pricing page](https://www.truckingoffice.com/tms/transportation-management-system-pricing/). The Pro product adds a load planner and handles both full truckload and LTL. **Watch for:** Its [pricing page](https://www.truckingoffice.com/tms/transportation-management-system-pricing/) describes load and trip entry, mileage and user accounts. It does not describe ELD tracking, driver settlements or automation, so ask about any of those you need before you compare on price alone. ### Alvys **Who it fits:** Fleets and brokers that want an AI-forward TMS with many integrations, billed per load rather than per truck or per user. **Price:** Not published. All three plans are quoted on your load volume, with no setup fee and month-to-month terms, per its [pricing page](https://alvys.com/pricing). **Free trial:** 14 days on the Foundations plan. **Good at:** Integrations come in the box. Its [pricing page](https://alvys.com/pricing) includes QuickBooks, ELD, fuel card and factoring connections on the base plan, includes EDI partners on the higher plans (2 on Growth, 5 on Scale), and lets you add as many dispatchers as you need. **Watch for:** You cannot work out your bill before a sales conversation, and its [pricing page](https://alvys.com/pricing) says most operations are live in under 2 to 4 weeks, so plan for a short gap before you dispatch on it. ### Rose Rocket **Who it fits:** Carriers and brokers that want a configurable platform, with no-code workflows and a vendor-led implementation. **Price:** Starting at $2,080 a month for the Full Service Platform with unlimited users; Enterprise is custom, per its [pricing page](https://www.roserocket.com/pricing). **Free trial:** None on its pricing page, which offers a sales call and demo. **Good at:** Configurability and finish. Its [pricing page](https://www.roserocket.com/pricing) includes unlimited custom fields, boards and automations, all of its AI agents, 40+ integrations, SOC 2 Type II certification and white-glove implementation with a 90 day go-live. **Watch for:** The entry price sits far above the small-fleet tools here, and a 90 day go-live, per its [pricing page](https://www.roserocket.com/pricing), is closer to a McLeod-style rollout than to a same-week start. ### PCS **Who it fits:** Asset-based carriers running 50 to 1,000 trucks, per its [carrier page](https://pcssoft.com/products/tms/carrier). **Price:** Not published; its carrier page offers a [demo request](https://pcssoft.com/lp/request-tmp-demo/). **Free trial:** None on its carrier page. **Good at:** Dispatch AI and back office depth for larger fleets. Its [carrier page](https://pcssoft.com/products/tms/carrier) describes Cortex AI for load opportunities and backhauls, an accounting module covering AR/AP, payroll and driver settlement, and a free mobile app for drivers. **Watch for:** It is sized for bigger fleets than most readers of this page run, and its FAQ says most carriers are up and running 30 to 90 days after signing, per its [carrier page](https://pcssoft.com/products/tms/carrier). ## When McLeod is still the better choice McLeod is deep and long established: its [home page](https://www.mcleodsoftware.com/) reports 1200+ companies served and 140+ certified partners. It also publishes no price and starts with a demo request. If you run a large or complex operation, those trade-offs can be worth it. ### Large, complex operations Carriers and brokers with dedicated IT or operations staff who need deep configuration get more from a system with decades of installs behind it. ### A big partner network A fleet that depends on a niche integration is more likely to find it among McLeod's 140+ certified partners, per its [home page](https://www.mcleodsoftware.com/). ### Brokerage alongside trucking McLeod sells separate products for carriers and for brokerages. Of the options above, most are built for carriers first. ## How to choose a McLeod alternative Score every option, Hemut included, on the same five questions before you book a demo. - Fit: is it built for asset carriers like you, or for brokers first? - Price: is the price published, and is it per truck, per user or per load? Work out your own monthly bill. - Start: can you try it on your own loads, and how long does go-live take? - Back office: are settlements, invoicing, QuickBooks and IFTA in the plan or separate purchases? - Exit: is there a contract or annual billing, and can you take your data with you? ## Keep reading Where to go next. - Hemut and McLeod side by side: [Hemut vs McLeod](/compare/hemut-vs-mcleod) - Moving off a legacy system, or running Hemut next to it first: [switch from a legacy TMS](/switch-from-legacy-tms) - What a carrier TMS should do: [trucking TMS software](/trucking-tms-software) - Every Hemut plan and rate: [Hemut pricing](/pricing#pricing) ## Sources Pages opened October 28, 2026. - Truckbase pricing page, [truckbase.com/pricing](https://www.truckbase.com/pricing): pricing models, "$290 / month (billed annually)" minimum, free onboarding, unlimited US-based support, free demo, no trial listed - Truckbase home page, [truckbase.com](https://www.truckbase.com/): "turnkey at 5 trucks and powerful enough for 50 trucks", QuickBooks, settlements, over 30 ELDs, integrations marked coming soon - AscendTMS pricing page, [thefreetms.com/pricing](https://www.thefreetms.com/pricing): Basic $69, Premium $119, Pro $149 per user a month, 30 day trial, no setup fees or contracts, over 140 integrations - TruckingOffice pricing page, [truckingoffice.com](https://www.truckingoffice.com/tms/transportation-management-system-pricing/): Basic and Pro prices by truck count, PC\*MILER add-on, 30 day trial with no card, no per-user fees - Alvys pricing page, [alvys.com/pricing](https://alvys.com/pricing): per-load quotes, no dollar amounts, 14 day trial on Foundations, EDI partners by plan, "under 2 to 4 weeks" - Rose Rocket pricing page, [roserocket.com/pricing](https://www.roserocket.com/pricing): "Starting at $2080/month", 90-day go-live, 40+ integrations, SOC 2 Type II, no trial listed - PCS carrier TMS page, [pcssoft.com](https://pcssoft.com/products/tms/carrier): "50 to 1,000 trucks", "between 30 and 90 days", accounting module, Cortex AI, demo request, no price or trial - McLeod Software home page, [mcleodsoftware.com](https://www.mcleodsoftware.com/): 1200+ companies served, 140+ certified partners, "Request Demo", no price or trial - Hemut: plan prices from the pricing contract published on [hemut.com/pricing](/pricing#pricing); capabilities from Hemut's verified facts list ## Questions What is the best McLeod alternative for a small fleet? It depends on how you want to buy. If you want a published price and to start on your own, look at Hemut, Truckbase, TruckingOffice and AscendTMS; if you want a vendor-led rollout, look at Rose Rocket and PCS. Hemut and Truckbase are both built for asset-based carriers. How much does McLeod cost? McLeod does not publish its prices. Its [home page](https://www.mcleodsoftware.com/) offers a demo request instead. Is there a free alternative to McLeod? None of the pricing pages we opened on October 28, 2026 listed a free plan. TruckingOffice, AscendTMS and Hemut each offer a 30 day free trial ([TruckingOffice](https://www.truckingoffice.com/tms/transportation-management-system-pricing/), [AscendTMS](https://www.thefreetms.com/pricing), [Hemut](/pricing#pricing)), and Alvys offers 14 days on its Foundations plan ([Alvys](https://alvys.com/pricing)). Which McLeod alternative costs the least? Of the published prices here, TruckingOffice starts lowest, at $25 a month for 1 to 2 trucks on its [pricing page](https://www.truckingoffice.com/tms/transportation-management-system-pricing/). AscendTMS starts at $69 per user a month on its [pricing page](https://www.thefreetms.com/pricing). Can I keep McLeod and add Hemut? Yes. Hemut works alongside McLeod, so a carrier on McLeod can add Hemut's automation without replacing McLeod. See [switching from a legacy TMS](/switch-from-legacy-tms) for how that works. How long does it take to move off McLeod? It depends on the vendor. Alvys says most operations are live in under 2 to 4 weeks ([pricing page](https://alvys.com/pricing)), PCS says 30 to 90 days after signing ([carrier page](https://pcssoft.com/products/tms/carrier)) and Rose Rocket includes a 90 day go-live ([pricing page](https://www.roserocket.com/pricing)). Data held only in McLeod needs an export from McLeod whichever you choose. ## Try Hemut on your own loads 30 days with no load limit, and no credit card to start.  [Get started for free](https://command.hemut.com/signup)[Book a walkthrough](https://calendar.app.google/cWdBwYuiu2swPpkt7) ## Step into the future of freight. Partner with Hemut.  [Get started for free](https://command.hemut.com/signup)