Table of Contents
Axis TMS is a payroll software and the first of its kind on the market. It takes a completely different approach to how companies pay employees for their time by taking an entirely unique angle when it comes to handling payroll. What will this mean for truckers? Read our full Axis TMS Review to find out more\.
Payroll is one of the most important aspects of any company, and it can be difficult to find the right software. The Axis TMS review will help you find out if this software is right for your trucking company. Read more in detail here: payroll companies.
Axis TMS is a full-featured transportation management system (TMS) that offers payroll as an add-on in its most expensive plans. It can manage everything from scheduling to reporting under the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), as well as individual vehicle maintenance and dealing with other carriers. Although it is more costly than other transportation management systems (TMSes), customers commend it for the ease with which it allows them to run their businesses.
Axis TMS may be found at www.axistms.com.
For What Axis TMS Is Recommended
We looked at numerous TMS software, as well as other payroll software and services for the trucking business, and found Axis to be an excellent tool for managing a fleet of vehicles and payroll for employees and drivers. It is more costly than its rivals, and its payroll costs the same as many third-party payroll programs. Customer service, on the other hand, is excellent, and consumers find it simple to use. In our review of the top trucking payroll systems, we scored it 3.33 out of 5 stars, owing to the absence of HR capabilities.
You can’t obtain stand-alone payroll software with Axis TMS; it’s for organizations who want their payroll system to be part of a full-service TMS. In a nutshell, Axis is ideal for:
- Axis is developed for dispatching and monitoring many vehicles and tasks in a fleet.
- Companies that need to upgrade from a manual dispatching system include: Axis allows you to enter and track all of the data you’ll need to dispatch a load and invoice a client.
- Carriers with vehicles that operate in various states include: The IFTA add-on gathers all of the data required to file IFTA taxes, such as miles travelled in each state and gasoline used.
- Established trucking firms have a clear vision of what they want from TMS software: If you have prior expertise with TMS software and are ready to commit to a three-year contract, the program provides excellent value.
When Axis TMS Isn’t the Right Fit
- Independent drivers: This software is more costly and has more features than a typical single owner-operator would need. For additional cheap, non-trucking-specific payroll software, see our best payroll software guide.
- Businesses on a tight budget: Axis offers per-truck costs for various add-ons in addition to the standard pricing. Our guide to free payroll software will show you some basic solutions that won’t set you back any money. There will be no particular features for paying drivers or managing fleets, so keep that in mind.
Are you looking for something unique? To choose a solution that’s appropriate for you, see our guide to the top payroll services.
TMS Axis Overview
Axis TMS may be found at www.axistms.com.
Pricing and Features of Axis TMS
Your degree of commitment will determine the price and benefits. The longer you agree to license the program, the more features you will get or will be able to access at a lower cost. There is also a free trial available.
When you initially install the program, it will walk you through the process of configuring your business settings. Make sure you have all of your documents on hand, including insurance certificates, direct deposit information, employee information, and choices on how to track and pay drivers. You’ll also need to have your drivers download and register the App for mobile devices.
Payroll
Payroll is developed for drivers, but it may also be used for employees. You may choose to pay by the mile, the hour, or the gross %. You may assign vacation and other remuneration as well as set up deductions, such as for benefits. You may even set separate pay rates for different professions, such as driving vs. breakdown. You may also set up automatic pay intervals ranging from weekly to monthly, pay according to a custom schedule, or pay manually after a run.
You may also set vacation and other compensation for drivers in the payroll section.
Axis provides pay stubs, but not direct deposits or checks. It will prepare and deliver year-end tax reports, but it will not handle payroll taxes. If you use QuickBooks, payroll can work in tandem with your accounting or payroll software to conduct these duties and keep you on track.
Management of shipments
The shipment monitor provides you with a summary of all shipment statuses as well as detailed information about each one.
You can create shipments and timetables using Axis TMS, including multiple shipments on a contract and divide shipments using cross-docking. You may establish a dedicated lane and have the system generate orders from the queue for you. You may also use the program to check vehicle availability and send text-based dispatch messages.
During a run, you may keep track of the shipment’s current status, projected arrival time, delays, and more. If consumers want it, the program will give them warnings regarding delays. Drivers may transmit documents through the App for mobile devices, which you can accept or reject, email to the client, or attach to an invoice.
The dashboard provides you with a high-level snapshot of your fleet.
Management of the IFTA
You’ll have to pay for IFTA reporting unless you join up for the three-year plan. The convenience, on the other hand, may be worth the cost. If you handle interstate shipments, keeping correct data on fuel usage by location for IFTA reporting is critical. Axis generates data for each vehicle or fleet, including the amount of petrol or diesel pumped in each state, as well as miles by state. It simply takes a few clicks to link your fuel card and telemetry provider to the system. Most gasoline cards and smartphones are supported by Axis, but you should check with the sales staff to make sure you’re covered before buying the app.
With the IFTA add-on, you can stay in compliance.
Axis also monitors and maintains data on affirmative action, driver safety, driver certification (as required by the Department of Transportation), employee checks, and vehicle maintenance, among other things. These, as well as insurance papers, corporate policies, and government paperwork, may be stored in the documents area.
Management of trucks
Truck tracking features GPS positions, odometer and speedometer readings, and a real-time map display to help you keep track of your fleet. You may also communicate with the driver through the app. The system also keeps track of trailers, including if they’ve been dropped or hooked.
Truck Monitor Pro allows you to see and manage data from trucks and trailers.
The maintenance module, in addition to truck tracking, allows you to define maintenance and repair programs based on date or distance. You can keep track of expenses, submit documents, and generate reports. This allows you to stay in compliance with rules while also ensuring that your fleet is operating at peak efficiency.
App for mobile devices
Drivers may reply to carrier dispatch via the Axis Driver app. The app gives location updates to the firm while on duty. Order offers, check in and out of stops, scan and load papers and images (and fax them if necessary), change a status, seek cash advances, and send out breakdown alarms, maintenance requests, and more are all available to users.
The App for mobile devices has buttons for the most important functions.
As of the writing of this article, users rate the App for mobile devices 2.9 out of 5 stars on Android, but 4.5 out of 5 stars on iOS. Android users say the app is buggy and does not let them access or upload data. Those who like the app say it’s easy to use, however.
Brokering of freight
If you work with multiple carriers, the Brokering of freight module makes it easy to track and assign shipments. The dashboard lets you know how many loads are active, awaiting bids, or have new bids. You can scroll down the spreadsheet-like form to see the details, including miles and bids. It sends out confirmations upon awarding a contract.
Allow drivers to bid on jobs or load carriers.
It may also match orders to available carrier vehicles, making it simple to determine where to deliver an offer. You may look at the status of carrier trucks on the map to determine whether you want to directly invite one to take on a project. You may use the module to keep track of expenditures, invoices, paperwork, and more.
Billing
With an annual or three-year license, Axis TMS includes the Billing module. Once a work is completed, you may approve driver documentation and produce bills. Auto-sorting papers makes it simple to keep track of everything you need and provides you an alert if anything is missing. For jobs, you may create unique charges or recurring prices. Invoices may be issued one at a time or in batches, and the system keeps track of how long each one takes to be paid.
Axis has billing capabilities and interfaces with QuickBooks.
According to customer input, Axis is developing its own accounting system, but for now, it will link with QuickBooks for billing and payroll.
Ease of Use for Axis TMS
The user interface for Axis is colorful and simple. Users of Axis claim the training and customer service are excellent, and the UI is simple to use overall. A knowledge base with illustrated articles and some training videos may be found online. Despite the fact that the area is labeled “manuals,” here is where they keep particular assistance articles. Although the list is short, the search tool returns articles, so if you don’t find the solution to your query, utilize the search box. However, some of the articles merely explain what a feature does, not how to utilize it.
Overall, the following features make Axis TMS simple to use:
- Customer service that is quick to respond
- Interface that is simple to utilize
- Videos of instruction and a knowledge base
It’s worth noting that it has a lot of windows and steps to finish a single task. In addition, the help pages do not cover all of the actions that users must complete.
Alternatives to Top Axis TMS
Axis TMS: What Users Have to Say
The majority of the user evaluations on third-party sites are from 2018, but the only pattern we saw was an increase in customer service ratings over time, which is a positive indicator. Overall, customers praised the simplicity of use, while some noted that when switching between phases in a process, too many windows were required to be open. Users applauded the training as well, and one user who complained about “too many issues” claimed he phoned customer support every day and gave them a four-star rating.
We found several patterns when reviewing customer reviews:
Conclusion
If you manage multiple trucks or work with carriers, then Axis TMS can take away a lot of the headaches of managing drivers, trucks, trailers, and shipments. It’s feature-rich but easy to use and has great customer support. While more expensive than other trucking management systems, users say it’s worth the investment. There’s a free trial, so Axis TMS may be found at www.axistms.com. and give it a try.
Axis TMS may be found at www.axistms.com.
