DIFFERENT JOBS ON THE SAME TRUCK
TBOS vs Motive vs Samsara
People search “trucking software” and get ELD and fleet tracking platforms. That is a real category — it is not the same job as running the load from rate confirmation to a paid invoice.
Motive and Samsara are widely used for ELD, hours-of-service, and fleet telematics — seeing the truck, staying compliant on the road, and managing device-connected fleet operations.
TBOS is trucking business software in the browser: record the load, keep the paperwork, send the invoice with supporting documents, and know what’s paid — on your phone or laptop, without waiting on an app install for the office workflow.
You may need both kinds of tools. This page is so you do not buy the wrong one for the paperwork pile.
14 days free · No card required · From $29.99/month
Different jobs on the same truck
| Job | Typical tools people mean | What TBOS is for |
|---|---|---|
| Log hours, ELD mandate, see the truck on a map | Motive, Samsara, and other ELD / telematics platforms | Not TBOS’s primary job on this page |
| Keep rate conf, BOL, and POD with the load | Email, phone camera roll, folders | Upload docs to the load in the browser |
| Invoice the broker with paperwork attached | Separate invoice tools + email | Create PDF invoice from a delivered load and send with uploads |
| Know what was paid and what the load cost | Spreadsheets, QuickBooks, notes | Record payments and load expenses on the same load |
| Run one truck or a small team’s office work | Mixed apps | One browser workspace that grows from owner-operator to small fleet |
Side-by-side (category contrast)
| TBOS | Motive / Samsara (typical category) | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Load → paperwork → invoice → payment record + expenses | ELD, HOS, vehicle/fleet telematics and related compliance ops |
| How you use the office workflow | Web browser on phone or computer | Device + fleet apps / portals (varies by product) |
| Rate confirmation, BOL, POD on the load | Yes — upload PDF/images to the load | Not the core “office packet” product story |
| Invoice PDF from a delivered load | Yes | Not the core product story |
| Email invoice + uploaded paperwork | Yes (within the app’s email size limits) | Not the core product story |
| Record payment received (no card charge to broker) | Yes — records payment; does not transfer funds | N/A to this comparison |
| Load expenses with the trip | Yes | N/A to this comparison |
| Public loadboard browse/post | Free on TBOS (confirm terms with poster) | Separate loadboard products |
| Owner-operator starting price (TBOS) | $29.99/month after 14-day free trial | See each vendor’s current ELD/fleet pricing |
| Best when | You are drowning in docs and invoices after delivery | You need mandated logging and fleet visibility |
Motive and Samsara feature rows are category-level. Confirm current capabilities and pricing on their sites before you buy.
What TBOS actually does (load to paid)
1. Record the load
Start with the lane, agreed rate, and broker. Add pickup details and assign yourself or a driver. Mark draft, booked, or already delivered — a delivered load can go straight into invoicing without a fake dispatch just to bill.
2. Keep the paperwork
Upload the rate confirmation, bill of lading, and signed proof of delivery from your phone or computer. Documents stay with the load for authorized members of your business.
3. Send the invoice
Create a PDF invoice from the delivered load. Review customer, amount, due date, and payment or factoring instructions. Email the invoice with uploaded paperwork (each file up to 15 MB; combined email limit shown in the app). TBOS reports whether the mail server accepted the message — acceptance does not guarantee the broker’s inbox received it.
4. Know what’s paid
Record the full payment when it arrives. The invoice and linked load move to paid together. Add load expenses so the trip has a clear record before the next job. Recording a payment does not charge the broker’s card or transfer funds. TBOS currently records full invoice payments (not partial-payment reconciliation or an embedded broker pay link).
→ Full walkthrough: Trucking invoicing software
When Motive or Samsara is the right search result
Choose an ELD / telematics platform when your main problem is:
- Mandated electronic logging and hours-of-service
- Live vehicle location and fleet visibility
- Device-connected compliance for the truck on the road
Those are serious requirements. They do not automatically organize the rate confirmation in your email, the signed BOL on your phone, and the invoice you still have not sent.
When TBOS is the right search result
Choose TBOS when your main problem is:
- Documents scattered across email, camera roll, and text threads
- Rebuilding every invoice from scratch after delivery
- Not knowing which loads are paid
- Wanting one browser workspace for loads, paperwork, invoices, expenses, and equipment — starting as an owner-operator and adding drivers later
You can be the owner and the driver (“I also drive” in setup). The owner-operator plan includes 1 power unit + trailers, 1 driver seat (including yourself), and 1 dispatcher seat. Trailers do not count against the power-unit limit.
→ Owner-operator software · Pricing
Can I use TBOS and an ELD?
Yes. Many carriers use an ELD for the road and a separate system for the office. TBOS is built for the office side of the load: paperwork, invoicing, and payment records in the browser. Keep your ELD provider for logging and telematics unless you later adopt a different compliance stack.
Pricing snapshot (TBOS)
| Plan | Price | Includes (high level) |
|---|---|---|
| Owner-operator | $29.99/month | 1 power unit + trailers, 1 driver seat (incl. you), 1 dispatcher seat |
| Small fleet | $79.99/month | 5 power units + trailers, 5 driver seats, 3 dispatcher seats |
| Fleet | $149.99/month | Unlimited power units, drivers, and dispatchers |
Every plan includes load records, document uploads, PDF invoices, invoice email, expenses, equipment records, and team assignments. 14 days free. No card required to start. Public loadboard and some free tools do not require a paid plan.
FAQ
Is TBOS a Motive alternative?
Only if what you wanted from “Motive” was office workflow. If you need ELD and telematics, Motive (or Samsara, or another ELD) is the category. If you need load paperwork and invoicing in the browser, that is TBOS.
Is TBOS a Samsara alternative?
Same split: Samsara is typically evaluated for fleet telematics and related operations. TBOS is evaluated for running the business paperwork around each load.
Why does Google show Motive and Samsara for “TBOS vs Motive vs Samsara”?
Because those brands dominate the “trucking software / ELD” association. This page exists so the comparison has a clear, quotable answer: different jobs.
Do I need to install an app for TBOS?
No for the load, paperwork, invoice, and business setup workflows — they run in a web browser on phone or computer.
Does TBOS pay me or charge the broker?
No. Recording a payment logs that you were paid. It does not move money.
Where do I start?
Start the 14-day free trial (no card), or read owner-operator software and trucking invoicing.