How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
What is the best payroll software for trucking companies in 2026?
The best payroll software for trucking companies in 2026 is OnPay, because Payroll Essentials covers multi-state payroll, unlimited runs and tax filing for $49 a month plus $6 per worker, with W-2 drivers and 1099 owner-operators on the same plan. Fleets that dispatch and settle drivers should look at TruckLogics first, and the cheapest full-service option is Patriot Software.
This guide is written for trucking companies that pay drivers, not for general small businesses. A fleet needs driver settlements from dispatched loads, per-diem and mileage pay, multi-state tax filing, and a way to pay both W-2 company drivers and 1099 owner-operators. Every price below comes from the vendor's own pricing page, checked on 11 November 2026.
Key points before the detailed list:
- Published prices run from $17 a month plus $4 per worker (Patriot Basic) to $49 a month plus $6 per worker (OnPay and Gusto Simple), while ADP RUN and Axon publish no price.
- No general payroll tool here has native cents-per-mile or per-diem pay types. Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, Patriot and OnPay all need custom earnings for driver pay, so only TruckLogics and Axon calculate settlements from loads.
- Multi-state payroll is the tier trap. Gusto needs Plus at $80 a month plus $12 per person for multi-state payroll, while OnPay includes it in the single $49 plan and Patriot charges $12 a month per extra state.
- TruckLogics calculates driver settlements but does not file payroll taxes, so a fleet using it still needs a payroll provider for W-2 tax filing, and Axon is priced by quote only.
How should a trucking company choose payroll software?
Start with the driver mix, because W-2 company drivers and 1099 owner-operators are paid differently. A fleet with both needs one system that handles both at the same rate, which OnPay does at $49 a month plus $6 per worker. A fleet with only W-2 drivers can use the cheapest full-service option, Patriot at $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid.
Next, check whether settlements come from loads or from hours, and count the states. A general payroll tool pays by hours and salary, so a fleet paying cents per mile must build custom earnings for every driver. TruckLogics generates settlements from the same loads it dispatches and invoices, and Axon flows an order from dispatch into billing, settlements, payroll and the ledger without re-entry. OnPay includes multi-state filing, Patriot charges $12 a month per extra state, and Gusto requires the Plus tier.
| Tool | Best for | Starting price (checked 11 Nov 2026) | Free plan |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| OnPay | Most small fleets, W-2 and 1099 | $49/month + $6/worker/month | No, first month free |
| Patriot Software | Cheapest full-service payroll | $37/month + $5/worker paid (Full Service) | No, 30-day trial |
| Gusto | Fleets wanting fast pay cycles | $49/month + $6/person/month (Simple) | No, no trial advertised |
| TruckLogics | Fleets wanting settlements from loads | $39.95/month (Leased Operator) | No, 7-day trial |
| Paychex Flex | Fleets under 20 employees | $39/month + $5/employee/month (Essentials) | No, no trial |
| QuickBooks Payroll | Fleets already on QuickBooks | $88/month + $6.50/employee/month (bundle) | No, 30-day trial |
| ADP RUN | Fleets wanting a large provider | Quote only | No, up to 3 months free |
| Axon Software | Larger fleets wanting a trucking ERP | Quote only | No, demo only |
What does payroll cost for a 10-driver fleet?
Take a fleet with 10 drivers, all W-2, running across 3 states, paid weekly. On Patriot Full Service at $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid, the fleet pays $111 a month, including $24 a month for the 2 extra states. On OnPay at $49 a month plus $6 per worker, the fleet pays $109 a month, with multi-state filing included and no per-state fee. On Gusto, multi-state payroll needs Plus at $80 a month plus $12 per person, so $200 a month. On Paychex Flex Essentials at $39 a month plus $5 per employee, the fleet pays $89 a month, with W-2s and 1099s costing extra.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 OnPay | Small trucking fleets that need multi-state payroll for W-2 drivers and 1099 owner-operators on one plan | Payroll Essentials $49 per month plus $6 per worker per month. HR add-on $15 per month plus $2 per worker; time-tracking add-on $15 per month plus $4 per worker (onpay.com/pricing, checked 11 Nov 2026; the vendor page rendered its partner pricing view, so the figure is corroborated by checks dated 30 October to 9 November 2026) | No free plan. First month free for new accounts. |
 Patriot Software | Small fleets that want the lowest published full-service payroll rate | Full Service Payroll $37 per month plus $5 per worker paid; Basic Payroll $17 per month plus $4 per worker paid (patriotsoftware.com/pricing and vendor help-center pricing article, checked 11 Nov 2026) | No free plan. 30-day free trial, then 50 percent off for 3 months for new accounts. |
 Gusto | Fleets that want unlimited payroll runs, fast pay cycles and contractor payments in one system | Simple $49 per month plus $6 per person; Plus $80 plus $12 per person; Premium $180 plus $22 per person. Contractor Only plan $35 per month plus $6 per contractor (gusto.com/product/pricing, checked 11 Nov 2026; figures corroborated by checks dated 5 November 2026) | No; no free trial advertised on the pricing page |
 TruckLogics | Fleets that want driver settlements generated from the loads they dispatch and invoice | Leased Operator plan $39.95 per month. Small Fleet $29.95 per month for 3 to 7 trucks, Mid $49.95 for 8 to 14, Large $79.95 for 15 or more; fleets of 25 or more trucks are quote only (trucklogics.com/pricing, checked 11 Nov 2026) | No free plan. 7-day free trial. |
 Paychex Flex | Trucking fleets with under 20 employees that want a large payroll provider with HR and benefits modules | Flex Essentials $39 per month plus $5 per employee per month, for businesses with under 20 employees. Higher packages, Select, Pro and Enterprise, are quote only (paychex.com/payroll/paychex-flex-essentials, checked 11 Nov 2026) | No free plan and no free trial. The vendor states there is no cost or obligation until the first payroll. |
 QuickBooks Payroll | Trucking fleets already running QuickBooks Online that want payroll, invoicing and books in one system | Two published views exist and do not reconcile, so both are shown. Bundle view, corroborated November 2026: Workforce Payroll plus Simple Start $88 plus $6.50 per employee; plus Essentials $125 plus $6.50; Workforce Premium plus Plus $203 plus $10. Standalone add-on view, 9 November 2026: $50 plus $7 per employee; Premium $88 plus $13; Elite $134 plus $17 (quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll/pricing, checked 11 Nov 2026; a fresh copy of the vendor page could not be returned) | No; a 30-day free trial of the base price is offered, though it does not cover per-employee or state filing fees |
 ADP RUN | Trucking fleets that want a large payroll provider with multi-jurisdiction filing, garnishment handling and job costing | Quote only. All four packages, Essential, Enhanced, Complete Payroll and HR Plus, and HR Pro, show Get pricing with no dollar figure anywhere on the vendor page (adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/payroll-packages.aspx, checked 11 Nov 2026) | No free plan. New RUN clients with 1 to 49 employees were offered up to 3 months free on the vendor page. |
 Axon Software | Larger trucking fleets that want a full trucking ERP from dispatch to payroll to the general ledger | Quote only. Axon publishes no pricing page, and pricing is by quote after a demo (axonsoftware.com, checked 11 Nov 2026). Third-party estimates of $290 to $490 a month are unverified. | No free plan and no free trial. Free demo only. |
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#1OnPay
Best for: Small trucking fleets that need multi-state payroll for W-2 drivers and 1099 owner-operators on one plan4.8/5 on
G2 (407 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit onpay.com
Starting pricePayroll Essentials $49 per month plus $6 per worker per month. HR add-on $15 per month plus $2 per worker; time-tracking add-on $15 per month plus $4 per worker (onpay.com/pricing, checked 11 Nov 2026; the vendor page rendered its partner pricing view, so the figure is corroborated by checks dated 30 October to 9 November 2026)
Free planNo free plan. First month free for new accounts.
OnPay is the best pick for most small fleets because the one plan includes what other vendors split across tiers. Multi-state payroll, unlimited runs, tax filing and W-2s and 1099s are all in the $49 plus $6 plan, so a fleet running drivers across three states pays the same as a fleet running in one state, and W-2 drivers and 1099 owner-operators sit on the same account at the same rate.
What we like- The single $49 plus $6 plan already includes multi-state payroll, unlimited pay runs, tax filings and W-2s and 1099s, and it pays W-2 drivers and 1099 owner-operators from the same account at the same rate
Watch out for- There are no native cents-per-mile or per-diem pay types, so driver settlements still need manual pay-type setup, and a BBB complaint plus a Trustpilot review both describe OnPay failing to resolve a payroll-tax remittance issue
#2Patriot Software
Best for: Small fleets that want the lowest published full-service payroll rate4.8/5 on
G2 (630 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit patriotsoftware.com
Starting priceFull Service Payroll $37 per month plus $5 per worker paid; Basic Payroll $17 per month plus $4 per worker paid (patriotsoftware.com/pricing and vendor help-center pricing article, checked 11 Nov 2026)
Free planNo free plan. 30-day free trial, then 50 percent off for 3 months for new accounts.
Patriot is the cheapest honest full-service payroll here. Full Service at $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid files and deposits federal, state and local taxes, runs unlimited payrolls with free direct deposit, and includes year-end W-2s and 940 and 941 forms, which suits a small fleet paying drivers weekly. The Time and Attendance add-on at $6 a month plus $2 per employee can feed driver hours into payroll.
What we like- The lowest published full-service rate in this list, with unlimited payroll runs and free direct deposit, plus Full Service files taxes in all states for the extra-state fee and includes year-end W-2s, 940 and 941
Watch out for- The cheap Basic plan does not file payroll taxes for the fleet, and there is no mileage or per-diem automation, while multi-state fleets also pay $12 a month per extra state
#3Gusto
Best for: Fleets that want unlimited payroll runs, fast pay cycles and contractor payments in one system4.6/5 on
G2 (13,355 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit gusto.com
Starting priceSimple $49 per month plus $6 per person; Plus $80 plus $12 per person; Premium $180 plus $22 per person. Contractor Only plan $35 per month plus $6 per contractor (gusto.com/product/pricing, checked 11 Nov 2026; figures corroborated by checks dated 5 November 2026)
Free planNo; no free trial advertised on the pricing page
Gusto is the most polished general payroll tool here, and its pay speed is the draw for a fleet: unlimited runs, automatic tax filing, next-day pay on Plus and same-day or instant pay on Premium, which suits a weekly driver pay cycle. Expenses and reimbursements are built in, so per-diem can be handled as a reimbursement, and contractor payments are included on every plan, so owner-operators are paid from the same system as company drivers.
What we like- Unlimited payroll runs with automatic federal, state and local tax filing, Plus adds multi-state payroll, next-day pay and time tracking, Premium adds same-day and instant pay, and contractor owner-operator payments are included on every plan
Watch out for- Multi-state payroll requires the Plus plan, so a fleet running drivers across state lines pays $80 plus $12 per person, and there are no native mileage or per-diem pay types
#4TruckLogics
Best for: Fleets that want driver settlements generated from the loads they dispatch and invoice3.7/5 on
G2 (5 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit trucklogics.com
Starting priceLeased Operator plan $39.95 per month. Small Fleet $29.95 per month for 3 to 7 trucks, Mid $49.95 for 8 to 14, Large $79.95 for 15 or more; fleets of 25 or more trucks are quote only (trucklogics.com/pricing, checked 11 Nov 2026)
Free planNo free plan. 7-day free trial.
TruckLogics is the only tool here that starts from the load rather than the timesheet. A dispatched load flows into the invoice and into the driver settlement in one step, with deductions, reimbursements, advances, escrow and per-diem calculated automatically, which removes the manual settlement work that eats an office afternoon every week. IFTA reporting pulls distance and fuel data from Motive and Samsara ELDs with automated tax-rate calculations, and the integrations with DAT, ProMiles and EFS fuel cards cover the daily workflow.
What we like- Driver settlements generated from the same loads the fleet dispatches and invoices, including deductions, reimbursements, advances, escrow and auto-calculated miles per diem, plus IFTA reporting from Motive and Samsara ELDs, and integrations with DAT, ProMiles, EFS fuel cards and QuickBooks
Watch out for- TruckLogics calculates driver settlements but does not file payroll taxes, so W-2 driver payroll tax filing still needs a separate payroll provider, and the 7-day trial is short for evaluating a dispatch system
#5Paychex Flex
Best for: Trucking fleets with under 20 employees that want a large payroll provider with HR and benefits modules4.1/5 on
G2 (1,748 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit paychex.com
Starting priceFlex Essentials $39 per month plus $5 per employee per month, for businesses with under 20 employees. Higher packages, Select, Pro and Enterprise, are quote only (paychex.com/payroll/paychex-flex-essentials, checked 11 Nov 2026)
Free planNo free plan and no free trial. The vendor states there is no cost or obligation until the first payroll.
Paychex Flex is the large-provider option for a small fleet. Essentials at $39 a month plus $5 per employee covers unlimited runs, direct deposit, new-hire reporting and employee self-service, with federal, state and local tax calculation, payment and filing, and multi-state employees on the same plan. The platform scales into HR, benefits and workers' comp as the fleet grows, so a firm that plans to add office staff and benefits will not need to migrate.
What we like- Unlimited payroll runs with direct deposit, new-hire reporting and employee self-service, plus federal, state and local tax calculation, payment and filing, with multi-state employees on the same plan
Watch out for- W-2s and 1099s cost extra on Essentials, and payroll tax administration may apply as an additional fee, while fleets with 20 or more employees get no published price at all
#6QuickBooks Payroll
Best for: Trucking fleets already running QuickBooks Online that want payroll, invoicing and books in one system4.4/5 on
G2 (496 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit quickbooks.intuit.com
Starting priceTwo published views exist and do not reconcile, so both are shown. Bundle view, corroborated November 2026: Workforce Payroll plus Simple Start $88 plus $6.50 per employee; plus Essentials $125 plus $6.50; Workforce Premium plus Plus $203 plus $10. Standalone add-on view, 9 November 2026: $50 plus $7 per employee; Premium $88 plus $13; Elite $134 plus $17 (quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll/pricing, checked 11 Nov 2026; a fresh copy of the vendor page could not be returned)
Free planNo; a 30-day free trial of the base price is offered, though it does not cover per-employee or state filing fees
QuickBooks Payroll makes sense for one fleet: the fleet already on QuickBooks Online. In that case the driver payroll, the invoicing and the books sit in one system, hours flow into payroll, and TruckLogics exports invoices straight into QuickBooks, which removes the double entry that costs a small office hours a week. Multi-state filing is supported, and workers' comp pay-as-you-go is available as an add-on.
What we like- Full-service payroll with automatic tax filing and next-day direct deposit on Core or same-day on Premium, with driver payroll, invoicing and books in one system, and multi-state filing supported
Watch out for- Payroll is not sold standalone, so it only runs on top of a paid QuickBooks Online subscription, and there are no built-in cents-per-mile or per-diem pay types
#7ADP RUN
Best for: Trucking fleets that want a large payroll provider with multi-jurisdiction filing, garnishment handling and job costing4.7/5 on
G2 (6,546 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit adp.com
Starting priceQuote only. All four packages, Essential, Enhanced, Complete Payroll and HR Plus, and HR Pro, show Get pricing with no dollar figure anywhere on the vendor page (adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/payroll-packages.aspx, checked 11 Nov 2026)
Free planNo free plan. New RUN clients with 1 to 49 employees were offered up to 3 months free on the vendor page.
ADP RUN is the big-provider choice for a fleet that wants payroll handled by a company with the scale to answer a tax agency. Multi-jurisdiction payroll is included in every package, with ADP calculating, filing, depositing and reconciling taxes and responding to agency inquiries, which matters when drivers work across many states. Job costing helps a fleet see per-load and per-route profitability, and garnishment handling and SUI management cover the messy cases.
What we like- Multi-jurisdiction payroll is included in every package, with ADP calculating, filing, depositing and reconciling payroll taxes, plus job costing for per-load and per-route profitability, garnishment handling, SUI management and a general-ledger export
Watch out for- No package price is published, so costs cannot be compared before a sales call, and W-2 and 1099 forms and off-cycle runs cost extra, and ADP can raise fees on 30 days' notice after six months
#8Axon Software
Best for: Larger trucking fleets that want a full trucking ERP from dispatch to payroll to the general ledger4.3/5 on
G2 (6 reviews, checked Oct 2026)
Visit axonsoftware.com
Starting priceQuote only. Axon publishes no pricing page, and pricing is by quote after a demo (axonsoftware.com, checked 11 Nov 2026). Third-party estimates of $290 to $490 a month are unverified.
Free planNo free plan and no free trial. Free demo only.
Axon is the most complete trucking system in this list, and the least accessible to a small fleet. It is a full ERP: an order entered in dispatch flows into billing, driver and owner-operator settlements, payroll, fuel tax and the general ledger without re-entry, and the payroll module handles driver pay with detailed settlement statements, W-2 and 1099 forms and Canadian T4 forms, with IFTA reporting as a noted strength.
What we like- An order entered in dispatch flows into billing, driver and owner-operator settlements, payroll, fuel tax and the general ledger without re-entry, with a payroll module handling driver pay, W-2 and 1099 forms, and IFTA reporting
Watch out for- Pricing is entirely behind a sales call and guided implementation, with no self-serve signup or trial, so a small fleet cannot evaluate cost or fit without a demo and quote process
Frequently asked questions
How much does payroll software cost for a trucking company?
Expect $87 to $200 a month on published prices, or a sales quote. Patriot Full Service costs $37 a month plus $5 per worker paid, so $87 a month for 10 drivers, OnPay costs $49 a month plus $6 per worker, so $109 a month, and Gusto Plus costs $80 a month plus $12 per person, so $200 a month for multi-state payroll. TruckLogics costs $39.95 a month for settlements but needs a separate payroll filer for W-2 taxes.
Can payroll software handle cents-per-mile driver pay?
The trucking-specific tools can, and the general payroll tools cannot do it natively. TruckLogics generates settlements from dispatched loads with mileage and per-diem calculated automatically, and Axon handles driver pay inside its ERP. Gusto, QuickBooks Payroll, Patriot and OnPay have no native cents-per-mile or per-diem pay types, so driver pay must be set up as custom earnings or reimbursements.
What is the difference between a driver settlement and payroll?
A settlement is what a driver earns for a load or a period, including mileage, per-diem, deductions, advances and escrow, and it is calculated from dispatch data. Payroll is the legal process of paying W-2 employees, withholding and filing federal, state and local taxes, and issuing W-2s. TruckLogics calculates settlements but does not file payroll taxes, while OnPay, Patriot, Gusto and Paychex file taxes but do not calculate settlements from loads.
Do these tools file payroll taxes in multiple states?
Most do, but the cost differs. OnPay includes multi-state payroll in its single $49 plan, Paychex Flex includes multi-state employees on Essentials, and ADP RUN includes multi-jurisdiction payroll in every package. Patriot charges $12 a month per extra state on Full Service, and Gusto requires the Plus tier at $80 a month plus $12 per person for multi-state payroll.
Can I pay owner-operators and company drivers from the same system?
Yes, with the right tool. OnPay pays W-2 drivers and 1099 owner-operators from the same account at the same $6 per worker rate, and Gusto includes contractor payments on every plan. Patriot counts workers once per month no matter how many runs, and Paychex Flex handles both employee and contractor payments.
Sources we checked (9)
- https://onpay.com/pricing
- https://www.patriotsoftware.com/pricing
- https://help.patriotsoftware.com/en/articles/15414151-what-is-the-price-of-the-software
- https://gusto.com/product/pricing
- https://www.trucklogics.com/pricing
- https://www.paychex.com/payroll/paychex-flex-essentials
- https://quickbooks.intuit.com/payroll/pricing
- https://www.adp.com/what-we-offer/payroll/payroll-for-1-49-employees/payroll-packages.aspx
- https://axonsoftware.com
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.