SimpleDock

Overview

SimpleDock is dock appointment scheduling software for warehouses, distribution centers, and third-party logistics providers. It suits facilities that want carriers and drivers to book directly while staff govern the schedule. Its strongest case is the combination of account-free booking and configurable capacity rules; teams needing multiple locations or more than three staff members will need Pro.

Key features

A shareable booking link lets carriers and drivers book without an account, login, or app installation. That lowers friction for external partners, while facility controls for operating hours, door capacity, slots per hour, appointment duration, buffer times, and minimum notice help prevent bookings from disregarding local constraints.

Approval workflows, driver check-in, dwell-time tracking, custom booking questions, and email and SMS notifications support the process from appointment request through arrival. TV Mode displays the live dock schedule on a smart TV or browser without a login or app, a practical shared view for facility teams.

SimpleDock lists Google Calendar, Outlook, Slack, Zapier, and signed webhooks as integrations or event destinations. Its REST API can read availability and create or manage appointments, but API keys are available on Pro, making that the required tier for programmatic access. The privacy policy describes encryption in transit, hashed passwords, and access controls, and says the company does not sell personal information. Support, sales, billing, security, and privacy inquiries are answered by a person on US business days.

Pricing

Free’s location and team caps make it a limited long-term choice once staffing or facility count grows. Pro removes those caps and adds analytics and integrations, but its per-location pricing means costs rise with the number of sites. API keys are also a Pro-only consideration for teams that need the REST API.

Platforms

SimpleDock is available on the web and through an API. TV Mode can show the schedule in a browser on a smart TV without a separate app or login.

Who it's for

Receiving managers, warehouse supervisors, and dock schedulers can use its scheduling rules and appointment controls to manage facility capacity, while carriers and dispatchers benefit from booking without account setup. It is a sensible fit for facilities handling both supported load types that want self-service scheduling. It is less suited to a small team that needs multiple locations on a free plan, or an operation that requires API keys without moving to Pro.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Account-free carrier booking reduces setup friction for drivers and external partners.
• Pro: Capacity, timing, and notice controls let facilities shape appointments around operating constraints.
• Pro: Check-in, dwell-time tracking, notifications, and TV Mode extend visibility beyond initial booking.
• Con: Free is capped at one location and three team members, so larger teams must pay to expand.
• Con: Pro is priced per location, and API keys require a paid plan.

Alternatives

ProDocks is worth comparing if a permanent free plan with unlimited doors and appointments, carrier booking, QR check-in, and BOL photo capture matters more than SimpleDock’s stated free-plan structure.

LoadMetrics Dock Scheduling is another free-plan option: its free tier covers one facility and 25 dock appointments per month, with carrier self-service and supporting documents. Choose it if that monthly quota suits your volume and a free trial is useful.

Inbound Connect is a paid alternative with Android, iOS, web, and API platforms.

DataDocks offers paid plans with custom-quote pricing based on facility and requirements.

Agistix Cold Chain is a paid option with custom pricing and a demo requirement.

Freightronics Dock Scheduling is a paid alternative available on web and through an API.

Goramp Dock Scheduling uses custom-quote pricing based on operation size and required modules.

Transporeon Time Slot Management is a paid alternative whose tailored quote depends on site count, docks, and booking volume.

Verdict

Choose SimpleDock if your facility wants carriers to book without account friction and staff need meaningful control over dock capacity and appointment timing. The free plan is a useful fit for one location and up to three team members; Pro is the route to unlimited locations and users, analytics, integrations, and API keys. Look elsewhere if per-location paid pricing or the free plan’s narrow limits do not suit your operation.