SmartHop

Overview

SmartHop is a booking and trip-management platform for trucking carriers and independent dispatchers. It suits owner-operators and fleets that want to connect load search with fleet operations and payroll reporting. Its broad freight support and dispatch tools are appealing, though Starter excludes key search functions and the plans differ in how many MCs they support.

Key features

SmartHop recommends loads using fleet information and search filters, helping dispatchers target profitable freight and destination markets. Its load board combines DAT loads with direct broker loads and filters for location, destination, equipment, pickup, cost per mile, and profit. That gives users ways to compare freight and trip economics in one place. Starter excludes load recommendations, bid and book-now, and 24/7 background search, so users who depend on active load discovery should consider another tier.

Trip tracking, broker status updates, driver communication, document storage, and truck management cover core fleet operations. Expense tracking and completed-trip scans feed payroll reports that compile payments and deductions, linking trip activity to driver settlements. SmartHop also says it integrates DAT and brokers, with its team handling broker integrations.

The self-service platform supports full truckloads, dry vans, reefers, flatbeds, power-only freight, regional and over-the-road lanes, and solo or team drivers. Auto-booking and dedicated lanes are available only with Premium, which makes that tier the relevant option for fleets seeking those capabilities.

Pricing

SmartHop's pricing note says plans start at $50/mo, while its plan cards currently show each tier as “$0.00 per free” and “NOW FREE.” The plans are:

• Starter: Now free, for owner-operators booking loads; supports 1 MC.
• Basic: Now free, for small companies; supports 3 MCs.
• Growth: Now free, for midsize companies; supports 10 MCs and is marked most popular.
• Premium: Now free, for larger fleets; supports 10 MCs and includes dedicated dispatching and lane management services.

The difference in MC limits matters for dispatchers serving several carriers: Starter is limited to one, Basic to three, while Growth and Premium each allow ten. Starter also gives up load recommendations, bid and book-now, and background search. Premium is the only tier with auto-book and dedicated lanes. The published plan cards do not give a renewal term or seat quota, so teams should confirm those terms alongside the discrepancy between the $50/mo starting note and the current free labels before choosing.

Platforms

SmartHop is available on Android, iOS, and the web. Driver mobile app support is included, which gives drivers a mobile channel alongside the web-based dispatch and fleet tools.

Who it's for

Owner-operators who want dispatch tools and load search can start with Starter if its single-MC cap and reduced search features are sufficient. Small and midsize fleets can use Basic or Growth for higher MC limits, while larger fleets that need dedicated dispatching, lane management, auto-booking, or dedicated lanes have the clearest fit with Premium. Independent dispatchers supporting multiple MCs should pay particular attention to the three-MC Basic cap and ten-MC Growth and Premium limits.

SmartHop may be less suitable for carriers who need Starter's excluded search functions or who require auto-booking and dedicated lanes without moving to Premium. Its privacy policy says it may collect usage, device, location, vehicle, and transaction information, and describes third-party integrations that include Project44 location data; that is relevant for fleets weighing connected vehicle and location data.

Pros and cons

• Pros: DAT and direct broker loads appear together with profitability filters, giving dispatchers a way to compare freight by route and economics.
• Pros: Trip tracking, broker updates, driver communication, document storage, truck management, and payroll reports bring several dispatch and fleet tasks together.
• Pros: Support for multiple freight types, regional and over-the-road lanes, and solo or team drivers serves varied carrier operations.
• Cons: Starter excludes recommendations, bid and book-now, and 24/7 background search, limiting its usefulness for users who rely on those load-discovery tools.
• Cons: Auto-book and dedicated lanes require Premium, while its dedicated dispatching and lane management services also place it toward larger fleets.
• Cons: The $50/mo starting note sits alongside plan cards marked “NOW FREE,” leaving prospective customers with pricing and renewal terms to confirm.

Alternatives

Diesel TMS is a freemium iOS and web option with a free TMS Unlimited plan for unlimited users, loads, customers, carriers, trucks, drivers, and quotes; choose it when those unlimited basic TMS allowances are the priority.

Numeo offers Android, iOS, and web access, plus a free Spot Free plan limited to one seat and one MC connection. It is an option for a single-seat operation that can work within that cap.

Super Dispatch has a free Carrier TMS Lite plan with a driver app, limited carrier dashboard, and Super Loadboard, but no advanced reporting or automated invoicing; it also offers a free trial. Consider it when that carrier-focused free toolset is a better fit.

Axon Software is a paid Android, iOS, web, and Windows option with a free trial; compare it if Windows support or a trial is a priority.

Alvys offers a TMS starting at $514 a month, with usage-based pricing by monthly loads, unlimited users and business divisions, and more than 120 integrations. It may suit operations that need those stated scale and integration terms and can budget for its starting price.

DispatchTMS is another paid option available on Android, iOS, and the web.

Ditat is a paid Android, API, iOS, and web option with pricing available by contacting sales and a personalized demo.

PCS TMS is a paid Android, iOS, and web option with unpublished pricing and a demo request.

Browse more options in Trucking Software.

Verdict

SmartHop is a strong fit for owner-operators, fleets, and independent dispatchers who want load search, trip operations, and payroll reporting in one platform, especially when they need to manage multiple MCs. Its most compelling case is the combination of DAT and direct broker loads with fleet tools and expense-to-payroll reporting. Look elsewhere if Starter's search limits are too restrictive, if Premium-only booking and lane features are essential at a lower tier, or if clear pricing and renewal terms are a deciding factor.