5 Must-Have Features of Route Planning Software
Published:Oct 20, 2025
5 min. read
Optimized routes are a key element of successful and profitable freight operations. A fast and fuel-efficient route will help reduce fuel costs, prevent unnecessary wear and tear on fleet vehicles, avoid delays, minimize empty miles, and help ensure that deliveries are on-time and without delay — which add up to satisfied customers and long-term success.
With that said, not all route planning and route optimization solutions are the same. Route optimization software is a key element of many Transportation Management Systems (TMS) that is available with a variety of features and capabilities that will impact how much they affect your freight operations. We want to help you find the software that is the best fit for your company at TenTrucks with this list of 5 Must-Have Features of Route Planning Software.
Find the Right Truck Routing Software for Your Trucking Company
How do you find the right truck routing software for your trucking company?
There are undoubtedly many software options available on the market — but not all route optimization software platforms are created equal. Software platforms will each have different features and different adaptations of the same features that are built for that specific platform. If you are interested in investing in truck routing software as part of a Transportation Management System, it is important to understand which features provide the most value and the best performance.
Here is a closer look at a few must-have features that you will want when you choose the right route optimization software:
1. Advanced Route Planning Capabilities
It doesn’t take much effort to look at a map and find a highway that will take you from Point A to Point B — but when you add weather conditions, traffic patterns, and fuel stops to the equation, a straight line may not be the fastest or most efficient route. Advanced route planning is a key feature that uses advanced, AI-powered algorithms to analyze distances, speeds, weather conditions, traffic patterns, vehicle capacities, driver hours of service, road restrictions, expected delivery windows, and more to provide simple solutions to complex issues for drivers and dispatchers. Armed with more advanced route planning capabilities, you can find the most efficient route for your trucks — which is not always the same as the shortest route.
2. Advanced Real-Time Tracking and Visibility
Traffic accidents, road closures, extreme weather conditions, and road construction are all elements of route optimization that can lead to delays and unhappy customers if you cannot adapt and find an alternate route. Real-time tracking and visibility of your trucks and shipments allows you to adapt to those unforeseen circumstances listed above and is a must-have feature with any route optimization software package. With live tracking and instant alerts, you can track the status and location of your shipments, which allows you to move from static routes and route planning to a more dynamic and proactive method that provides a transparent view of the supply chain.
3. Real-Time Route Data and Analytics
Knowledge is power. Freight companies with access to real-time route data and analytics have the ability to make data-based decisions to improve freight operations and make adjustments to your route-planning strategies. A software platform that provides comprehensive reporting, data, and analytics can help you better understand Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and key data points like driven mileage, planned mileage, idle time, on-time delivery rates, and much more. Armed with this data, you can better understand your operations and make informed decisions that reduce costs and improve operations.
4. Multi-Stop Route Planning
Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) shipping is an important element of freight operations for many trucking companies. This means you have trucks with multiple shipments onboard that need to make multiple stops on their route. With this in mind, it is important to invest in route planning software with multi-stop capabilities. The prevalence of LTL shipments in the industry makes multi-route planning a must-have feature that makes it easy to optimize routes with multiple deliveries on the same route.
5. Ability to Integrate with Your TMS
The benefits of route optimization software are limited if the software cannot be integrated with your Transportation Management System. While route planning is a key element of freight operations, it is not the only element that will impact the success of your trucking and freight company. The route planning software you choose needs to be able to integrate with different elements of your TMS to provide you with a seamless and consistent stream of data across all platforms that will allow you to provide exceptional customer service.
READ MORE: How To Boost Profits for Your Trucking Company
Are you planning on investing in route planning software for your fleet? You may want to take a closer look at our 5 Must-Have Features of Route Planning Software created by TenTrucks to help you find the right fit for your company.
Contact TenTrucks today to learn more about our TMS platform and dispatching services!