I will start by sharing some of my personal experiences. I have owned Trucknpro by Foglinesoftware
www.trucknpro.com, Easy Trucking
www.easytrucking.com owned by Omni, and tried Truckers Helper
www.truckershelper.com. Each has it's pro's and con's. Trucker's Helper has several versions from company driver to mid sized fleets. I like the ability to set up workers and contractors where they can be paid hourly, by mileage, or percentage. They also have the capability of having a driver qualification's file. It is a bit cumbersome to work with for some people. I like the program, but it could be a little easier to use. Easy trucking is designed primarily for the company driver or owner operator who only has a truck or two. There are two versions. The only difference is the number of trucks that you can put into the program. The smaller version will allow up to 5 trucks. The drawback is that if you have any turnover it counts like a new truck and the only way to continue using it is to either pay an additional fee to upgrade to the larger version or delete one of your drivers. That can be a bit awkward when it comes to your accounting. The program will do invoicing, maintenance and aging of receivables.
I started using Trucknpro after buying the Easy Trucking program. They have made significant changes since I first started using the program. In fact, I spoke with them earlier this week and was told that they are about to come out with their 2013 trucknpro version. I was also told that there have been some problems with their web server this week for those using bluetooth. I was told that a landline or cable internet was not having the same problem. They told me that it should be repaired shortly. I forgot to ask about the upgrades, but there are a couple of different versions and some specifically designed for Landstar BCO's and Conway drivers and owner operators. You can use the same software in Canada as in the U.S. since he has a conversion chart in the program.
I had a problem accessing my database of contacts from an old version to the new when my old laptop crashed. Personally, I think that the Trucknpro is the easiest to use out of all the one's that I mentioned. Customer service is good with them. Easy Trucking probably has the worst, from what I have experienced, as well as what others have mentioned. I don't know anything about the customer service at Trucker's Helper. I would expect that it would be fairly good.
Whether you use an industry specific software program or some other type of accounting software, it is important to keep current records. One good aspect of all the programs is that they can give you your cost of running specific loads and your profit per mile as quickly as you put it into the system. You know immediately your break even point. If you plan on buying a truck, it can give you real information if you put in all expenses and revenues as you drive a company truck. Of course, you need to put the information into the program for it to give you the information you need. Reports can be generated to give to your accountant or for you to do your taxes. With Trucknpro, you can customize it for your specific needs. I st mine up to separate what I spend on oil changes, tires and other expenses. It helps me to know where my money is going. Each of the software programs that I listed offer either an online demo or trial version that you can download and try out for a short time.
I hope others will share their experiences with whatever software you have been using. I know some use Quickbooks Pro and others use a spreadsheet. I am glad to answer any questions about any of the software that I have used. I also keep some records on a spreadsheet.