Frontier vs AscendTMS
Frontier vs AscendTMS: which trucking TMS fits your fleet?
Both are built for small and mid-size carriers. The biggest practical difference is how you pay: AscendTMS bills per user, Frontier bills by trucks in service with unlimited users included. Here is the honest breakdown.
Pricing
By truck vs. by user
AscendTMS lists Basic at $69 per user per month. The two-user example below uses Basic pricing; features and higher tiers differ.
Source: AscendTMS official pricing. Checked September 29, 2026. Confirm current rates before deciding.
| Frontier | AscendTMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | By trucks in service | Per user, per month |
| 1 truck | Free | Basic: $69/user/mo |
| 5 trucks, 2 office users | $99/mo, unlimited users | Basic: $138/mo for 2 office users |
| 10 trucks | $179/mo, unlimited users | Scales with headcount, not truck count |
| Driver access | Included for every driver, no extra seat cost | No charges for drivers, trucks, or loads |
What's in Frontier
Every plan, unlimited users
- Dispatch, load management, and driver assignment
- Free driver app with Frontier Passport credential wallet built in
- Docs Exchange for BOLs, PODs, and receipts
- Invoicing and billing, built off the load
- Driver settlements and staff pay, W-2 and 1099
- Per-truck profit and company take-home
- AI rate-con extraction and Scout support
- Unlimited users on every plan — office staff and drivers, no seat math
Fair take
When AscendTMS might fit better
If you run a very small operation with just one or two people ever touching the system, a per-user tool like AscendTMS can price out fine. It has been around a long time and has a broad feature set. AscendTMS states that it does not charge for drivers, trucks, or loads. Compare your paid office-user count and required features with Frontier’s truck-based price; the better fit depends on your operation.
Built by a carrier
Frontier is built and run daily by a family-owned carrier, not a software vendor working from requirements docs. That shapes what got built first: dispatch, driver pay, and the documents that actually stall a load.
A better way to run freight.
One place for your fleet, your people, and your next load. Free for one truck, with room to grow.