The right trucking business software isn’t always the first product that shows up that promises to “make things easy” (although that’s always a bonus). The trucking industry is complex. You are managing payroll, compliance, fuel and maintenance costs, freight billing, and more. Furthermore, each and every trucking company has its unique quirks. That’s why many trucking companies eventually discover that easy doesn’t mean powerful.
If your business is growing or already established, you need trucking software that won’t slow you down when the work gets heavy. That’s where Q7 On The Cloud comes in. It offers the convenience of online trucking software without stripping away the power you need to run a successful operation.
In This Article:
What “Cloud-Based or Online Trucking Business Software” Means
When most people hear “cloud-based or online trucking software” they picture a web-app where you log in using a Chrome or Firefox browser. It’s true that these types of products are “cloud-based” or “online” software. While opening up the lifeblood of your operation from a browser sounds convenient, it often comes at the cost of speed, depth, and long-term scalability.
Q7 On The Cloud is a little different from the other guys. It isn’t a watered down version of Q7, our flagship system. It’s the full kit and kaboodle. You get the entire trucking accounting software platform, hosted on secure servers so you can access it from anywhere. You get the flexibility of online access, combined with the robust performance of software that runs on computing power.
With Q7 On The Cloud, you can:
- Run your operation from the office, home, or while traveling.
- Let multiple team members work in the system without complicated network setups. Bonus: This frees up some of your IT expense budget.
- Stay current with regular updates.
- Enjoy safe and secure daily backups handled for you.
In short, it’s not just “online”. Q7 On The Cloud is powerful, professional trucking business accounting software served over the internet.
The Pitfall of Choosing “Easy” Over “Powerful”
We understand that trucking is a tough and busy job. So we understand that it’s tempting to go with software that promises to make everything “as easy as possible”. On the surface that sounds fantastic for a busy controller or trucking business owner. That is, until your company grows, your data piles up, or you start running into limitations.
The problem is, easy doesn’t always mean powerful. A simple web-app might cover the basics when you’re running a small operation, but established trucking businesses need more.
Here are a few hallmarks of powerful trucking business software.
Choosing “easy” might get you through the first chapter of your business. However, if you plan to grow or if you already have, you’ll need powerful. Q7 On The Cloud trucking software delivers the best financial accounting reports, expert order management, dispatch, mobile communications, fleet maintenance, inventory, and more.
BONUS: While Q7 On The Cloud is enterprise-level trucking software, learning it doesn’t have to feel as tough as driving a semi-truck. Thanks to our trainers and support team, the process of getting up to speed is straightforward. Some users catch on immediately and others take a bit longer. But with our help, the learning curve is always manageable.
Why Q7 On The Cloud Stands Out
Most online trucking business software products out there are designed to be as simple as possible, sometimes at the expense of performance. Q7 On The Cloud takes a different approach. It delivers the full horsepower of our Q7 system while giving you the freedom of internet access.
Because it runs on robust server resources, you get to enjoy the perks of an installed software product and all you need is an internet connection. Powerful trucking software shouldn’t slow you down. Q7 On The Cloud provides the convenience of online access without sacrificing these unsung heroes of a quality software product.
SPEED AND STABILITY
Even with thousands of loads, invoices, and other records, Q7 runs smoothly over the internet without bogging down. You don’t have to sacrifice performance just because your business or fleet has grown or you’ve used the product for a long time.
ROOM TO GROW
Whether you’re operating 10 trucks or 200, have 20 loads a month or 5,000, Q7 On The Cloud is designed to scale along with your fleet. You won’t hit artificial limits, get charged extra for more data, or be forced to upgrade to a new system later.
SECURE HOSTING
Your data is stored on professionally managed servers here in the U.S. We know regular backups and strong protection is a keystone of data security, which should be top of mind for all of us these days. That means less risk for you and more peace of mind knowing your operation won’t grind to a halt because of a security breach.
We take your data dead seriously, and we never monetize it as a revenue stream.
FULL FEATURE SET
Unlike lighter web-apps, Q7 On The Cloud doesn’t strip out functionality. From robust accounting to detailed profitability reporting, you get the complete system trucking companies have trusted for years – served up over an internet connection. We don’t shy away from complex trucking setups or scenarios. For example, driver pay and freight revenue is automatically allocated on split loads, and it easily handles employee drivers in 3rd party trucks. Deduct the truck owner for the employee driver expenses with a click of a button.
BEST DATABASE RESOURCES ON THE MARKET
We don’t settle for less.
Important Factors When Choosing Cloud-Based Trucking Business Software
Not all cloud-based systems are created equal. Before you commit to a new system, it’s worth asking the right questions to make sure your software will still serve you well five, ten, or twenty years down the road.
We asked our sales team what kinds of questions they love to hear from the trucking business owners they talk to.
- Q: Will it stay fast in 10 years when I’ve booked thousands or even hundreds of thousands of loads?
- A: Q7 On The Cloud is built to handle thousands of loads, invoices, and settlements without slowing down.
- Q: Who’s keeping our information safe?
- A: A local team of server administrators. Backups and protections are backed by decades of experience, so you can focus on running your business instead of babysitting your data.
- Q: What happens if someone on our network gets a virus?
- A: The lifeblood of your operation (your trucking software) is protected when you’re using Q7 On The Cloud.
- Q: Will we hit a ceiling while we grow and find out our bill is suddenly more than we bargained for?
- A: Q7’s pricing is primarily based on how many users need to be in the software at one time. Because it’s not priced by truck or load, your back office can stay the same or shrink as your productivity rises, and your charge from us will remain the same, even if you start booking more loads or acquire more trucks.
- A: Q7 is designed for fleets ranging from 10-200 trucks. No matter your starting point, you won’t be forced to learn a new system when you expand.
- Q: Is QuickBooks or another third-party software product required for our accountant to close the books?
- A: No. Q7 includes a full suite of accounting and payroll tools, which means not only do you get the dispatch, order management, and other trucking-specific must-haves, you also gain a full accounting system.
- Q: What is your support response time?
- A: It’s our policy to never leave you waiting for a response for more than 10-15 minutes.
What About Trucking Companies Without Strong Internet?
Not every trucking business has reliable internet access, especially those based in rural areas. That doesn’t mean you have to miss out on powerful software or stay stuck in the 1990s.
At Frontline, we want to offer our product to everyone. If your internet connection isn’t dependable enough for a Q7 On The Cloud setup, you can install Q7 on your own computer(s) or server. That way, you still get the full capability of the system while keeping your data right on your network. In addition, you get the same scheduled updates that include new features, enhancements to existing tools, and more.
And it’s not just about internet speed. Some trucking businesses simply prefer to manage their own data. With Q7, you’re in control. Choose our hosted cloud solution, or keep everything on your own network. It’s entirely up to you.
This dual option means Q7 works for companies in all situations. You don’t have to choose between powerful and practical. Instead, you can run your operation the way that makes the most sense for your business today, with the freedom to switch later if your needs change.
When it comes to cloud-based trucking business software, the “easy” option isn’t always the powerful one. Q7 On the Cloud gives you the best of both worlds: the convenience of online access and the full power of an enterprise-grade trucking and accounting system. Gain powerful, online access today by speaking with a rep.
