PilotLab
Transportation & Logistics

Logistics Software Development for Modern Fleets

PilotLab provides logistics software development for carriers, freight brokers, 3PLs and logistics technology companies. We build tracking, dispatch, routing and customer visibility platforms that keep freight moving and customers informed.

How Logistics Software Development Improves Visibility

Logistics runs on time-sensitive data from trucks, drivers, warehouses, shippers and partners. When that data is late or scattered, dispatchers make phone calls, customers ask where their shipment is and margins shrink. Logistics software development brings tracking, planning and communication together so teams can act on what is actually happening, and so customers see the same accurate status your dispatchers do.

Our case studies include a logistics platform with real-time GPS tracking, route optimization, automated dispatch and customer shipment portals. We build these systems with real-time data processing for location events and mobile app development for driver apps that work on the road, including in areas with weak coverage. Customers get accurate ETAs and proactive alerts instead of calling dispatch for updates.

Integration is constant in transportation. Our API and platform engineering team connects ELD and telematics providers, load boards, EDI partners, warehouse systems and accounting tools. We also build logistics SaaS products, using multi-tenant architecture so each customer gets isolated data and configurable workflows. Every integration is monitored, so a missed EDI status or stalled ELD feed is flagged before it affects a delivery commitment.

Transportation and Logistics Challenges We Solve

Real-time shipment tracking

Location data arrives from many ELD, telematics and app sources at different intervals. We normalize it into accurate ETAs and status updates customers can trust.

Route planning and optimization

Manual planning ignores time windows, capacity and hours of service. We build routing tools that account for real constraints and update as conditions change.

EDI and partner integrations

Shippers, carriers and 3PLs exchange tenders, status and invoices over EDI and APIs. We build integration layers that handle formats, errors and retries.

Paperwork and billing delays

Missing proof of delivery and manual invoicing slow cash flow. We digitize documents and automate billing from delivery events.

Logistics Software Solutions We Build

We build the systems that plan, execute and report on freight movement, for operators and for logistics SaaS companies.

Transportation management systems

Load planning, carrier selection, tendering, dispatch and settlement in one TMS tailored to your operation.

Fleet and telematics platforms

Vehicle location, ELD and hours-of-service data, maintenance tracking and driver performance dashboards.

Route optimization

Multi-stop routing with time windows, capacity, driver hours and traffic, plus AI-assisted ETA prediction.

Customer visibility portals

Branded portals with live tracking, ETA notifications, documents and shipment history for shippers and consignees.

Driver mobile apps

Load details, navigation handoff, status updates, proof of delivery photos and e-signatures with offline support.

Freight brokerage platforms

Load posting, carrier onboarding and vetting, rate management and automated invoicing for brokers.

Transportation Regulations Our Software Supports

PilotLab builds software that supports the safety and recordkeeping rules carriers and brokers operate under. Your safety and compliance teams own the program; we build systems that keep accurate records.

  • FMCSA ELD mandate

    Fleet software must integrate with registered ELDs to capture hours of service data and support driver logs and roadside inspections.

  • FMCSA hours-of-service rules

    Dispatch and routing tools should respect driver hours limits so plans are legal as well as efficient.

  • IFTA fuel tax reporting

    Carriers need mileage and fuel data by jurisdiction captured accurately to support quarterly fuel tax reports.

  • Driver qualification and DOT recordkeeping

    Systems should track driver qualification files, inspections and maintenance records required for audits.

Logistics Software Use Cases

  • Real-time shipment tracking
  • Custom TMS platforms
  • Route optimization
  • Driver apps with proof of delivery
  • Freight brokerage software
  • Customer tracking portals
  • Last-mile delivery management
  • Logistics SaaS products

Transportation & Logistics Software: Frequently Asked Questions

How much does logistics software development cost?

Cost depends on the workflows, integrations and number of user types involved. A focused product, such as a tracking portal or dispatch tool, typically reaches MVP in 8-12 weeks. A full TMS with ELD, EDI and accounting integrations usually needs 12-20 weeks of production hardening. We scope in phases so you see value early and fund later phases with confidence.

Can you integrate with our ELD and telematics providers?

Yes. We integrate with ELD and telematics providers through their APIs to pull location, hours of service, engine and driver data. Because fleets often run mixed providers, we build an integration layer that normalizes data into one model. That way your dispatch, tracking and reporting features work the same regardless of which device is in the truck.

Should we build a custom TMS or buy one?

Commercial TMS products work well for standard operations. Custom software makes sense when your workflows are specialized, such as unusual freight, hybrid asset and brokerage models, or deep customer integrations, or when you are building a logistics SaaS product. Many companies keep an existing TMS and build custom portals, routing or analytics around it.

How do you calculate accurate ETAs?

We combine live location data, planned routes, historical travel times, stop durations, driver hours remaining and traffic data. Simple rules work for early versions, and machine learning models can improve accuracy once enough history is collected. ETAs update automatically as conditions change, and customers can be notified when a delay crosses a threshold.

Do your driver apps work offline?

Yes. Drivers often pass through areas with poor coverage, so we build apps that store load details, status updates, photos and signatures locally and sync when connected. Updates are timestamped at capture, not at sync, so records remain accurate. We also keep the interface simple and safe to use with minimal interaction while on duty.

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