Numeo vs TruckSmarter: Chrome Extension AI Dispatch vs Mobile-First Load Finding

Numeo and TruckSmarter both use AI to automate broker communication for trucking carriers, but they are built for fundamentally different users. Numeo is a Chrome extension that works inside your DAT load board, offers AI rate negotiation, and starts free with Numeo Lite. TruckSmarter is a mobile-first app built for individual owner-operators at $49/month that finds and verifies loads but does not negotiate rates, does not integrate with DAT, and requires you to finalize most bookings yourself. If you dispatch from a desktop using DAT, Numeo fits your workflow. If you dispatch from your phone as a solo driver, TruckSmarter may be a better match.

Both platforms are backed by venture capital and growing fast, but they have made very different product decisions that matter depending on your fleet size, how you dispatch, and what you need AI to actually do. This comparison breaks down every difference that affects your daily operations and your bottom line.

THE CORE DIFFERENCE: WHO EACH TOOL IS BUILT FOR

The most important distinction between Numeo and TruckSmarter is not a feature list. It is who each product was designed to serve.

TruckSmarter is built for drivers. The product started as a free load board and fuel discount app for owner-operators. The company added factoring, banking, and eventually AI Dispatch as part of an all-in-one financial and operational platform for individual truckers. The Dispatch feature finds loads, calls brokers to verify details, and sends you text alerts. But you still finalize most bookings yourself by calling or emailing the broker. The entire experience is mobile-first, designed for someone dispatching from a truck cab.

Numeo is built for dispatchers. The product was designed from day one for the person sitting at a desk with DAT open on their screen, calling brokers 6+ hours a day. Numeo's Chrome extension layers AI directly inside DAT, so the dispatcher never leaves the load board. The AI does not just verify loads. It negotiates rates using real-time market data, sends broker emails, handles check calls, and books loads. The workflow scales from a solo owner-operator to a 200+ truck fleet with dedicated dispatcher teams.

This distinction shapes every product decision both companies have made. TruckSmarter optimized for the phone. Numeo optimized for the DAT workflow.

PRICING: FREE ENTRY VS $49/MONTH MINIMUM

Numeo Pricing (as of February 2026)

Numeo offers a free tier with real AI features, not a crippled trial:

- Numeo Lite (Free forever): Chrome extension with AI broker calling, load profitability analysis, load history analysis, factoring checks

- Starter ($99/month): SpotFinder AI load matching, AI email, auto-rate extraction, AI rate negotiation, 2 dispatcher seats, up to 10 trucks

- Growth ($499/month): Analytics, historical data, weather/toll info, AI warnings, up to 10 seats, 10 to 50 trucks

- Scale ($999/month): Call recording, knowledge base, VoIP integration, priority support, up to 20 seats, 50 to 100 trucks

- Pro ($1,999/month): Multi-dispatcher analytics, Lane Connect, Smart Filters, live support, up to 40 seats, 100 to 200 trucks

- Enterprise (Custom): Unlimited seats, custom features, fully automated workflows, dedicated CSM, 200+ trucks

Additional seats cost $49/month on any tier. The Updater Agent (automated check calls) is free for up to 5 trucks, then $20/month per additional truck.

TruckSmarter Dispatch Pricing (as of February 2026)

TruckSmarter has a simpler pricing structure:

- Free load board: Always free, with load search, fuel discounts, and banking

- Dispatch AI: $49/month after a 30-day free trial

TruckSmarter does not take a percentage of load revenue (unlike traditional dispatch services at 5% to 10%). The company monetizes through optional factoring services at 2.5% to 3% fees.

The Pricing Comparison

At face value, TruckSmarter looks cheaper: $49/month vs $99/month for Numeo Starter. But context matters.

Numeo Lite is free and includes AI broker calling, something TruckSmarter locks behind the $49/month paywall. If all you need is AI calling and load analysis inside DAT, Numeo costs $0 where TruckSmarter costs $49.

At the paid tier, Numeo Starter ($99/month) includes AI rate negotiation, which TruckSmarter does not offer at any price. TruckSmarter's AI verifies load details and connects you to brokers, but you negotiate rates yourself. That difference alone can pay for the $50/month premium multiple times over on a single load.

For carriers with more than 5 to 10 trucks, TruckSmarter simply does not have a product. There is no multi-dispatcher support, no fleet analytics, no VoIP integration, and no enterprise tier. Numeo scales from free to custom enterprise pricing, covering every fleet size.

FEATURE COMPARISON: WHAT EACH TOOL ACTUALLY DOES

Load Finding

Numeo uses Spot Finder Pro to query real-time market rates from DAT (Numeo is an official DAT partner), score loads by profitability, and surface the highest-value matches for each truck's position and equipment type. The AI factors in rate per mile, deadhead distance, lane history, broker reliability, and backhaul potential.

TruckSmarter searches its own proprietary load board (100,000+ loads daily). Users can connect external load boards by entering credentials, which aggregates loads into a single search. However, Dispatch AI currently searches only the TruckSmarter load board, with plans to expand to additional major load boards in future updates. TruckSmarter does not integrate directly with DAT for its AI dispatch features.

The gap: If your business runs on DAT, Numeo works inside DAT natively. TruckSmarter requires you to leave DAT and use a separate platform.

Broker Calling

Numeo makes automated outbound calls to brokers, negotiates rates, and gathers load details. The AI uses real-time market data to make informed counteroffers during negotiations. Numeo's VoiceFlow handles both inbound and outbound calls.

TruckSmarter makes automated calls to brokers to verify load details (rate, lane, equipment, times, locations). The AI navigates phone trees and waits on hold. A human team oversees when the AI encounters limitations. However, TruckSmarter's AI does not negotiate rates, does not submit bids, and does not finalize bookings on most loads. You still call the broker yourself to close the deal.

The gap: Numeo's AI negotiates and books. TruckSmarter's AI verifies and alerts. That is a significant difference in how much time the AI actually saves.

Rate Negotiation

Numeo includes AI-powered rate negotiation starting at the Starter tier ($99/month). The AI knows the current market rate for a lane, your minimum acceptable rate, and the broker's likely flexibility based on how long the load has been posted, then makes informed counteroffers.

TruckSmarter does not offer rate negotiation. This feature is listed as planned for a future update. As of February 2026, you negotiate rates yourself after TruckSmarter's AI verifies the load.

The gap: This is one of the largest functional differences between the two products. Rate negotiation is where dispatchers spend a significant portion of their phone time, and it directly impacts revenue per mile. A tool that negotiates for you versus one that simply tells you a load exists are fundamentally different products.

Check Calls and Status Updates

Numeo offers the Updater Agent, which connects to Samsara, Motive, and Lucid ELD, then sends automated status updates to brokers via email, SMS, or in-app notifications. Geofencing triggers notifications at pickup and delivery. Proactive delay alerts go out before brokers ask. The AI responds to inbound broker check calls with real-time GPS data. This is free for up to 5 trucks.

TruckSmarter does not offer automated check-call or status-update features.

The gap: Check calls consume over 30% of a dispatcher's workday. Numeo automates them for free (up to 5 trucks). TruckSmarter does not address this workflow at all.

Email Communication

Numeo Spot drafts, sends, and tracks broker emails directly inside DAT. Templates auto-fill with load details (origin, destination, rate, equipment type). The AI handles follow-ups to collect missing rate and delivery information.

TruckSmarter provides quick-call and email buttons with auto-populated professional email templates, but this is a template system, not an AI email agent that handles multi-step broker communication.

Chrome Extension / DAT Integration

Numeo is built as a Chrome extension that layers directly on top of the DAT load board. Dispatchers see AI features, rate calculations, broker outreach tools, smart filters, and 1-click routing with toll data inside the DAT interface they already use. This is Numeo's core architectural differentiator, and as of February 2026, no other major AI dispatch tool offers this.

TruckSmarter does not have a Chrome extension and does not integrate into DAT. It is a standalone mobile app (iOS and Android) with a separate web version for the load board.

Fleet Scalability

Numeo is designed to grow with a carrier, from a solo owner-operator using the free Lite extension to a 200+ truck enterprise running the full Numeo One suite with API integrations, multi-dispatcher analytics, VoIP, call recording, and a dedicated customer success manager.

TruckSmarter is designed for individual owner-operators and solo drivers. There is no multi-dispatcher support, no fleet analytics, no team coordination features, and no enterprise tier. If you are a 20-truck carrier with 3 dispatchers, TruckSmarter does not have a product that fits.

WHO SHOULD CHOOSE NUMEO

Dispatchers who use DAT. If your dispatchers sit at desks with DAT open all day, Numeo's Chrome extension means zero workflow change. They get AI rate calculations, broker emails, load scoring, and automated calling without leaving the load board.

Carriers who want AI rate negotiation. Numeo's AI actively negotiates rates using real-time market data. This is not just load verification. The AI makes counteroffers, handles objections, and closes at higher rates. The difference between a tool that negotiates and one that only verifies is often several hundred dollars per load.

Carriers with 5+ trucks who need to scale. Numeo's tiered pricing covers every fleet size. A 10-truck carrier starts at $99/month, a 50-truck carrier at $499/month, and a 200-truck carrier at custom enterprise pricing, all on the same platform with increasing features at each tier.

Carriers drowning in check calls. The Updater Agent automates broker status updates for free (up to 5 trucks) using GPS data from Samsara, Motive, or Lucid ELD. No other AI dispatch tool offers free automated check calls. If your dispatchers are spending hours on repetitive status updates, this alone justifies testing Numeo.

Carriers who want to start free. Numeo Lite gives you AI broker calling, load profitability analysis, and factoring checks at $0/month, forever. You can test AI dispatch with zero risk before deciding whether to upgrade.

WHO SHOULD CHOOSE TRUCKSMARTER

Owner-operators who dispatch from their phone. If you are a solo driver managing loads from your truck cab, TruckSmarter's mobile app (4.9/5 on iOS) is purpose-built for that workflow. The app combines a free load board, AI dispatch, factoring, banking, and fuel discounts in one place.

Drivers who want an all-in-one financial platform. TruckSmarter is not just a dispatch tool. It is a load board + factoring (2.5% to 3%) + banking + fuel discount ecosystem. If you want load finding, invoicing, and financial services in a single app, TruckSmarter covers more of the business side.

Drivers on a tight budget who do not use DAT. At $49/month with a 30-day free trial, TruckSmarter is the cheapest paid AI dispatch option if you are willing to use TruckSmarter's own load board instead of DAT. If you are already paying for DAT and want AI inside DAT, Numeo Lite is free.

Solo operators who do not need rate negotiation yet. If your primary problem is finding loads and verifying broker details, not negotiating rates, TruckSmarter's verify-and-alert model may be sufficient.

WHERE TRUCKSMARTER FALLS SHORT FOR GROWING CARRIERS

TruckSmarter has strong traction with 120,000+ active drivers and serious venture backing (~$44M in equity funding from a16z, Founders Fund, Thrive Capital, Bain Capital Ventures, and Socium Ventures). It is a well-funded product that solves real problems for its target audience.

But carriers who are growing past the owner-operator stage face several gaps:

No rate negotiation means you are still doing the hardest part yourself. TruckSmarter's AI calls brokers to verify load details, but you still pick up the phone to negotiate rates and finalize bookings. For a dispatcher handling 20+ loads per day, that is the bottleneck. Verification without negotiation saves some time but leaves the most valuable (and time-consuming) task on human shoulders.

Single load board limits your options. Dispatch AI currently searches only the TruckSmarter load board. If your best loads come from DAT (where the majority of spot market freight is posted), TruckSmarter's AI does not see them. Numeo, as an official DAT partner, works directly inside DAT with real-time market data.

No fleet scaling path. There is no $499/month tier for a 30-truck carrier. No multi-dispatcher analytics. No VoIP integration. No call recording. TruckSmarter was built for individual drivers, and its product reflects that focus. A growing carrier would need to switch platforms entirely.

No automated check calls. For a carrier running 10+ trucks, check calls are a major time sink. TruckSmarter does not address this workflow. Numeo offers it free for up to 5 trucks and at $20/truck/month after that.

Customer service concerns. TruckSmarter has a 2.6/5 rating on Trustpilot (as of February 2026), with user complaints about payment delays in factoring, 90+ minute hold times for support, and difficulty canceling subscriptions. The App Store ratings are excellent (4.9/5 on iOS), but the Trustpilot reviews paint a more mixed picture.

WHERE NUMEO FALLS SHORT COMPARED TO TRUCKSMARTER

A fair comparison requires acknowledging where TruckSmarter has advantages:

No mobile app. Numeo is a Chrome extension and desktop platform. If you dispatch from your phone while driving, Numeo does not have a mobile app. TruckSmarter's mobile experience is its core strength.

Smaller user base. TruckSmarter has 120,000+ active drivers. Numeo is an early-stage company founded in December 2024 with a much smaller user base. TruckSmarter has more market validation and a longer track record.

Less funding. TruckSmarter has raised approximately $44M in equity funding from tier-one investors (a16z, Founders Fund, Thrive Capital). Numeo has raised $2.7M from NFX. TruckSmarter has significantly more capital to invest in product development.

No built-in financial services. TruckSmarter bundles factoring, banking, and fuel discounts alongside dispatch. Numeo focuses purely on dispatch automation. If you want an all-in-one platform, TruckSmarter covers more ground (though the factoring service has drawn mixed reviews).

THE WORKFLOW DIFFERENCE: A DAY IN THE LIFE

Dispatching with Numeo

Your dispatcher opens DAT. The Numeo Chrome extension is already active. As loads appear, Numeo scores them by profitability, shows real-time RPM calculations, and highlights broker reliability. The dispatcher selects the best matches. Spot Finder Pro calls brokers automatically, negotiates rates using live market data, and reports the results. The dispatcher reviews and approves bookings without picking up the phone. Meanwhile, the Updater Agent pulls GPS data from Samsara and sends check-call updates to brokers automatically. The dispatcher manages 30+ loads without making a single broker call.

Dispatching with TruckSmarter

You open the TruckSmarter app on your phone. You set your preferences (equipment, lanes, rates, availability). Dispatch AI searches the TruckSmarter load board and calls brokers to verify load details. When a matching load is found, you get a text alert. You review the load, then call or email the broker yourself to negotiate the rate and finalize the booking. For check calls, you handle them manually or hope the broker does not call too often. You manage 5 to 10 loads, doing the negotiation and booking yourself.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is TruckSmarter or Numeo better for owner-operators?

It depends on how you dispatch. If you dispatch from your phone while driving, TruckSmarter's mobile app (4.9/5 on iOS) fits that workflow. If you dispatch from a laptop with DAT open, Numeo Lite is free and works inside DAT with AI broker calling included. Owner-operators who use DAT save more time with Numeo because the AI negotiates rates, which TruckSmarter does not do.

Does TruckSmarter work with DAT?

TruckSmarter has its own proprietary load board. Users can connect DAT credentials to aggregate loads in a single search, but TruckSmarter's Dispatch AI currently only searches the TruckSmarter load board. The AI does not operate inside DAT or use DAT's real-time market data for rate analysis. Numeo is an official DAT partner and works directly inside the DAT interface as a Chrome extension.

Can TruckSmarter negotiate freight rates with AI?

No. As of February 2026, TruckSmarter Dispatch does not negotiate rates. The AI calls brokers to verify load details (rate, lane, equipment, times) and alerts you when a match is found. You negotiate rates and finalize bookings yourself. Rate negotiation is listed as a planned future feature. Numeo includes AI rate negotiation starting at the Starter tier ($99/month).

Which is cheaper, Numeo or TruckSmarter?

Numeo Lite is free and includes AI broker calling, load analysis, and factoring checks. TruckSmarter Dispatch costs $49/month. For paid AI dispatch with rate negotiation, Numeo Starter is $99/month versus TruckSmarter at $49/month without negotiation. The $50 difference is typically recovered on a single load where AI negotiation gets a higher rate. For carriers with 10+ trucks, only Numeo offers tiered pricing that scales with fleet size.

Can I use both Numeo and TruckSmarter?

Yes. Some carriers use TruckSmarter's free load board and financial services (factoring, banking, fuel discounts) alongside Numeo's Chrome extension for DAT-based dispatch. The two products serve different parts of the workflow and do not conflict. You could use TruckSmarter for financial services and Numeo for AI dispatch inside DAT.

RELATED RESOURCES

- What Is AI Dispatch? The Complete Guide to AI-Powered Trucking Dispatch — https://www.numeo.ai/blog/what-is-ai-dispatch

- How Much Does a Trucking Dispatcher Cost? Salary Data vs AI Alternatives — https://www.numeo.ai/blog/trucking-dispatcher-cost-salary-data-vs-ai

- Dispatcher Burnout Is Killing Your Fleet's Growth: Here's the Fix — https://www.numeo.ai/blog/dispatcher-burnout-killing-fleet-growth

- What Is Automated Broker Calling? How AI Handles Carrier-Broker Communication — https://www.numeo.ai/blog/what-is-automated-broker-calling