Freight visibility platform owned by Descartes Systems Group that tracks loads through carrier ELDs, TMS feeds and a free driver app, with published per-load pricing for brokers and 3PLs.
Services
Who it serves
Overview
Descartes MacroPoint is a freight visibility platform that lets brokers, 3PLs and shippers track truckloads in real time by pulling location from the carrier's ELD, TMS or a driver's phone. It is part of The Descartes Systems Group, a logistics software company headquartered at 120 Randall Drive in Waterloo, Ontario, which bought MacroPoint in 2017.
MacroPoint describes itself as a freight visibility platform and carrier network that offers real-time tracking and capacity matching. Its about page cites more than 1.4 million drivers, more than 360 partners and more than 200,000 carriers in its network.
For brokers in particular, MacroPoint is one of the familiar names carriers are asked to connect to when they book a load, and its broker product now adds AI agents that make check calls and restore lost tracking.
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Services
For logistics service providers, MacroPoint's headline is "Manage more freight with automated shipment visibility." Carriers connect through ELD telematics, TMS integration or the driver app, and a feature called ELD+ combines telematics and app data for a second signal.
Other tools include capacity sourcing through the carrier network, carrier performance reporting and scorecards, OpsForce AI agents that handle check calls, restore lost tracking, update customers and file paperwork, FraudGuard for fraud checks, temperature tracking, proof of delivery and analytics.
For carriers, MacroPoint's FAQ says integrations through ELD or GPS, TMS or the MacroPoint for Truckers app are free. With an ELD connection, MacroPoint queries only the specific truck or trailer a customer requests, and says it has NDAs with its ELD partners. With a TMS connection, carriers push location by API or CSV. The app only collects location during active tracking sessions. MacroPoint says it does not sell carrier data.
Who it is for
The main buyers are freight brokers and 3PLs that need to track loads on many outside carriers, and shippers that want visibility on their freight. Carriers of all sizes are users, connecting at no cost so their broker and shipper customers can see their loads.
Brokers that already use a TMS with a MacroPoint integration can often start tracking without changing daily workflows, since tracking requests can be sent from the load record. Shippers use the shipper version of the product to see loads moved by their contracted carriers and brokers.
How working with them works
MacroPoint is unusual in this category because it publishes a pricing starting point. An article on its website, as listed in November 2026, says, "Our pricing starts at $5 per load and can be discounted as low as 40 cents a load," with discounts based on annual load volume. The same article says loads are paid for upfront, that a flat implementation fee applies (amount not stated), and that support and troubleshooting are not charged. The page was last updated in 2024, so confirm current rates with sales.
Setup for a broker typically involves connecting MacroPoint to the TMS, then sending tracking requests to carriers on each load. Carriers connect an ELD through a carrier activations consultant or use the app. The broker page also links to an integrations page listing supported systems.
Questions to ask before you sign
What per-load price will we pay at our expected volume, what happens to unused prepaid loads, and what is the implementation fee?
Is there a minimum term or annual commitment, and how does renewal pricing work?
Does MacroPoint integrate natively with our TMS, and is that integration included?
What share of our current carriers can be tracked through ELD integration rather than the app? Ask how coverage is measured.
Which AI features, such as OpsForce check calls or FraudGuard, are included in the base price and which cost extra?
Who owns the tracking history and carrier performance data, and can we export it?
For carriers: Your ELD's own FMCSA registration is separate from MacroPoint, so confirm it on FMCSA's list. Ask which customers will see your units and how to stop sharing.
Company background
MacroPoint was founded in 2011 and was based in Cleveland, Ohio, when Descartes announced its acquisition on August 15, 2017. Transport Topics reported the price as 107 million dollars, made up of 87 million dollars in cash and 20 million dollars in Descartes stock. At the time, MacroPoint's CEO was Bennett Adelson.
Descartes is a publicly traded logistics software company, and MacroPoint is now marketed as part of its software suite. Descartes reports more than 20,000 customers worldwide.
Sources
Information compiled from public sources. Last verified November 2026. Confirm details directly with the company.
