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FleetBase
AGPL-3.0FleetBase is an open-source logistics operating system replacing Shipsy for fleet dispatch, order tracking, and routing without per-shipment fees.
Open-source alternative to — compare it against:
Overview
Shiv Thakker and Ronald Richardson founded FleetBase in Singapore in 2018 to break logistics operations out of closed, enterprise-priced supply chain software, later open-sourcing the system in 2022. Built from experience in financial trading and military transport, the platform packages dispatch, fleet tracking, and order management into an extensible operating system. Today, it gives engineering-led operators full control over their logistics stack without transactional surcharges.
Why FleetBase instead of Shipsy
Shipsy targets enterprise supply chains with proprietary software bundling last-mile routing, freight procurement, and carrier tracking behind five-figure contracts and metered per-shipment fees. For courier services and delivery fleets, that per-transaction toll creates an unpredictable expense scaling with delivery volume. FleetBase matches Shipsy’s dispatch console, live driver tracking, customer portals, and automated routing rules while eliminating recurring license fees and unit surcharges. Self-hosting keeps software costs flat whether a team dispatches fifty packages or five thousand orders daily.
The trade-off centers on scope and engineering overhead. Shipsy provides turnkey integrations with global freight carriers, air cargo networks, and pre-built customs workflows that FleetBase does not replicate. Choosing FleetBase requires maintaining a Docker deployment of Laravel, Node, and MySQL, alongside managing mapping quotas. For operations leads focused on regional dispatch, field service routing, or on-demand delivery, accepting that server maintenance eliminates thousands of dollars in annual software fees while retaining complete ownership of routing data.
What it does well
- Modular extensions: operators install purpose-built modules like FleetOps for dispatch or Storefront for customer ordering through the CLI without modifying core code.
- Dedicated mobile apps: open-source mobile apps (Navigator for drivers and Storefront for customers) give agencies white-label field apps without per-seat mobile licensing.
- Configurable order flows: ops leads can construct multi-step order pipelines with custom activity states, automated transitions, and dynamic fields tailored to specific contracts.
- Flexible routing engines: supports open routing engines like OSRM alongside commercial map providers, allowing teams to avoid expensive mapping bills.
