Termly vs iubenda: Best Privacy Policy Tool for Your Independent Trucking Business
If your independent trucking business website collects information for freight quotes, driver applications, or uses tools like Google Analytics, you are gathering data. In most US states and all of the EU, you legally need a privacy policy. This guide shows how owner-operators can get one without hiring an expensive lawyer, using a tool that costs less than a truck wash.
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The quick answer for Owner-Operators
Termly is the best starting point for most US-based independent trucking businesses. It covers major US data laws like CCPA and also includes GDPR for peace of mind if you haul cargo internationally or work with clients who have EU operations. It sends automatic updates when laws change, and its cookie consent banner is easy to set up. iubenda is a stronger choice for owner-operators with a significant portion of their business involving EU clients or international freight, as it was built with EU compliance at its core. Free generators are okay for very basic sites with almost no data collection, but they don't offer the ongoing legal monitoring that paid tools provide, which is crucial for staying compliant as your logistics business grows.
Side-by-side breakdown for your Trucking Company
Termly: Costs about $10-20 per month. It covers major regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and COPPA, which might apply if your website ever interacts with minors (e.g., career pages). It auto-updates when data laws change, so you don't have to keep track of new regulations affecting client data or website visitor information. It also includes a cookie consent banner for your website and can generate a privacy policy, terms of service, and cookie policy. This is a strong choice for US-focused independent truckers and logistics startups.
iubenda: Ranges from $9-27 per month, depending on the features you need. Built in Italy, its main focus is EU compliance, which is important if you have a European-facing freight brokerage or often deal with international shipping clients. It supports multiple languages and is IAB TCF certified, which is key for some EU advertising rules. It’s ideal for trucking businesses with significant international traffic or data handling.
Free generators (like PrivacyPolicies.com or Termly's free tier): These are fine for a very simple website that perhaps only lists your contact number and doesn't collect any client data or use Google Analytics. They don't offer automatic updates or ongoing compliance checks, meaning you'd have to manually check for new data laws yourself. Only use a free option if your data collection is minimal, and plan to upgrade once you start processing freight quotes or driver inquiries.
When Termly is best for your Logistics Business
Choose Termly if your independent trucking or logistics business is primarily based in the US, you want to set up your legal pages once and not worry about them, and you need a cookie consent banner that actually meets US and international data privacy rules like CCPA and GDPR. Termly’s setup is very user-friendly for owner-operators, and their support documents are thorough, making it easy to publish your required legal pages.
When iubenda is best for your Freight Company
Choose iubenda if a large part of your client base or website visitors are from the EU, if you plan to run online advertising for your freight services that require IAB TCF consent framework compliance, or if your business processes data from multiple countries with different legal requirements. For example, if you frequently deal with international shipping manifests or have a significant European client roster, iubenda's team tracks regulatory changes across many jurisdictions, which provides extra security for your owner-operator business.
When a free generator is acceptable for Trucking
Only use a free generator if your independent trucking website is purely informational, like a digital business card. This means no email sign-ups for newsletters, no online freight quote forms, no advertising, and no analytics beyond basic server logs (which track visits but not personal data). For most growing owner-operator businesses looking for freight, a free generator isn't enough. If you have Google Analytics installed to see where your website traffic comes from, you're already collecting enough data that a paid privacy policy tool is a better choice.
The verdict for Independent Truckers
For US-based independent trucking or logistics businesses: Termly. For owner-operators with a significant EU or international audience: iubenda. Neither tool should take more than 30 minutes to set up. Make sure to publish your privacy policy before you spend money on any online advertising for your freight services. Many ad platforms, like Google Ads or Facebook, require a privacy policy before they approve your account or display ads for your trucking business.
How to get started with your Privacy Policy
1. List every type of data your trucking business website collects. This includes names and emails for freight quotes, payment information (if you process online payments directly), data from website analytics, and information collected by website cookies. 2. Choose Termly or iubenda based on where your primary clients or website visitors are located (US-focused vs. EU/International). 3. Use the tool's step-by-step wizard to generate your privacy policy, terms of service (important for setting expectations with clients), and cookie policy. 4. Publish all three generated pages on your website. Make sure to link to them clearly in your website's footer (the bottom section). 5. Before you launch any online advertising campaigns for your trucking routes or freight services, enable the cookie consent banner on your website.
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
Termly
Privacy policy + cookie consent banner — best for US businesses
iubenda
Best for EU compliance and international audiences
PrivacyPolicies.com
Free generator for simple sites
Some links above are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you sign up — at no extra cost to you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need a privacy policy if I do not sell products online?
Yes, if your website collects any data — including email addresses, contact form submissions, or analytics. GDPR applies to any business that collects data from EU residents regardless of where the business is located. CCPA applies to businesses collecting data from California residents above certain thresholds.
What is a cookie consent banner and do I need one?
A cookie consent banner informs visitors that your site uses cookies and, in many jurisdictions, requires their consent before non-essential cookies are set. GDPR requires explicit consent for analytics and advertising cookies. CCPA requires a Do Not Sell My Personal Information option. If you run Google Analytics or any advertising, you need a compliant banner.
How often should I update my privacy policy?
Update it whenever you add a new data collection method, change a third-party service that handles user data, or when a new privacy law takes effect in a jurisdiction where you have users. Paid tools like Termly and iubenda alert you when updates are needed.
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