A system includes an energy management system configured to be communicatively coupled with a communication system of a vehicle that travels on a trip along a route. The energy management system is configured to be removably coupled with the communication system such that the energy management system is mechanically disengageable from the communication system. The energy management system is further configured to receive data parameters from the communication system and to generate at least one of a trip plan or a control message for the vehicle based on the data parameters. The trip plan and/or the control message dictates tractive and braking efforts of the vehicle during the trip. The energy management system is configured to communicate the trip plan and/or the control message to the communication system for the communication system to implement for controlling movement of the vehicle during the trip.