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Alvys

Alvys is a modern cloud-based TMS. It simplifies everything from quotes to cash with its forward-thinking carrier, broker, and hybrid workflows. The best part? Their native EDI solution. Say goodbye to EDI headaches - Alvys has tr...Read more about Alvys

5.0 (12 reviews)

17 recommendations

Rose Rocket

Rose Rocket TMS is a transportation management software built for modern trucking companies and brokerages. The software helps you input orders, generate contracted rates and spot quotes, track & trace shipments, manage documents,...Read more about Rose Rocket

4.5 (32 reviews)

14 recommendations

MyCarrierTMS

MyCarrier was formed, inspired, and driven by the shipping and logistics digital innovation possibilities. We aspire to be the ubiquitous platform that connects customers and carriers instantly and without barriers to fuel the fut...Read more about MyCarrierTMS

4.7 (98 reviews)

9 recommendations

TransImpact

TransImpact is an end-to-end technology-based company offering solutions to increase profitability across the supply chain. Parcel Spend Management includes Parcel Contract Negotiation, Parcel Spend Intelligence, and Parcel Margin...Read more about TransImpact

No reviews yet

8 recommendations

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FreightPOP

FreightPOP is a cloud-based freight management solution that helps businesses manage the entire freight shipping lifecycle through invoicing, label printing and tracking of carriers in transit. Key features include warehouse manag...Read more about FreightPOP

4.7 (43 reviews)

7 recommendations

ShippersEdge TMS

ShippersEdge is a cloud-based transportation management solution that manages shipping logistics. It helps users manage shipments, submit claims and handle multiple carriers. ShippersEdge helps companies save time and control...Read more about ShippersEdge TMS

5.0 (3 reviews)

7 recommendations

SOLOCHAIN WMS

SOLOCHAIN WMS is a highly flexible and adaptive warehouse management system built for companies that need their supply chains to be nimble, efficient, and scaling, while ensuring execution excellence, compliance, and operational s...Read more about SOLOCHAIN WMS

4.5 (22 reviews)

6 recommendations

Tecsys Elite

Tecsys’ Elite™ provides a series of cloud-based supply chain management solutions suitable for midsize to large distribution companies. The company currently services a wide range of verticals such as healthcare, service parts, he...Read more about Tecsys Elite

3.8 (10 reviews)

6 recommendations

LIVE Connect

Banyan Technology, the leading provider of freight management software for all over-the-road (OTR) shipping, delivers real-time intel, actionable insights, and instant access to information to help drive greater operational effici...Read more about LIVE Connect

4.6 (8 reviews)

6 recommendations

ShipperGuide TMS

ShipperGuide TMS serves as a versatile freight management platform, empowering shippers to efficiently secure, plan, and execute freight operations. Simplify the freight procurement workflow through a centralized solution, providi...Read more about ShipperGuide TMS

4.8 (6 reviews)

5 recommendations

TOTALogistix TMS

TOTALogistix from Aptean has brought the efficiencies of a robust TMS to small and midsized shippers. TOTALogistix TMS is a powerful proprietary shipping engine with a user-friendly interface; enabling employees even those withou...Read more about TOTALogistix TMS

4.6 (13 reviews)

4 recommendations

Oracle Fusion Cloud SCM

Oracle Supply Chain Management (SCM) With Oracle Supply Chain Management (SCM) & Manufacturing, organizations can respond quickly to changing demand, supply, and market conditions. Seamlessly connect your supply chain to create a...Read more about Oracle Fusion Cloud SCM

3.9 (9 reviews)

4 recommendations

EPG TMS

The Transportation Management System form EPG is a dynamic rout planning and optimization solution that supports companies in their complex planning of round trips starting in their depots or warehouses. It handles complex deliver...Read more about EPG TMS

No reviews yet

4 recommendations

Tai TMS

Tai TMS is an all-in-one platform for quoting, booking, and tracking shipments. Tai TMS focuses on helping freight brokers grow their businesses. Tai automates the LTL shipping process and provides FTL brokers with a centralized p...Read more about Tai TMS

4.4 (54 reviews)

3 recommendations

Uber Freight

Our managed transportation services are enabled by best-in-class technology to ensure your business can keep pace with the rate of change. Get peace of mind that you’re getting the most our of your TMS while we manage and optimiz...Read more about Uber Freight

3.7 (21 reviews)

3 recommendations

Honeybee TMS

Honeybee TMS by CTSI-Global helps businesses streamline supply chain management with freight audit and payment, transportation management system, and business Intelligence. Data from past shipments can be used to improve process...Read more about Honeybee TMS

No reviews yet

3 recommendations

PCS TMS

PCS TMS for Shippers and Carriers offers seamless management of your entire transportation network from the Cloud. The cloud-based TMS is intuitive, efficient and affordable for shippers, carriers and asset-based brokerages of all...Read more about PCS TMS

4.4 (139 reviews)

2 recommendations

DAT iQ

DAT iQ is a cloud-based data analysis solution for freight Brokers and Shippers. This product delivers comprehensive rate, capacity, and performance analytics solutions to equip Shippers and Brokers with actionable insights to red...Read more about DAT iQ

4.6 (61 reviews)

2 recommendations

Da Vinci Supply Chain Business Suite

Da Vinci is a cloud-based supply chain management (SCM) solution designed specifically for 3PLs, internet retailers and wholesale businesses with demanding warehouse, fulfillment and transportation needs. In addition to a WMS an...Read more about Da Vinci Supply Chain Business Suite

4.5 (17 reviews)

2 recommendations

Onfleet

Onfleet is a cloud-based fleet management solution that offers route optimization, auto-dispatching, delivery analytics, and customer communications. iOS and Android apps provide real-time driver tracking, proof of delivery, chat,...Read more about Onfleet

4.7 (93 reviews)

1 recommendations

Buyers Guide

Last Updated: March 16, 2023

What Is Transportation Management Software?

Transportation management systems (TMS) are designed to help businesses plan, execute, and measure deliveries across the supply chain. By providing managers with tools including carrier procurement optimization, load building, and track and trace, the right TMS software can improve fleet performance and reduce supply chain expenditures.

TMS software typically sits between a business' accounting system and warehouse management system, but can be a powerful tool to reduce costs and optimize shipping even as a standalone solution.

Here's what we'll cover:

Benefits of Transportation Management Software

The general benefits of TMS software are increased operational efficiency, reduced freight costs, and improved profitability.

Here are some examples of how businesses can benefit from TMS systems:

  • Measure performance of specific carriers, routes, and delivery times, which allows you to make adjustments based on data, not anecdotes.

  • Accurately track shipments and routes to reduce late delivery and better communicate unexpected delays.

  • Manage payments in the TMS so you can see trends such as late vendor payments or inaccurate invoices, allowing you to better manage vendor relationships.

What type of buyer are you?

TMS software is used by businesses in any industry where shipments and deliveries are at the core of operations. Most buyers are generally third-party logistics (3PL) companies, but other TMS software buyers include the following industries: food and beverage, automotive, electrical, and consumer packaged goods (and more).

In regard to business size, and independent from industry, you'll fall into one of the following categories:

  • Small business buyer**.** These are companies with two to 100 employees that make less than $50 million a year and have no IT department.

  • Midsize business buyer. These are companies that have two to 100 employees and make less than $50 million a year, but do have an IT department.

  • Enterprise business buyer. These are large companies that have more than 100 employees, make over $50 million a year, and have a dedicated IT department.

Common transportation management system features

Comparing carriers for the best rates, fewest number of stops, and shortest possible lead time is time consuming when handled manually. Tracking and measuring performance is nearly impossible when relying on spreadsheets alone. Transportation management systems offer a number of important features to maximize efficiency and reduce costs to alleviate pain points.

Carrier Management

Find, compare, and select the most time/cost-effective freight carrier so you can improve procurement processes.

 

Reporting

Collect and review relevant data points so you can monitor shipping status and measure against established KPIs.

 

Shipment Tracking

Create tracking info and receive updates on shipment status.

 

Billing & Invoicing

Create and manage financial transactions (bills and invoices) so you can reconcile invoices with shipments, audit freight bills, and reduce payment errors.

 

Customer Management

Capture and analyze information about your customers and record your interactions with them.

 

Order Management

Organize, track, monitor, and execute customer orders for goods, investments, or any other purchases.

 

TMS software pricing and hosting options

Transportation management systems are typically priced two ways: perpetual and subscription licensing. One thing to keep in mind is if you are currently using manual methods to track shipments, you may need to purchase hardware in order to take advantage of features such as barcode scanning.

  • Perpetual: Customers purchase a license to use the software in perpetuity; the license price is typically determined by business size or the number of vehicles in a fleet. Keep in mind that you often have to pay annual fees for support, maintenance, and upgrades; as a general rule of thumb, you can expect those annual costs to amount to roughly 20% of the perpetual license fee.

  • Subscription: Customers purchase a subscription (typically billed monthly) based on their size or the number of vehicles in their fleet. Typically, the customer then pays more for every additional truck it adds to the system. Fees for support, maintenance, and upgrades are generally wrapped into the subscription price, making it easier to determine the total cost of ownership for the system during its lifecycle.

Transportation management systems are typically deployed two ways: cloud-based or on-premise.

  • Cloud-based: With a cloud-based system, the software is hosted on a vendor or third party's servers, and can be accessed via a web browser or mobile app.

  • On-premise: With this deployment method, customers host the software on their own servers.

Integrated suites vs. best-of-breed

Often, TMS software is a standalone system or a key module in a best-of-breed supply chain management system.

The advantages to an integrated suite are streamlined out-of-the-box integration (e.g., fuel expenses automatically sync with the organization's accounting modules), but what these suites offer in breadth of features they might lack in depth. For smaller organizations, they can be far more than is needed. Individual best-of-breed applications may require more custom-built integrations, but they are typically more fully featured than their counterparts.

The important thing to keep in mind is what your needs are. If you need to overhaul your entire system, consider a broad, integrated suite. If, however, you are only trying to improve one aspect of your operation or fill a functional gap, a best-of-breed application might be your best fit.

What questions should I ask when evaluating TMS products?

Can I see it in action?

Always ask the vendor for two demos. The first is typically performed by your sales agent and will walk you through the user interface and core features. The second demo should include your IT resource and the vendor's technical resource.

Do you integrate with X tools I already use?

Insert the names of any software solutions or tools you already use that you want your TMS to integrate with when asking this question. Some vendors may be able to build custom integrations if they don't already offer it.

Is anything I'm asking for custom code?

Ask for a list of features included in the out-of-the-box solution and a list of features that are add-ons to ensure you're only paying for the features you need.

What is your customer support model?

Each vendor offers unique customer service and service level agreements. Do you want a representative available 24/7? Online chat capability? Make sure their model matches your needs before purchasing any system.

What are the set-up costs for the software?

Most vendors price their software based on a SaaS subscription model, but there can be up-front costs that come with implementation.

Market trends to understand

Internet of things. More transportation management systems are starting to integrate or otherwise be paired with internet of things (IoT) devices, and are used to relay more than just simple GPS tracking. Food distributors, for example, often use internet-connected thermometers to ensure food shipments are maintained at certain temperatures.

Global trade management. Some transportation management systems feature modules for global trade management, such as international tax and ISO compliance, international shipping schedules, and other tools to assist international shipping.

Related software

TMS is one part of a series of software designed to optimize supply chain visibility. Complementary solutions include:

Warehouse inventory software (WMS), which gives managers the tools they need to analyze stock and make plans for inventory movement or replenishment.

Order fulfillment software. Many WMS and TMS solutions contain order fulfillment functionality, but buyers without the need to automate warehousing or transportation tasks should evaluate order fulfillment applications.

Inventory management software enables businesses to keep track of their inventory along the supply chain. Features include product categorization, sales, and purchase order tracking, electronic scanning, and automatic ordering.

Fleet management solutions help users optimize delivery routes, dispatch deliveries, and reduce risk factors associated with fleet management.