linkedin
2

TMS

What is TMS ?

A transportation management system (TMS) is a logistics platform that uses technology to help businesses plan, execute, and optimize the physical movement of goods while making sure that the shipment is compliant and proper documentation is available. This kind of system is a key component of larger supply chain management (SCM) systems.

Often referred to as a transportation management solution or transportation management software, a TMS provides visibility into day-to-day transportation operations. It helps logistic companies with trade compliance information, documentation, and ensures timely deliveries of freight and goods.

Transportation management systems also streamline the shipping process and make it easier for businesses to manage and optimize their transportation operations. These systems can be deployed across all modes of goods transportation whether it's by land, air, or sea.

Importance of TMS

Why It’s Important for Trucking Companies to Have a TMS – Transportation Management System

Transportation management systems can play a central role in trucking operations, affecting every part of the process—from planning and procurement to logistics and lifecycle management. The broad and deep visibility offered by a powerful & robust trucking management software leads to more efficient resource planning and execution, which results in higher customer satisfaction.

That, in turn, leads to more sales and helps businesses grow. With such a dynamic global trade environment that we live and transact in, it is important to have a system that will allow you to successfully navigate complicated processes and get around trade policies and compliance.

Higher revenues, increased customer satisfaction, and scalable growth in a single centralized software system.

Who Can Use a TMS?

Transportation management systems are primarily used by businesses that need to ship, move, and receive goods on a regular basis, including:

  • Carriers / Trucking Companies / Fleets / Owner Operators
  • Dispatch As A Service (DaaS) new*
  • Brokers / Digital Brokers
  • Shippers / Manufacturers / Distributors
  • Companies that provide logistics services, such as third-party and fourth-party logistics (3PL and 4PL) companies and logistics service providers (LSPs)

TMS Challenges

Keeping Quotes Organized

Working with several different shipments is challenging. It may require you to stay on the phone all day or jump from one website to another, requesting quotes from the carriers in your network.

Reaching out to different carriers and asking for quotes can be time-consuming, taking you away from other important aspects of your business.

Choosing the Best Carrier

It’s important to remember that not all shipments are the same; some shipments are time or temperature-sensitive, requiring special delivery services or needing to be handled with utmost care.

Consequently, not all shipments should be managed by a single carrier. While some carriers might specialize in handling long hauls, others might provide the best services for handling short trips.

Tracking Shipments

Typically, companies use different carriers to handle all their freight. It is quite common for them to use different carriers for different shipments. As a result, tracking shipments can become highly challenging. Without a TMS, companies may enter shipment numbers into forms on several carrier sites.

Gathering Insights

When there is no TMS in place, you may have to rely on your instinct for deciding who the cheapest carrier has been over some time or which carrier has the highest percentage of delivering shipments on time. With no technology at your disposal, it can become increasingly difficult to know about a certain carrier's performance.

The Benefits of a TMS

A TMS- and modern transport management system in general-provide many Benefits to the business

  • Reduce Costs for the business and the end customer.
  • Simplification of supply chain processes across geographies, model, and carriers.
  • Automation of business operations for faster and more accurate billing and documentation.
  • Improvement in visibility and security, especially in transit.
  • Time saving-fewer manual steps results in fewer delays and faster delivery times.
  • The ability to track freight, both locally and globally, on a single platform.
  • New business insights as better reporting leads to faster action and process improvement.
  • Improvements in customer service and customer satisfaction with real-time updates and fewer shipment delays.
  • The ability to scale the business by meeting and exceeding customer demands for fast, on-time shipments.
  • One Centralized system of records and management for all your operational needs.
  • The Added Value of a TMS in the Cloud.
  • A cloud-based transportation management system delivers many of the same business benefits as other cloud solutions, including improved economies of scale, lower total cost of ownership, no upgrade fees, and a faster return on investment (ROI).

The Added Value of a TMS in the Cloud

A cloud-based transportation management system offers many benefits similar to other cloud solutions, including improved economies of scale, reduced total cost of ownership, no upgrade fees, and a rapid return on investment (ROI).

On the other hand, for IT, a cloud-based transportation management software provides additional benefits in the form of quick deployments, the lesser time required for training and installation, automatic updates with the latest features, and improved security.

Main Functions of a TMS

The main functions of a TMS include planning, management, execution, and optimization. With a TMS, any business can plan, manage, execute, and optimize the physical movement of goods.

Key Modules of A Good Trucking
Transportation Management System

A good trucking TMS transportation management system offers a comprehensive suite that allows you to manage your entire business from a single location. Moreover, a good TMS also offers great flexibility and is compatible with various integrations, allowing you to scale the service per your needs.

Some of the key modules of a Trucking TMS include:

Even the top TMS Systems are incomplete without a driver app. Real-time communication between drivers and dispatchers ensures efficiency and transparency. Moreover, drivers also have a lot of redundant administrative tasks to do.

With the help of a driver app, manual labor can be significantly reduced and drivers can focus more on what they love, i.e. driving. This results in an elevated driver experience and can play a huge role in driver retention.

Instantaneous Driver Dispatch Information BOL/POD Uploading with Approval Workflow
Driver to Dispatcher Real-Time Chat Automatic Document Enhancement
Maintenance Updates & Receipt Submission by Driver Driver Time Off Request
Easy Tracking & Driver Scheduling Through App Driver Expense Submission and Approval Workflow Track Trailer Pickup and Drop Update

Statistics suggest that 42% tracking success is good enough for trucking companies. It helps in saving costs spent on time-taking check-in calls. Cloud transportation management system or trucking management software provides you with 100% load visibility allowing you to achieve a level of efficiency in operations.

Real-Time Connectivity With HOS LTL Load Tracking Real-Time Automated Load Tracking
Temperature/ Trailer Tracking Split Load Tracking Predictive ETAs
Automatic Check Calls Shipment Updates Management Asset Tracking View

Whether it's sourcing, negotiating, booking, confirming & creating the loads, best fleet management software offers you a single-window load sourcing solution. Sourcing the most profitable loads can be a very complicated process.

A good TMS cuts on the time you spend on solving complex mathematical calculations. It makes calculation easier and helps you find the best loads, making operations more efficient while ensuring 100% accuracy.

Multiple Loadboard Integrations Market / Lane Planning Automated Truck Posting
Automated Load Searching Smart Load to Truck Matching Engine Smart Load Rating Engines
Automatic Daily Truck Capacity Emails Built-In Broker to Dispatch Communication Easy-to-use Dashboard

Paying your drivers promptly and accurately is a crucial aspect for any trucking company. Handling multiple types of driver’s remuneration models can be very challenging.

In addition to regular monthly payments, a good trucking management software supports all kinds and combinations of driver settlement models such as pay-per-hour, pay-per-mile, pay-per-load, pay-per-trip, % of revenue, and more.

Cloud transportation management system (TMS) eliminates all the hassles of account management as it automatically brings expenses and associated payment transactions to the driver settlement.

Company Driver Settlements Owner-Operator Settlements Partner Carrier Settlements
Choose Any Payment Settlement Structure Batch Settlements Accuracy & Transparency

Fleet scheduling, driver management, and information management are huge troubles for trucking companies. Guesswork and crossed fingers won't keep things smooth for long. Good trucking management software helps you To improve efficiency and productivity, reduce costs and ensure customer satisfaction by organizing information and making it readily available when required.

With smart record management, you can reduce overhead costs, make wiser business decisions and score more profitable loads.

Smart Single/Multiple Carrier Management Solution Simplified Carrier Record Management Automatic Load Sharing Between Multiple Carriers
Driver Documents & Records Manager Real-Time Connectivity With HOS Multiple Fuel-Card Assignments
One-Window Information Management Vehicle / Trailer Management Advanced Reporting

When it comes to dispatch management, there are countless details to manage on a daily basis. Dispatchers often spend too much time manually tracking vehicles, planning routes, and organizing drivers’ schedules. That is where a good TMS for carriers can help.

An efficient Cloud transportation management system (TMS) not only helps you keep track of every movement but also allows you to focus on the strategic aspects of dispatch management and develop new, more efficient ways to provide service.

Basic Load Management LTL and Trip Management Reefer temperature tracking
Customer Credit Check Appointment Scheduling Management Advance Accessorial Management
PDF Merge Dispatcher Unit Assignments High Empty Miles Check

Quick and timely processing of invoices is crucial for smooth trucking. A Cloud Transportation Management Software system (TMS) comes with an invoicing module to ensure fast, easy, and seamless processing of invoicing translating into an improved organization and better cash flow.

It should allow generating multiple invoices with a single click. Leading TMS systems let you pick from multiple templates and also give you the liberty to customize the information you wish to include or exclude.

One-Click Invoice Creation Fast Invoice Sending To Factoring Companies & Customers Track Pending Payments
Update Invoices With Accessorial Charges QuickBooks & Netsuite Integrations Manage & Track The Entire Invoice Lifecycle From A Single Window
Manage Multiple Carrier Invoicing Separately Automated Missing Document Check Flexible & Customizable Solutions

As with any other industry, business analytics and reporting can help trucking companies make informed decisions and achieve a variety of goals. By effectively leveraging the power of data, trucking companies can better understand their customers, identify market trends, measure accomplishments against resources, and optimize operations.

A good TMS for carriers offers valuable business insights to trucking companies that help them get through the tough times. The trucking industry is the most vulnerable to political turmoil and instability. With the help of data, trucking companies can power through all uncertainties with ease.

Comprehensive business insights Tracking and company overview details Fuel Utilization Reports
Fuel Discount Utilization Lane Analysis Expense Reports

Keep Your Eyes on the Road
While Sitting Back in Yard

LoadStop’s advanced technology is designed to empower every individual across an entire trucking organization.

From owners to fleet managers, drivers, finance, and beyond, everyone can accurately and efficiently execute, deliver, and enhance their current processes.

Transportation is a highly-competitive and highly-regulated industry. Even a small and apparently innocuous lapse can cost you hundreds of dollars. With the help of automatic reminders, LoadStop helps employees and all stakeholders stay on top of critical tasks and mitigate risks and exceptions.

Being a Cloud Transportation Management System (TMS), LoadStop greatly reduces your administrative burden by automating routine manual tasks and provides you with a platform to establish consistent document and data storage.

LoadTracking

The Future of TMS

Customer expectations keep rising. Ever-changing global trade regulations are also forcing supply chains to innovate to keep pace, often by investing in a transportation management system or trucking management software. At this point, it is recommended that trucking companies consider using the best TMS for carriers to simplify their complex trucking operations.

Cloud transportation management systems must become more robust and feature-rich, providing faster responses to consumers and more detailed information to businesses. Machine learning enables TMSs to be more intelligent, providing better recommendations and more accurate predictions.

Companies can choose to integrate their transportation and global trade management systems with emerging technologies to further improve visibility and offer better customer service. Some of these innovative technologies that are currently available include:


LoadStop Comparison
Compare, Analyze & Determine


Curious to know how LoadStop stacks up against the competition? We're glad you asked. You'll get the best deal and features with us. Learn how LoadStop beats all other transportation management software.


But don't take our word for it. Check out all of the details below:


Features that no other TMS Can Match
Technology & User Experience LoadStop Other
  • Technology Stack/User Experience
  • Cloud Infrastructure
  • Emerging Technologies, AI, Automation & Predictive Analytics
  • Agency Management
  • Brokerage Module
  • Digital-Modern
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • Legacy
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
Load Sourcing LoadStop Other
  • Multiple LoadBoard Integrations (DAT, Truckstop, Convoy, CHR, UberFreight, LoadSmart)
  • Lane Planning
  • Automated Truck Posting/Load Searching
  • Automatic Daily Truck Capacity Emails
  • YES
  • Partial
  • YES
  • YES
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
Dispatch Management LoadStop Other
  • Automated Missing POD Management
  • Detention and Lumper Request Management
  • Driver HOS Validation Before Dispatch
  • Real Time Integration With HOS
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
Driver App LoadStop Other
  • BOL/POD Uploading With Approval Workflow
  • Driver Detention Request With Approval Workflow
  • Driver Settlements
  • Driver Time Off Request
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • Partial
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO
Real Time Tracking LoadStop Other
  • Predictive ETA
  • Automatic/Manual Milestone and Location Update Per Customer
  • Single Window ELD and Asset Tracking View
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • Legacy
  • On-Premise
  • NO
EDI LoadStop Other
  • Customizable EDI Interface
  • Data Extraction From EDI Notes and Comments
  • YES
  • YES
  • NO
  • NO
Settlements LoadStop Other
  • Truck Settlement (Investor owned Trucks)
  • Driver Settlement by ELD Miles/Hours
  • Multiple Per Diem Pay Models
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • NO
  • NO
  • Partial
Invoice Management LoadStop Other
  • One Click Upload For Multiple Invoices to Factoring
  • Automated Detection / Lumper Detection
  • Factoring Account Receivable Management
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • Partial/NO/NO
  • NO
  • NO
Quickbooks/Netsuite Integration LoadStop Other
  • Invoice Management
  • Settlement /Expense Sync
  • Owner Operator Bill Payment Sync back to TMS
  • YES
  • YES
  • YES
  • NO
  • NO
  • NO

Legacy Transportation Management System
VS
Cloud-Based Transportation Management Software
Pros & Cons


Transportation management systems were introduced in the early 2000s when both public and private organizations across all industries started incorporating technology into their business operations.

These systems gave trucking companies a series of benefits, such as reduced paperwork, fleet information management, and improved efficiency. Legacy TMS & on-premise trucking management software solutions belong from the early generation of the business technology stack. These older versions of enterprise transportation solutions were once considered a cornerstone of logistics tech. However, as the supply chains evolved and the markets became more fast-paced, the legacy systems - as indicated by the static nature of the powering technology - failed to match the ever-changing business demands.

Thanks to the intense innovation in terms of cloud-based solutions, AI, and smart data management, TMS has undergone a complete makeover. In addition to providing business-specific solutions that fit into every fleet's pocket, modern cloud-based technology is data-driven and intelligent which allows for increased productivity, flexibility, and scalability.

Cloud vs. legacy is still a hot debate in the trucking world. To better understand, here are some main areas where legacy TMS becomes a major concern.

LoadTracking

The Disadvantages Of
Legacy Trucking Management Software


  • The Underlying Technology Is Obsolete:

Older systems contain outdated technology. Many trucking leaders believe these systems cannot handle modern-day problems - preparing for the future is out of the question.


  • Long Implementation Time:

Legacy transportation management systems implementation consume considerably more time than the cloud as they require hardware installations, configurations and hosting to set up. Increased onboarding time means devoting additional time, money, and resources to the process.


  • Expensive Systems - Minimal ROI:

Implementing a legacy TMS is expensive on many fronts. Trucking companies are required to buy both hardware and software and handle the upfront costs of implementation. Additionally, any maintenance is expensive, which may be required from time to time. When it comes to return on investments, these systems don’t really add up to your overall bottom line.


  • Accessibility and Visibility Limitation:

One of the most critical areas where older systems fail is the lack of real-time visibility, which has become vital to modern supply chain processes. Accessibility is limited to your office only. Tracking of loads, drivers & assets is rife with inaccuracies. Communication barriers are still there.


  • Upgradation Challenges & Limited Flexibility:

Downtime, customized proprietary software, incompatibility with other systems - the legacy transportation management software upgradation comes with its own challenges.


  • Poor User-Interface:

The usability is extremely poor and discouraging. The hardware is tacky. Maintenance is expensive. The customer support, like the solution itself, is slow and has no help.

To Sum It Up!


Multi-carrier Support

Very limited and basic features

Multi-carrier Support

Siloed data and system

Multi-carrier Support

Does not help you make use of data


Multi-carrier Support

Does not support your growth

Multi-carrier Support

Fleet and operations visibility Is very limited

Multi-carrier Support

Lack of disruption management

Advantages of
LoadStop Cloud Trucking Management Software


  • Modern State-of-the-art technology:

One of the best transportation management systems, LoadStop is powered with modern cutting-edge cloud technology that makes your fleet future ready. The end-to-end transportation management solution allows companies to manage their entire business from a single login & a single interface.


  • Quick Implementation:

While the LoadStop TMS solution represents the cutting edge of digitalization, it is delivered in easy-to-understand cloud delivery and installation models. Our experts ensure fast, smooth, and glitch-free implementation, and you can expect an accelerated return on investment.


  • World Wide Accessibility & Real-Time Visibility:

Manage your entire fleet & operations from anywhere and at any time with one of the best transportation management systems – LoadStop. Real-time visibility into the fleets and operations minimizes risks. Track assets, loads, and drivers accurately and precisely.


  • Unprecedented Flexibility:

50+ integrations across the entire spectrum of your fleet operations. The unique functionality of LoadStop transportation management system allows you to onboard external applications faster and more cost-effectively than any other TMS.


  • Value For Money:

By leveraging AI technology - processes are autonomous, saving you time, money, and effort. LoadStop TMS takes care of all the redundant tasks. Intelligent solutions maximize efficiency. BI technology and data analytics help you make wise decisions.


Power It Up with
THE BEST IN CLASS


Multi-carrier Support

5* user rating

Multi-carrier Support

Automation saves dozens of hours

Multi-carrier Support

The most proactive customer support


Multi-carrier Support

Foolproof data security

Multi-carrier Support

Breaks All Communication Barriers

Multi-carrier Support

Increases customer satisfaction

FAQs

A transportation management system (TMS) is specialized software used for planning, executing, and optimizing the shipment of goods. TMS is a platform that utilizes technology to help trucking, transportation, and logistics companies plan, execute, and optimize the physical movement of goods, both incoming and outgoing, ensuring the shipment is compliant and proper documentation is available.

An effective transportation management system (TMS) platform works closely with the supply chain management and the ERP platform, simplifying the entry of customer orders and integrating the same with the warehouse management and inventory management system—thus, creating a loop in the network.

Essentially, a transportation management system (TMS) is used to move products from one place to another in an efficient and as cost-effective way as possible. An effective TMS offers end-to-end visibility across the entire supply chain network.

With the help of a robust TMS solution, trucking companies can automate key concerns such as cost-effective and efficient load souring, best routing, and carrier selection based on each customer’s order service requirement so that the entire system reaches optimization.

Analytical and financial functions are equally important to control costs and constant improvement. An effective TMS offers billing and invoice management, resulting in an improved organization and better cash flow.

Typically, ERP helps store and send information among suppliers, warehouses, and carriers. It cannot process, analyze, and optimize the data. Unfortunately, such static systems are not capable enough to handle the complex demands and challenges of a modern supply chain.

On the other hand, an effective TMS helps companies process their data, helping them make smarter decisions and make more cost-effective planning to improve business operations. It provides real-time visibility into shipments, sends alerts to track and trace the shipments and quickly resolves the problems as they appear.

Hence, you cannot just use ERP for your transportation needs. An effective transportation management system is critical to attaining end-to-end supply chain visibility.

Transportation costs are a major expense for the trucking companies. A good transportation management system (TMS) follows a pragmatic approach to reduce costs and increase revenue for the business.

TMS helps automate transport planning and execution processes such as best routing, cost-effective sourcing, and carrier selection. This not only improves optimization but also reduces overall costs.

A comprehensive TMS allows companies to innovate and expand their solutions and services, increasing revenue and driving competitive advantage.

LoadStop is a comprehensive, turnkey next-generation solution for trucking companies. It provides end-to-end automation and reduces the need for disconnected manual back-office processes.

Primarily, transportation management systems are used by businesses involved in shipping, moving, and receiving goods regularly, including:

  • Manufacturers
  • Distributors
  • Ecommerce companies
  • Retail businesses
  • Companies providing logistics services, such as third-party and fourth-party logistics (3PL and 4PL) companies and logistics service providers (LSPs)

Furthermore, businesses in almost every industry make use of a transportation management system. The main users of TMS are businesses that spend above $100 million annually on freight. However, cloud-based TMS solutions such as LoadStop have made it easier and more affordable for small-scale companies to reap the benefits of transportation management systems.

Transportation management systems play an integral role in supply chains, affecting every part of the process—from planning to procurement to logistics to lifecycle management.

Providing end-to-end real-time visibility into the shipment leads to more efficient transportation planning and execution, resulting in higher customer satisfaction. As a result, this leads to more sales, helping companies grow.

Being a part of a dynamic global trade environment, it is important to have a system that allows us to navigate complicated processes around trade policies and compliance successfully.

TMS buyers can expect to pay anywhere between $10,000 to $250,000 for the license, plus an annual maintenance fee that is typically a percentage of the initial license cost.

The costs of an implementation of TMS depend on the integrator’s fees, how long the implementation takes, and the number of consultants involved.

The cost to implement and support a transportation management system vary significantly, but one can assume the price will be less with a cloud TMS platform than a licensed TMS. The cost of a transportation management systems also depends on the type of system you are looking for—whether it is ready-made or custom-made.

The good news is that LoadStop offers a cost-effective TMS solution for the trucking companies, making it easier for them to afford the technology.

Join Our Mailing List

Team up with LoadStop to unlock your true potential. Subscribe to our mailing list and stay updated with the latest in trucking technologies.

Monthly

Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter and get latest updates & news.

Back to top