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.
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.
Transportation management systems are primarily used by businesses that need to ship, move, and receive goods on a regular basis, including:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 |
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.
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:
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 |
|
|
|
Load Sourcing | LoadStop | Other |
|
|
|
Dispatch Management | LoadStop | Other |
|
|
|
Driver App | LoadStop | Other |
|
|
|
Real Time Tracking | LoadStop | Other |
|
|
|
EDI | LoadStop | Other |
|
|
|
Settlements | LoadStop | Other |
|
|
|
Invoice Management | LoadStop | Other |
|
|
|
Quickbooks/Netsuite Integration | LoadStop | Other |
|
|
|
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Downtime, customized proprietary software, incompatibility with other systems - the legacy transportation management software upgradation comes with its own challenges.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter and get latest updates & news.