8 Best Transportation Management (TMS) Systems for Business [2023]

Businesses can’t survive without transportation management systems. Check out these best TMS systems to help businesses thrive!

Transportation of goods has been an integral part of any business, no matter how different the specializations are. From milk and dairy products to small electronic devices, the path from the producers to consumers is one of the most crucial subjects.

Transportation is one topic that is clearly dealt with even before a company or a business starts. It is also very important in the supply chain. 

Since transportation is essential to all businesses, technology has easily created ways to deal with it through Transportation Management Systems. In this article, we will see what TMS is and what its benefits are. We will also learn about some real-life use cases of TMS. Lastly, we will look at some of the best TMS systems for businesses. 

What are Transportation Management Systems?

A TMS or Transportation Management System is software that helps businesses handle the logistics involved in moving tangible goods by land, air, sea, or a combination of these modes of transportation. In other words, TMS aids in organizing and carrying out the actual transportation of products. 

TMS software improves loads and delivery routes to ensure the timely transportation of products. Additionally, they help in tracking freight on regional and international routes.

On top of that, they also automate time-consuming procedures like trade compliance paperwork and freight billing. Transportation management systems save money for both corporations and end users.

Since transportation is one of the most crucial components of the supply chain, everyone involved in the supply chain is often involved in its transportation management. All participants in the supply chain can utilize it, including manufacturers, distributors, third-party logistics companies, and anyone else who has to arrange shipments.

What are the real-life use cases of TMS?

Transportation management systems are often used by firms that must deliver transport and receive items regularly, such as:

• Manufacturers
• Distributors
• E-commerce businesses
• Retail establishments
• Logistics service providers (LSPs) and third-party and fourth-party logistics (3PL and 4PL) firms

What are the benefits of TMS?

A TMS is a tool that can boost productivity, expand market share, and enhance customer service. It helps businesses transport freight accurately and affordably from the point of origin to the point of destination. Here are a few advantages of the TMS’s numerical advantages. 

Reduces the cost of transporting goods

Transportation is a significant expense and a worry in logistics. A company should employ transportation management systems that provide helpful information and cost-saving suggestions if it wishes to significantly reduce expenditures.

Providing user-based recommendations highlighting areas that can be changed to reduce fuel consumption or driver overtime will be especially helpful. As a result, there’s a reduction in cost, which helps both consumers and businesses.

Improves transparency and accessibility of transportation 

In real-time, a TMS reveals the locations of drivers and goods. By monitoring the progression of orders and shipments, companies attain periodical information. Companies can allocate their routes more efficiently using TMS data that indicates travel duration. Furthermore, supply chain responsibility is heightened, and customers receive accurate delivery predictions.

Increases customer care services

A TMS can assist in enhancing customer service while monitoring on-time performance. Customers can get detailed and up-to-date shipment information, such as delivery status and real-time tracking.

The TMS offers clients an online platform to keep track of their shipments and update their clients on their progress. Fewer consumers will need to ask for assistance as a result of increased openness since they will have access to all the information needed to make informed choices.

Helps with data management 

Since items are continually moving, a well-organized warehouse is crucial to logistics. A TMS helps analyze data on inventory levels, delivery schedules, and shipping costs to get insights into current trends and patterns. Utilizing this data will improve customer service, cut costs, and also optimize logistical operations.

Now, we will look at some of the best TMS systems for businesses. 

MercuryGate

One of the most highly regarded TMS providers, MercuryGate, has maintained its ranking among the top 100 IT logistics companies. The most functionally-rich and business-relevant design is the result of MercuryGate’s unique focus on transportation. 

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By using MercuryGate, users can handle all forms of freight transportation on demand and track sourcing costs and savings in real-time. It is a robust TMS that has focused exclusively on automating strategic freight transportation management for over 20 years.

MercuryGate provides capabilities for schedule rating, less-than-truckload (LTL) density rating, and full native parcel rating. Additionally, it offers the best integration with major carriers and utilizes many modes of transportation as necessary, including rail, air, and sea. 

TMSfirst

With its native cloud scalable solution and feature of Supply Chain Visibility, TMSfirst is the most agile transportation management system available. It uses engineering and data science to produce one of the most sophisticated TMSes ever.

TMSfirst manages bills by exception and promptly and effectively lowers high and inaccurate costs, which helps modernize old freight settlement procedures. It also automates communications and procedures, lowering administrative burdens and costly mistakes.

Additionally, TMSfirst enhances freight audit, payment capabilities, and pre/post audit carrier contract compliance. It is the reason why it is the most innovative cloud technology and analytics platform and has involvement with key sectors such as oil and energy, chemical manufacturing, automobile components, industrial distribution, and e-commerce hard goods distribution. 

nShift

nShift is well-known for transportation management solutions based on actual carrier connections. With carrier connectivity and communication as its cornerstones, it improves insight into what happens at every phase of the process.

nShift is simple to use, adaptable, and reduces inventory, overhead, and freight expenses by improving visibility and service quality. It promotes communication and decentralized decision-making throughout the supply chain. 

nShift’s TMS features a simple 5-step procedure for creating a transportation management system for your business. All you have to do is prepare, execute, control, analyze, and improve to make sure your business is on the path to success.  

CartonCloud

With thousands of daily active users spanning Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and South America, CartonCloud is a comprehensive transport management solution. With its paperless Transport Management System (TMS), you can access team and customer data from the cloud, allowing you more flexibility, quick turnaround, and stress-free reporting.

The system will automatically create delivery runs from consignments after your delivery runs and postcodes are set up in CartonCloud, allowing you to allocate to the best driver. Through improved processes, it helps businesses save overhead costs, cut back on administrative work, boost productivity, and expand the capacity of their fleet.

CartonCloud can design your delivery routes automatically and effortlessly and assign them to drivers in the appropriate zone or vehicle. It automates the invoicing and rate card calculations. Integrating accounting software allows for easy data transmission.

Coyote

Coyote is always aiming to provide unmatched customer service. It is the biggest centralized third-party logistics provider (3PL) and the second-largest 3PL in North America. CoyoteGO, its TMS platform, is the quickest and easiest method to access freight and book loads from wherever you are.

Coyote’s No Excuses mission to offer shippers and carriers the greatest service in the market is what drives the company’s success. Innovative technology, skilled employees, and unmatched devotion support this mission. 

Coyote’s dedication to customer care, technology, and solutions for shippers and carriers has remained the same since the company was founded. Coyote’s online bid management system, templated paperwork, and many other features allow you to develop a simple, efficient, and repeatable procedure that will show carriers you mean business.

Descartes Aljex 

Descartes Aljex is a cloud-based transportation management tool that supports organizations in e-commerce, production, distribution, and a number of other sectors by streamlining accounting, transport, and also document management processes.

Organizations can use the software to handle supply chain operations, invoice generation, account payable (AP), and account receivable (AR) tasks.   

Freight brokers and shippers can handle customer profiles, provide quotations for customers, and check the status of order payments using Descartes Aljex. Its other functions include route planning, delivery, order monitoring, purchasing, communication management, and more.

Descartes Aljex also allows managers to handle electronic data, interchange procedures, automate workflows, and provide customized reports. It has an API that makes it easier to integrate with various third-party systems. 

Cargobase

Cargobase is a worldwide cloud-based transportation management system (TMS) that addresses dynamic logistics concerns. It is a complete, modular TMS platform that supports all freight modalities, is accessible in all of the main languages, and is regularly used by the world’s largest and most reputable shippers.

Cargobase offers comprehensive web-app solutions. This online freight system provides Waybills, Rate Management, Local Forwarders, International Forwarders, and also Import/Export Management – all in one location.

Cargobase assists shippers in achieving cost-free deployment in 4 weeks with a quick return on investment because of its no-nonsense attitude and decade of expertise. Last, but not least, it is completely independent and compatible with all current suppliers, ERP systems, and audit flows. 

Turvo

The first multi-enterprise collaboration platform created exclusively for the global supply chain is called Turvo. It has a cloud-based SaaS transportation management system that links individuals and businesses throughout the supply chain. 

With cloud-based software and mobile apps, Turvo lets shippers, logistics service providers, and carriers alter their operations digitally. Its technology combines all systems and offers a single end-to-end system of the record set for any operations and insights while also automating business processes and eliminating pointless human activities. 

Turvo’s software streamlines the order-to-shipment process while getting rid of phone calls, messages, and emails for confirmation. Additionally, Turvo lowers freight management expenses and expedited shipping with 100% traceability, real-time monitoring, and predictive planning.

Conclusion

A good TMS becomes a crucial component of a successful supply chain now that same-day shipment and real-time monitoring are no longer extras but rather fundamental consumer expectations. More satisfied consumers imply more returning customers for a thriving firm. 

Good TMS technology makes it feasible to maintain efficient operations and supply chains, which increases revenue and enhances customer satisfaction. Therefore, businesses need to use effective TMS in order to remain competitive.

With TMS, it is possible to speed up delivery, improve routes and shipping techniques, and boost profitability to help with the modern transportation industry’s rapid change. As data collection increases, the significance of transportation analytics will only grow.

So, start looking for a transportation management system if you want to enhance and expand your company.

You may also explore some best facility management software to streamline operations.