Top 7 Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Software

Optimizing transportation routes and customer expectations is crucial to a successful fleet management strategy. But juggling dispatching, planning and billing, among other fleet management tasks, takes a lot of work. That’s why TMS software is helpful. 

Transportation management system (TMS) software can help optimize the manual tasks of transportation and logistics, saving you time and money. Automating processes with real-time insights empowers you to optimize your fleet and drive bottom-line results.

Let’s look at the top Geotab Marketplace TMS integrations to find the right solution for your needs. 

What is a transportation management system?

A transportation management system (TMS) is a software system that centralizes accounting, dispatch and operations for transportation companies. 

The goal of TMS is to streamline tasks like:

• Load planning
• Dispatching
• Customer service
• Financial management

By centralizing data using fleet technology and providing real-time insights, TMS empowers businesses to make informed decisions, optimizing resource allocation and improving efficiency.

Let’s look at the top TMS software providers and explore which features you should look for as a fleet manager. 

LoadMaster 

Ideal for: Over-the-road trucking companies in the U.S. and Canada. 

LoadMaster is a comprehensive trucking dispatch and accounting software. With the integrated McLeod Driver App, this TMS offers features like settlement viewing, document capture, mobile communication and collision reporting for improved efficiency, compliance and customer service.

Top features:

• Real-time driver hour tracking: Automatically and continuously updates driver hours and duty status throughout the day
• Proactive HOS updates: Schedules automated calls to drivers for timely updates to their Hours of Service (HOS) logs
• Integrated HOS visibility: Integrates driver hours data into LoadMaster's Dispatch Order Planning and Driver Management modules
• Enhanced communication: Facilitates efficient two-way communication between drivers and dispatchers
• Live tractor tracking: Provides real-time updates on tractor locations, visible across multiple modules
• Enhanced load planning: Improves load planning and execution by providing accurate ETAs and identifying out-of-route deviations

Provided by: McLeod Software

Enrich Software

Ideal for: Full-service lease and rental companies and private and common fleets. 

Enrich Software empowers fleet managers to optimize operations and maximize profitability across various sectors, including full-service leases, rental companies, private fleets and dedicated carriers.

Top features:

• Detailed asset-level reporting: Analyze factors like utilization, maintenance costs and fuel consumption to optimize resource allocation
• Flexible billing management: Tailor contracts with diverse billing options to cater to specific customer needs
• Part-specific tracking: Track warranties by individual parts, ensuring you receive total compensation for eligible repairs and reducing maintenance costs
• Fuel tax processing: Automate the tedious task of fuel tax processing, freeing up time and minimizing the risk of errors
• Integrated mobile app: Access key data, assign tasks and stay connected to your team from anywhere

Provided by: Enrich Software Corporation

Rose Rocket

Ideal for: Common carriers looking for a customer portal integration.

Rose Rocket is a cloud-based Transportation Management System (TMS) designed to help carriers of all sizes protect their business. It offers a suite of features that simplify and automate tasks across the shipping lifecycle.

Top features:

• Order management: Create, manage and filter orders with ease
• Flexible dispatching: Efficiently dispatch LTL, FTL, single-stop or multi-stop deliveries
• Intelligent driver scheduling: Optimize driver assignments based on availability and HOS
• Driver mobile app: Empower drivers with real-time information and task management
• Customer self-service portal: Provide customers with a secure order tracking and document management portal.
• Visual dispatching: Plan and track orders visually on an interactive map
• Real-time tracking: Monitor shipments in real time and provide accurate ETAs
• Multicurrency support: Seamlessly handle USD and CAD transactions

Provided by: Rose Rocket

Magnus TMS

Ideal for: Common carriers looking for an end-to-end mobile dispatch solution.

Magnus TMS is a SaaS-based TMS software for carriers that offers a comprehensive solution for truckload and LTL fleets. Magnus TMS empowers your dispatch and drivers to deliver on time, comply and provide full visibility into the shipment process.

Top features:

• Load planning and optimization: Maximize profitability and meet customer service requirements with advanced load planning tools
• Real-time visibility: Monitor shipments in real-time, track driver performance and provide accurate ETAs to customers
• Driver management: Optimize driver schedules, manage HOS compliance and improve driver satisfaction
• Integrated carrier network: Connect with a network of carriers to optimize freight movement
• Customer portal: Provide customers with real-time visibility into their shipments
• Mobile app: Empower drivers with real-time information and task management tools
• Advanced routing and dispatch: Optimize routes and improve delivery efficiency.

Provided by: Magnus Technologies

Treker

Ideal for: School districts looking for real-time bus tracking. 

Treker is a school transportation platform that provides real-time bus tracking and communication tools for school districts, parents and drivers. 

Parents can monitor their child's bus rides, receive notifications and know when to expect the bus. Treker's quick implementation helps schools improve student safety and efficiency.

Top features:

• Flexible pricing: Offers flexible options, free trials and shorter contracts, making it affordable to implement
• Transportation contractor portal: Maintain oversight of contracted transportation services, reducing administrative burden for the district
• Real-time tracking: The admin portal offers real-time tracking of the entire bus fleet and student ridership visibility
• Parent app: Provides real-time bus arrival notifications, student check-in and check-out alerts and trip tracking
• Driver tablet: A mounted driver tablet offers real-time route information, ease of communication and NFC reader integration for safe transportation

Provided by: Treker, LLC

TrueLiquid

Ideal for: Liquid bulk haulers looking to streamline operations. 

TrueLiquid is a cloud-based transportation management system designed specifically for liquid bulk haulers. TrueLiquid offers features like commodity management, dynamic route optimization and load forecasting. 

With its customer portal, mobile app and AI-powered tools, TrueLiquid streamlines operations and enhances efficiency for liquid bulk haulers of all sizes.

Top features:

• Commodity management: Efficiently manage various liquid commodities and tank compartment allocation
• Dynamic route optimization: Optimize delivery routes based on real-time traffic and vehicle sensors
• Load forecasting: Accurately predict future liquid cargo demands with TrueCast
• Customer portal: Provide customers with real-time shipment tracking and updates
• Mobile app: Empower drivers with real-time information and task management
• Advanced reporting and analytics: Gain valuable insights to optimize operations
• Scalable and customizable: Adapt to your business needs as you grow

Provided by: True TMS

TrueFleet

Ideal for: Small to medium-sized fleets looking to automate transportation tasks. 

TrueFleet is a user-friendly cloud-based transportation management system tailored for small and medium-sized fleets. It streamlines operations by automating tasks like order management, payroll and maintenance scheduling. 

Top features:

• Order lifecycle automation: Automate routine tasks like rating loads, importing orders and tracking shipments
• Intuitive load planning and dispatch: Efficiently plan and assign loads to drivers
• Driver pay and settlements: Automate driver payroll and settlement calculations
• Real-time tracking: Monitor shipments with real-time GPS tracking
• On-demand reporting and analytics: Gain valuable insights with customizable reports
• Mobile app: Empower drivers with real-time information and task management

Provided by: True TMS

Key features for your transportation management system

There are many different TMS features you can benefit from. But which ones drive the most significant impact? And how can you use these features to optimize your existing telematics platform further?

Route scheduling and tracking

Factors like traffic, customer availability and unforeseen delays constantly influence route efficiency. With escalating fuel and maintenance costs, route optimization has never been more crucial in fleet management. 

Dispatch and routing tools can help streamline transportation logistics with long-range planning, location intelligence and real-time dispatching features. 

Freight management

According to recent trucking statistics, U.S. trucks move 11.46 billion tons of freight annually. Moving goods requires closely managing costs, rates and billing needs, which can be time-consuming and difficult to predict. 

The right TMS software can help optimize this process by offering task assignments, automated order entries and invoicing in one place.  

Fleet management

Think of TMS software as a central hub for all your fleet management-related data and tasks. GPS tracking provides real-time visibility into vehicle location, allowing for better route planning. 

Additionally, fuel management tools help monitor fuel consumption, identifying areas for improvement.

For example, a TMS can help identify a vehicle that consistently uses more fuel than others. This could indicate a maintenance issue, a driver behavior problem or an inefficient route. 

Carrier management

Effective carrier management is essential for ensuring smooth and cost-effective transportation operations. TMS software helps streamline interactions with carriers, from onboarding to payment processing.

With a database of carrier information, including rates, service areas and performance history, you can quickly identify the best carrier for a particular shipment based on factors like cost, transit time and reliability.

Role-specific functionality

A robust TMS caters to the diverse needs of various roles within a trucking company. Here's how different functionalities can benefit specific roles:

• Owner-operators: Load planning, route optimization and expense tracking help independent owner-operators maximize their profitability.
• Fleet managers: Vehicle diagnostics and maintenance scheduling tools allow fleet managers to monitor vehicle health and optimize performance.
• Logistics managers: Demand planning, network optimization and reporting features provide the insights logistics managers need to improve supply chain efficiency.
• Leased operators: Integration with dispatch systems and automated invoicing features streamline operation, making it easier to manage trips.
• Freight brokers: Load matching, carrier sourcing and rate management tools help freight brokers connect shippers with carriers quickly and efficiently.
• Dispatchers: Real-time visibility, communication tools and automated dispatching features enable dispatchers to optimize routes, assign loads and communicate effectively.
• Drivers: Mobile apps with navigation, electronic logging device (ELD) integration and delivery confirmation features simplify drivers' tasks and improve communication.

Benefits of using TMS software

Transportation management systems offer a robust solution by automating tasks, centralizing data and providing real-time insights. With operating costs reaching $2.25 per mile, TMS software can also help minimize costs by increasing efficiency. 

Here's how TMS software can benefit your transportation business:

• Increase efficiency: TMS software automates tasks like route planning, dispatching and load optimization, freeing up valuable time and resources for your team. This can translate to faster delivery times, improved on-time performance and increased overall throughput.
• Enhance visibility: Real-time tracking of drivers, vehicles and shipments provides complete transparency for your transportation network. You can monitor progress, identify potential delays and proactively adjust schedules to facilitate timely deliveries.
• Support compliance: TMS software helps you stay compliant with complex transportation regulations, such as Hours of Service (HOS) for drivers. Automated alerts and reminders can help reduce compliance issues that result in costly fines and delays.
• Boost ROI: Streamlined operations, reduced errors and improved delivery efficiency contribute to a higher return on investment (ROI). TMS software can significantly improve your bottom line by optimizing fleet costs associated with fuel, tolls and carrier selection.
• Optimize cost management: Gaining real-time insights into transportation costs allows for better decision-making. You can identify areas for cost savings, negotiate more favorable rates with carriers and optimize fuel usage with efficient route planning.

Maximize your fleet’s performance with the right TMS software

Is your fleet operating at its peak, or are inefficiencies and hidden costs eating away at your profits? Integrating a TMS software solution with Geotab's powerful telematics platform allows you to streamline your transportation logistics, improve efficiency and boost your bottom line.

From real-time tracking and route optimization to automated dispatching and driver management, gain unparalleled control and visibility over your operations.

Whether you're a small business or a large enterprise, the Geotab Marketplace has a TMS solution that fits your specific needs and helps you achieve your business goals.

Ready to take your fleet performance to the next level?