A transport management system (TMS) is a software solution designed to streamline the day-to-day operations of transportation management. A good TMS will optimize your fleet’s performance and save you time and money. Here is a list of the top transportation management systems on the market today.
1. EZLogbook
The global transportation management system market was worth $5,467 million in 2019 and is expected to be worth $11,367 million by 2027, growing at a 9.6% CAGR from 2020 to 2027.
EZLogbook is a TMS designed to help fleet managers streamline their daily operations. The software’s design allows you to completely customize your dashboard with tiles that are relevant to you. These tiles display key information such as fuel statuses, maintenance statuses and driver reports.
This way, you can observe one glance how many vehicles need services or how much fuel your fleet used. In addition, EZLogbook gives you the option to sync this data with other systems such as social media and telematics through various integrations including Chrome Web Store, Intuit Quickbooks, Dropbox and Zapier.
EZLogbook’s support team is made up of experts in their respective fields who are always on hand to help you with your questions. The software is equipped with a section for job-specific training, and you can even find EZLogbook representatives at upcoming transportation conferences.
2. Fleetmatics
Fleetmatics is a TMS that has been used by 2,000 fleet operators in over 100 countries. The software has a wide array of features that allow you to streamline your daily operations and improve your business’ efficiency.
This includes features such as real-time location tracking, optimization tools, backup policies and fuel management tools. The benefits extend to you as well. With Fleetmatics, you can monitor your vehicle’s performance, receive real-time alerts and gain insight into your staff’s habits.
Fleetmatics is available across all devices and gives you the option to have a disposable device or pay an annual fee to use the software on smartphones and tablets.
3. TMSDash
The global transportation management systems market was worth USD 9.22 billion in 2021 and is predicted to increase at a CAGR of 14.6% between 2022 and 2030.
TMSDash is a TMS created by industry experts with over 40 years of experience in the transportation industry. The software’s dashboard has drag and drop features with a modern and intuitive interface. With TMSDash, you have complete control over your fleet’s operations. With the software, you can:
You can create your own order templates to save time on entering information and update vehicle documentation at the click of a button. The software also has an option for remote storage to allow you keep documents safe despite a possible loss of communications.
TMSDash has over 100 integrations with leading solutions that should suit any need or industry requirement. This allows you to save up to 80% on document management solutions while improving your productivity.
4. Transflo
Transflo is a TMS that provides a multitude of features that help you streamline your business’ operations. The software provides real-time notifications and digital signatures for billing and fuel orders, allowing for more efficient deliveries. Additionally, Transflo gives you the option to customize your dashboard with customization options including tiles, colors and layout.
It also has an open API that enables you to create custom integrations with industry solutions such as telematics, accounting, theft management and word processing software. The customer service team is available to provide assistance with technical issues.
5. Traverse Soft
The global Transportation Management System market is predicted to develop at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.2% during the forecast period, from USD 7.7 billion in 2020 to USD 17.8 billion by 2025.
Traverse Soft is a software designed for fleet managers, drivers and technicians to generate reports that include a wide variety of information such as mileage, maintenance, fuel consumption and vehicle data.
The software has over 20 integrations with leading solutions including telematics, accounting and cloud storage services among others. This allows you to keep your business’ finance protected while reducing administrative costs.
What Is A Transport Management System
A transport management system (TMS) is an efficient way for companies to manage their transportation needs. A TMS is a set of computerized software and hardware that can be used to track vehicles and provide real-time information about the location of those vehicles.
This information can be used to improve customer relations and efficiency, as well as to provide security by allowing business owners to determine which employees are responsible for certain routes.
Why Use A TMS
The World Economic Forum estimates that digitalisation in the logistics business might create a USD 1.5 trillion opportunity by 2025.
Many large companies have multiple employees who work in different geographical areas and need vehicles that are easy to locate, but it is not always possible for them to keep tabs on the whereabouts of these cars at all times.
This is where TMS comes into play. It can provide you with a comprehensive picture of all the vehicles that your employees have in their possession and access to this information can help improve productivity and convenience.
How Does A Transport Management System Work
A transport management system will usually consists of a headquarter office which supplies employees with software that allows them to input data regarding their transportation needs and the network of vehicles they use.
This information is then transmitted to computers in each department or branch office. A TMS can also be used as a method of recording actual travel times and route distances.
The information is stored in either a centralized database or a cloud platform, allowing the user to access it from any computer or device with an Internet connection. Some TMS software comes with devices that can be installed on employee cars and allow you to track the location of these vehicles. This will allow you to keep tabs on overworked employees who might neglect their deliveries and leave their vehicles unattended in unsecured locations.
The Functionality Of Transportation Management Systems
A TMS can help your business make more informed decisions when it comes to dispatching drivers, scheduling maintenance and optimizing fuel usage. A good system will allow you to streamline your day-to-day operations while providing you with the tools needed to improve customer service and boost productivity.
You can also have TMS in your mobile device like Android, iOS or Blackberry smartphones. Some TMS providers make mobile application to help you read reports and updates from fleet anytime and anywhere.
1. Allows you to view all your vehicles’ information in one place.
2. Helps you to save time by allowing you to schedule your work orders and quickly review the status of your vehicles with a single click.
3. Provides authorized drivers with the fuel-ups needed for each trip without requiring them to manually enter fuel information after every stop in their log book.
4. Provides for a seamless integration to your telematics program and other digital applications.
5. Provides a secure solution, saving documents in an encrypted cloud-based storage service.
6. Provides for the ability to deal with large fleets and specify who can access the application (i.e., all employees, specific departments, or just selected drivers and mechanics).
7. Allows you to create custom reports that include customized data fields or filters (i.e., fuel consumption per fleet vehicle times mileage) resulting in more meaningful reports that can be used by upper management to understand fleet performance issues better.
Process Improvement in Supply Chain
Process improvement is a topic that is always evolving. As new transportation network and supply chains develop, new transportation services and tms software are created.
Process improvement in technology and logistics allow businesses to operate more efficiently and effectively. As a result, process improvement is an ongoing journey, not a destination.
There are many logistics service providers that can help with transportation management and shipping processes. A larger supply chain management company may also be able to help with export compliance in order to minimize penalties.
Benefits Of Transportation Management Systems
The benefits of using transportation management software have increased thanks to the advent of computer technology and its integration with devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops.
1. Reporting
By integrating TMS into your fleet information, you can streamline your business’ reporting needs. This makes it easier for you to understand the performance of each vehicle in your fleet while giving you a more detailed look at how much fuel was used in comparison to how many miles were driven.
2. Communication
TMS allows for communication between drivers and managers by allowing agents to send electronic messages that are read over a wireless connection when the agent is ready to transmit a message or view remaining fuel levels. This allows managers to respond with information or any other documents that the driver requires.
3. Customer Retention
Customer retention is an important factor in the success of businesses and transportation management systems can play an important role in creating loyal customers by allowing you to offer services tailored to their businesses’ needs. This saves you time by allowing you to schedule deliveries and optimize your fleet’s availability while reducing costs since you won’t be forced to pay for extra fuel or vehicle repairs.
4. Customer Service
A TMS can help you improve your customer’s experience by providing features that allow customer-service agents to provide real-time updates and e-filing of documents. This allows you to offer your customers a more efficient way of scheduling deliveries while allowing them to view the status of their order in real time.
5. Travel Planning
A TMS can allow you to save time on travel planning since it provides a detailed list of vehicles, their location and estimated arrival times. This eliminates the need for manual record keeping and reduces errors as well as fuel costs since you don’t have to constantly calculate how much fuel each vehicle will use based on its length, weight and destination.
6. Fleet Information
TMS software calculates the number of cars in your fleet, fuel levels and arrival times, giving you a better idea of what to expect from the next days’ deliveries. This can save you time by allowing the use of reports that help to determine when vehicles need maintenance.
7. Efficiency
By integrating new technology into your existing system, such as TMS, it allows you to remain cost-efficient as well as more efficient than ever before. This helps to pinpoint costly transportation problems before they occur, saving you money and increasing efficiency in your business.
8. Telematics
By allowing you to use your smartphone to view your vehicles’ status, TMS integration makes it easier for you to stay on top of your business’ air time and usage. This allows you to make informed decisions on fuel consumption and also provides the necessary information needed to improve customer service.
9. Document Management
A TMS can help you save time on document management since it will allow for the consolidation of vehicle logs regardless of their size or format, giving you the ability to generate reports in a wide variety of formats. This increases productivity since managers won’t have to waste time searching for phone numbers or address.
Drawbacks Of Transportation Management Systems
According to one analysis, the logistics industry could face a $7 billion financial loss by 2025. There are many factors to consider when optimizing supply chain processes, but one of the most important is visibility. Having broad and deep visibility into all aspects of the supply chain can help identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks, and enable more efficient transportation planning. This, in turn, can lead to significant reductions in freight costs.
1. Mobile Readiness
TMS integration with smartphones is relatively new, and the technology is still being perfected. This means that it might not be the most ideal solution for larger companies.
2. Stability
Stability is a unique issue since it depends on how well connected the system is to your organization while it also depends on the quality of the software and its device compatibility as well as your employees’ ability to use them effectively.
3. Accuracy Of Information
A TMS can help you improve accuracy of information provided by cellular network providers which can sometimes experience problems due to heavy usage, but this does not mean that TMS will automatically be more accurate than paper logs or other methods of record keeping.
4. Cost
TMS can be expensive to purchase and requires regular maintenance fees, but this is offset by the money you save when your business becomes more efficient.
5. Integration Of Older Cars
TMS technology works best when it is integrated with GPS navigation systems and older cars might not have that option.
6. Training Employees On TMS Integration
It takes time to train employees on how to use the software efficiently and effectively which can be costly for smaller businesses that might not have many employees available for training or spare time for employees who are already overworked.
7. Loss Of Business
TMS can help to improve client relations but it can also take time to perfect. This can result in a loss of business while the business waits to see if its customers will consider them a more reliable or trustworthy source of transportation.
8. Agents Dislike TMS Integration With Smartphones
Managers might be reluctant to use smartphones since they fear that if the device is lost or stolen, it could end up in the hands of a competitor who could use their TMS information against them.
9. Device Malfunctions Or Breakdowns
Devices can malfunction or break down at any time and this might cause you to lose productivity since your employees will need time to resolve the issue.
The Future Of Transportation Management Systems
The future of transportation management systems is bright, thanks to advancements in technology. This means that you should be one step ahead of your competition when you are looking to enhance your business’ efficiency, security and customer satisfaction. Here are some reasons why transportation management systems will continue to evolve in the future:
1. Increased Need For Mobility
The number of people who travel via automobiles and other modes of transportation will continue to increase as the global population increases. This means that more cars will be needed by businesses every year.
2. Improved Technology
The advancement of TMS software and devices means that you can integrate your transportation system with your business’ existing computers and other devices. For example, smartphone integration will allow you to view GPS navigation systems which will allow you to expand your business’ customer service capabilities.
3. Improved Analytics
Transportation management systems are currently used as a way to improve security and customer service, but they can be used to analyze travel patterns in order to help develop more efficient routes that can reduce costs while helping the environment by reducing fuel consumption.
4. Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is changing the way businesses handle access control and how they store data on their computer networks. What this means is that transportation management systems will continue to evolve and become more multifunctional with the help of cloud computing.
Final Note
Because of the high number of companies and industry columns, North America dominates the transportation management system market. The TMS industry is one of the primary sectors in the North American landscape, delivering the most income globally.
A transportation management system (TMS) is a software application designed to streamline the supply chain and improve warehouse management system. By automating and integrating these processes, a TMS can help businesses achieve more efficient transportation planning and execution.
Last Updated on October 2, 2022 by Parina Parmar
