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FreightMaster TMS is an on-premise or web-hosted transportation management system, offered at a low up front cost. A great tool for users who need to improve shipping control and planning....Read more
TMW Enterprise Transportation is ideal for LTLs, private fleets, bulk carriers, third-party logistics providers, and truckload carriers. This system be integrated with any ERP to see the full benefits of a robust TMS....Read more
ShippersEdge is a cloud-based transportation management solution that manages shipping logistics. It helps users manage shipments, submit claims and handle multiple carriers. ShippersEdge helps companies save time and control...Read more
Excalibur WMS by Camelot 3PL is a cloud-based or on-premise warehouse management solution (WMS), designed exclusively for third-party logistics (3PL) warehouses and fulfillment operations. Excalibur is customizable for a variety o...Read more
Brokerware is a cloud-based freight management solution that assists brokers in shipment tracking and payment processing. Key features include carrier selection, customer portal, payment processing and load board integrations. ...Read more
AdvantageTMS is a dynamic, scalable TMS for all transportation modes. With AdvantageTMS, small to mid-sized manufacturers and distributors have powerful route and mode optimizations tools for their business....Read more
For companies of all sizes and types looking to improve efficiency within their transportation and shipping, Cirrus TMS provides a way for companies to compare shipping routes and carriers, improving efficiency and limiting costs....Read more
With over 100,000 members, Real Time Freight is a cloud-based Transportation Management System that offers total visibility and complete transparency. Real Time Freight can support companies of all sizes....Read more
Freightview is a standalone transportation management system designed for small to midsize businesses that ship less-than-truckload (LTL) freight and work with multiple carriers or brokers. Their customers include manufacturers an...Read more
Alpega TMS is a flexible and scalable cloud-based Transportation Management System delivered as a Software as a Service (SaaS). Alpega TMS enables shippers, logistics service providers, and carriers to collaboratively manage and s...Read more
UltraShipTMS is a cloud-based transportation management system with integrated private fleet management capabilities for in- and out-bound logistics across all modes. The core TMS module automates the processes associated with rat...Read more
Transcount is a cloud-based freight and logistics management solution designed for the needs of small logistics providers and freight forwarders. Key features include document management, fleet management, order management, quotat...Read more
AscendTMS is a cloud-based supply chain management (SCM) solution designed for businesses of all sizes. Key features include load management, accounting, finance management, branch management and payment management functionalities...Read more
Oracle SCM Cloud is a cloud-based supply chain management solution that offers distribution, manufacturing, inventory management and fleet management within a suite. The product features product development, which allows user...Read more
Rose Rocket TMS is a transportation management software built for modern trucking companies and brokerages. The software helps you input orders, generate contracted rates and spot quotes, track & trace shipments, manage documents,...Read more
While larger-scale logistics solutions (known as "integrated suites" of software) tend to cover a wide variety of supply chain functions, freight software programs—generally marketed as “freight forwarder” or “freight broker” software—are specialized logistics solutions that focus on the shipping phase of the supply chain.
System features will vary depending on the vendor, but some freight software packages offer inventory control functionality, such as order and invoice automation, and dispatch capabilities in addition to shipping functionality. Because these features can be specific to certain shipping needs, it’s important to find the freight software system that best suits your business.
To help you understand the market, we’ve put together this buyer’s guide. Here’s what we’ll cover:
What Is Freight Software?
Common Features of Freight Software
What Type of Buyer Are You?
Pricing: Web-Based vs. On-Premise
Freight software is a type of logistics software used primarily for tasks such as shipment quoting, carrier selection and route planning, tracking shipments, dispatching and inventory management. Many third-party logistics (3PL) businesses use freight software to facilitate their daily operations.
While some vendors offer freight software as part of a larger, integrated logistics platform, those systems may be too complex or cost-prohibitive for small to midsize shipping businesses that only need functionality related to their specific operations.
There is no uniform definition for these products, due to their variation in functionality. However, freight brokerage products are often geared towards specific types of businesses—for example, smaller 3PLs that only need to facilitate the shipment of goods between a manufacturer and customer. Freight forwarder software, on the other hand, may include added functionality, as freight forwarders generally offer storage options and may even ship goods themselves (more on this below).
Carrier selection feature in URoute frieght software
Because the freight software category encompasses a variety of different products, it’s important to select the features specific to your business needs. Many freight software products offer some combination of the following features:
Quoting | Allows users to estimate prices for individual shipments based on factors such as weight and distance. This function is needed by 3PLs and other freight brokers in order to bid on shipments from manufacturers. |
Carrier selection | Determines the optimal carrier for a particular shipment, using factors such as price and route. Some systems can intelligently filter out carrier options based on your requirements to shorten the selection process. May offer a shipment consolidation function to pair similar shipments together for better pricing. |
Route planning | Also found in larger transportation management software packages; allows users to optimize shipping routes based on distance, fuel cost, load size and other factors. More suitable for domestic shipping operations, as most features are geared towards trucking (some, but not all, solutions can support international operations). |
Shipment tracking | Provides visibility into live shipments and delivery statuses. Many shipment tracking features offer snapshots of the shipment’s details, special delivery instructions and billing amounts. Modern technology allows for real-time tracking information, which can include estimated time of arrival and alerts in cases of delays or other issues. |
Dispatching | Tracks delivery vehicle capacity and delivery times. Some features also offer time logs for drivers, as well as other employee-management functions. These kinds of capabilities allow more oversight into delivery driver behavior and increases accountability among employees. |
Inventory management | Monitors freight being stored on the way to its final destination. Suitable for smaller freight and 3PL companies, as these features typically include basic inventory control functions only. (Full inventory management suites provide wider functionality geared towards larger warehouse operations and high-overhead businesses.) |
Again, due to the variance in features that can be included in freight software products, it’s best to begin evaluating options based on the nature of your company’s operations:
Freight brokers. For companies that facilitate the bidding process between manufacturers, shippers and buyers, such as smaller or growing 3PL companies, freight broker software with a simple quoting feature may be the most functionality that is needed. These systems typically include additional tools such as invoicing or shipment tracking, though they may not be necessary for your business.
Freight forwarders. For businesses that do the above and offer additional storage or warehousing services for goods throughout the shipping process, freight software with added functionality may be required. This might include an inventory management component, which would help users keep track of the items coming in and out of their facility, or dispatching capabilities to assist with the shipment of goods.
Pricing for these solutions is dependent on the functionality they offer and the deployment model that is chosen. Deployment models include:
Whichever deployment model you choose, there is one basic rule to keep in mind: the more functionality your freight software provides, the higher the price will be.