What is TMS? Do I need it?

Trucking business involves a ton of paperwork and things you need to track and document, just like any other business. And if you still do it the pen and paper way, we can't imagine how technologies like TMS will help you save a lot of time.

TMS or Transportation Management System is a technology used to help businesses in streamlining processes that involve the physical moving of goods from and to any point. It is used in planning, executing, and optimizing the movement of shipments. Most commonly, it is part of a much larger system called SCM (Supply Chain Management) but can also be available standalone.

 

TMS provides numerous functionalities used not only in managing and planning supplies but also in procuring. These functions may include:

• Carrier Designation

• Fleet Management

• Managing Rates

• Booking Loads

• Carrier and Driver Communication

• Documentation

• Performance Tracking

 

With all these functions and maybe even more, TMS is being used by different Logistics Companies such as Brokers, Shippers, and also Carriers. With all that being said, you might still ask if TMS is for you and if this is a “must-have” for a small business or a start-up carrier like yours. That is why we listed here some of the reasons why a business like yours should use a TMS.

 

1. Eliminating the need to repeat essential steps and processes.

Imagine having to record all the details of a load you are moving and putting them in all over again just to communicate it with the drivers. That is all wasted time and resources while if you are using a TMS, you just put in everything once and all the succeeding processes can be easily duplicated or automated. With one button, you send in load details, another button you can get updates, location, and so much more.

 

2. Ease in tracking your performance.

Who does not want to stay and prosper in business for a long time? Part of scaling your business is to see if you actually grow and how much have you gained right from the start to a certain point in time. If you manually record everything, it is guaranteed you will lose some if not all data just by having them kept in hardware. Thankfully, TMS can store a good amount of data, you could even see the loads you have done years ago that can be accessed anywhere you are.

 

3. Managing everything all in one platform.

Assigning loads, updates, tracking, and documentation are all different tasks that you can all do using TMS. Convenience is just a plus when the organization of your business processes and administering a task is fast and centralized. You won’t lose track or miss a step with all of them just in front of you.

 

TMS is an amazing tool, yes although your next concern might be the cost. TMS could cost you from Tens of dollars on a monthly basis up to thousands per year, depending on what type of functionalities you need as a business. You can definitely have access to one that does not have to be very expensive. It will definitely cost you some money as a business, but it is a necessity for us in the Logistics and Freight moving industry. And surely, the cost it would incur you is definitely worth more for your overall operations. But, what if we are to tell you that you can access TMS for free? Yes, you read it right.

 

Inmay too uses TMS as a business. And as a carrier looking to provide solutions to businesses like ours, the good news is Inmay has FREE TMS that carriers can use. If you still don’t have one in use, do not miss this and register on our website inmayllc.com to enjoy this free feature.

 

Got some questions? Let's have it answered in the comments. Or you can send them directly by going back to the top right part of this page and click the “Ask Questions” button.