What Are the Best Transportation Management Companies?

Transportation management solutions are making a name for themselves in the industry. But as only a piece of software, they might be more of a headache to manage on your own. After all, just because you purchase accounting software doesn’t mean that you know accounting. And so, just because you have a Transportation Management System (TMS) doesn’t mean you’re fully equipped to use it. 

That’s where transportation management companies come in. The best transportation management companies can help guide you to ensure you’re getting all the benefits out of your TMS.  

Quicklook: Best Transportation Management Companies

• Best All in One Solutions: OpenRoad TMS (Powered by GP Transco) featured ad
• Best For Brand Recognition: Penske
• Best For Integrated TMS: GlobalTranz 
• Best For Small Businesses: TMS Transportation 
• Best For Customizable Solutions: Trinity
• Best For Worldwide Network: C.H. Robinson

6 Best Transportation Management Companies

Working with the best transportation management companies can help you stay organized throughout the complex logistics and supply chain process. Here are the top five companies that you should consider. 

OpenRoad TMS (Powered by GP Transco)

OpenRoad TMS is a standout transportation management solution, powered by GP Transco, a leading logistics company known for its commitment to collaboration, integrity, and continuous innovation. With a strong mission to provide outstanding logistics services in a safe and efficient manner, OpenRoad TMS reflects these values in its comprehensive features and user-friendly interface.

Best For: All in One Solutions

Established: 2014

Location: 3200 Channahon Rd, Joliet, Illinois 60436 

Vehicles Managed: 550 trucks, 700 Trailers

Telematics Solution: 

• Load Management
• Dispatch
• Accounting Integration
• Safety & Compliance Dashboard
• Driver Performance Monitoring
• Fleet MPG Calculation
• Maintenance Management
• Trailer and Yard Management
• Cloud-Based Document Storage
• Fuel Management
• Tolls Management
• Affordable Fuel Finder

Special Features: 

• 1-Click Invoicing: allows users to generate invoices with just one click
• Auto-notifying Driver ETA: automatically notifies drivers and stakeholders about estimated time of arrival
• Paperless BOL Management: eliminates the need for physical bill of ladings (BOLs)

Benefits: 

• Comprehensive Solution
• User-Friendly Interface
• Real-Time Visibility

Disadvantages: 

• Cost might not be suitable for smaller companies with limited budgets.
• As a cloud-based solution, stable internet connectivity is required to prevent disruptions or technical issues.

Penske

That’s right. Penske has their own transportation management solutions that can help you add value and reduce costs. With their experience in the industry, along with proprietary software, your business will receive efficient transportation management solutions to keep you on the road. They have logistics engineers that can work with you to design solutions that exceed your business goals. 

Best For: Brand Recognition

Established: 1969

Location: 2675 Morgantown Road, Reading, PA 19607

Vehicles Managed: 12,000 carriers and 11.5 million stops annually

Telematics Solution: 

• Planning and executing shipments
• Daily load tendering execution
• Latest TMS technology
• Carrier procurement and management
• Order management, planning, and optimization
• Claims management

Special Features: 

• ClearChain technology suite
• Border crossing management

Benefits: 

• Well-known brand name
• Extensive technology utilized
• Great logistics and transportation partner

Disadvantages: 

•  No transparent pricing
•  Large company not as customer-focused

GlobalTranz

GlobalTranz works with shippers to help maximize their productivity while streamlining their operations. They prove both e-commerce and system integrations, advanced bill payment, and relationship managing tools to help you with your managed transportation needs. Their trusted TMS system can help you increase efficiency while reducing freight costs. 

Best For: Integrated TMS

Established: 2011

Location: 7350 N Dobson Rd, Ste 135, Scottsdale, AZ 85256

Vehicles Managed: N/A

Telematics Solution: 

•  Manage shipment lifecycle with all-in-one platform
•  50,000+ carriers in network
•  Real-time tracking and notifications
•  Claims management
•  Custom workflow management

Special Features: 

•  Flexible logistics management
•  LTL eCommerce integration

Benefits: 

•  Grows with your company to scale
•  Engaging customer service 
•  Carrier qualification process to ensure the best carriers

Disadvantages: 

•  No transparent pricing

TMS Transportation

TMS Transportation management has solutions that help your business from start to finish. With decades of experience in the transportation industry, they have worked with every industry and have the solutions needed for all market conditions. With their proven formula they are able to build effective shipping solutions and execute the plans to achieve optimal results. 

Best For: Small Businesses

Established: 2006

Location: 18450 Pines Blvd, Ste 203, Pembroke Pines, FL 33029

Vehicles Managed: 15,000

Telematics Solution: 

• Project management
• Access to 20,000+ carriers
• Custom build logistics and supply chain solutions
• Data intelligence technologies including web portal, analytics, and reports

Special Features: 

• Proven three-step process to get goods in the most efficient manner
• Comprehensive list of KPIs that measure effectiveness

Benefits: 

• 24/7 customer support
• Smaller org that can adapt and customize based on business needs 
• Air freight and cross-border services

Disadvantages: 

• Less well known than other options 
• No transparent pricing

Trinity

At Trinity, they focus on customizable solutions that help meet each business’s unique needs. While TMS is a software that is one-size-fits-all, this transportation management company utilizes its logistics experience to customize solutions. They have hundreds of team members that work with businesses to arrange freight and work with carriers to ensure a smooth transportation process. 

Best For: Customizable Solutions

Established: 1994

Location: 50 Fallon Ave, Seaford, DE 19973

Vehicles Managed: 1,000 shipments daily

Telematics Solution: 

• Offers Integrated or Managed TMS
• Load planning
• Tracking and notifications
• Claims management
• Freight audit and payment

Special Features: 

• Customized solutions 
• Free supply chain analysis

Benefits: 

• Over 70,000 carriers
• Configurable system  
• Personalized account support

Disadvantages: 

• A few complaints in the past about rude employees
• No transparent pricing

C.H. Robinson

C.H. Robinson has a global reach and extensive industry knowledge. Add in their extensive transportation network and innovative technology, they’re a great company to work alongside. They take the time to learn their customers’ challenges and goals and create systems to help them scale. Their innovative and tailored solutions are sure to help better manage freight and expenses. 

Best For: Worldwide Network

Established: 1997

Location: 14701 Charlson Rd Eden Prairie, MN 55347 

Vehicles Managed: N/A

Telematics Solution: 

• Realtime market rates
• Real-time tracking
• Purchase order management
• Invoicing
• Reporting and analytics 

Special Features: 

• Global insights 
• Real time recommendations 

Benefits:

• Global company with extensive expertise
• Strategic partner that can quickly mobilize
• Industry-leading technology

Disadvantages: 

• Large business, making it harder to retain smaller clients 
• No pricing on the website 

What Is a Transportation Management Company?

A transportation management company can have many names, including acronyms like FTL, 3PL, and LTL. But one important factor that all of these different names have in common is that, by definition, transportation management companies oversee the process of freight management. These companies are third-party that offer technology and services to manage freight. 

How Do Transportation Management Companies Work?

Transportation management companies help you get your cargo to its intended location. They operate and manage logistics on your company’s behalf which helps improve the efficiency of your day-to-day operations. These companies add more value than just a simple TMS, including freight invoice auditing, logistics management, after-hours scheduling, and more. 

ShoppingTransportation Management Companies

Finding the right managed transportation company comes down to what services you’re looking for. Each offers their own unique solutions that can help your company. Below you’ll find some things to consider when shopping for a transportation management company. 

Services Offered

The first thing you should consider is what services are offered by the transportation management company. You’ll be looking for more than just a TMS, or else you’d have selected a SaaS company already. 

Instead, expand to look at companies with the capabilities of handling your needs. Do they have ways to access more capacity, plan and optimize order management, improve the record keeping process, stay in compliance with regulations, lower spending, increase vendors, and have advanced analytics? 

No matter what you’re looking for, be sure that the company you select has all the services you desire. 

Dynamic Routes and Rates 

A huge benefit to working with a transportation management company is that they have access to transportation resources that you might not have. Because of this, many can offer dynamic routes and rates to help you get your inventory where it needs to be on time and under budget.

Communication and Customer Service 

When working with any vendor, communication and customer service should be at the forefront. Check reviews to see how their other customers have ranked their customer service. Check what hours they’re available when needs arise. 

And don’t forget to check how they handle problems when they arise. Obviously, no one wants to deal with a headache when it comes to your freight, but nothing is ever perfect. How a professional and responsive transportation management company steps up in those situations will have a great impact on your business. 

Vendor Base

Having a transportation management company with a large vendor base can help you increase your vendor connections. This is a great way to build partnerships to get a competitive advantage. 

Ability To Scale

Having a trusted transportation management company by your side can be a beneficial way to help you scale. It is a great way to improve your pricing power and add capacity.

Innovate with a Transportation Management Company

When you work with the best transportation management company you can easily have the best TMS software platform alongside a company that helps manage the process for you. No matter what size your business is, whether it’s national or international, there is a transportation management company that can help you cut costs and increase efficiency all at once!

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