If you work in logistics, you’ve likely heard the term TMS before. TMS is the acronym of a transportation management system. A TMS is a software program that allows you to manage your entire supply chain, including your internal logistics department, suppliers, warehouses, carriers, vendors, etc. Having a TMS for your supply chain can help provide your company with greater visibility, better reporting, and improved performance through automating many manual processes. Many companies use a TMS for their logistics management, like e-commerce companies, retail businesses, manufacturers, distributors, even logistics service providers such as 3PLs (like us!). If you’re reading this article, more than likely you’re interested in a TMS but are hesitant. Let’s talk through some of those hesitancies and see if we can help resolve them.

TMS HESITANCY 1:  I WANT TO KEEP CONTROL. I FEAR OF LOSING MY ROLE IN LOGISTICS MANAGEMENT.

Most fear losing control of their logistics operations or that it won’t be done correctly. However, a best-in-class TMS allows you to decide the amount of control you would like to have. You can opt for a TMS that integrates with your current system, using your own carriers and rates. Or if you want to be more “hands-off” you can outsource your TMS with a 3PL that provides software, account management, and use of their carrier relationships and rates. If you’re in between, you can have help with account management but still be involved and a mix of your own carriers and rates and your 3PL’s carriers.

Even with all those options, no matter your role in logistics management, a TMS isn’t going to do it all for you. Instead, technology like a TMS simply helps you do your job more efficiently by automating those very manual and time-consuming tasks that we do every day!

TMS HESITANCY 2: IT COSTS TOO MUCH

This is often a misconception. With software as a service (Saas) and a cloud-based or web-based TMS, sometimes there are no costly up-front investments. It also means you won’t have to worry about having software installed on company servers and continuously managing updates.

It really depends on your logistics needs and the solutions your provider can offer you. At Trinity, we offer technology solutions for companies of all sizes and with different levels of services. A TMS can often end up saving you money in the long term by helping you better manage your freight spend and performance.

TMS HESITANCY 3: MY BUSINESS IS TOO SMALL. WE DON’T WANT TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.

No business is too small! And even if you don’t want anything to change in your process, change is inevitable as it will happen in your industry and business. Will your business be ready for when that happens?

It’s vital to adopt technology, like a TMS, into your business before you grow too fast rather than waiting until while you are growing quickly. What you have in place may work for now, but when your business really starts growing, the cost and time to manage your workload will be growing too. Can your process handle that?

We all know change can come quickly and unexpectedly, causing disruptions in our processes. 

A TMS can help you be better prepared and ready for any changes.

TMS HESITANCY 4: IT’S TOO COMPLICATED TO USE. WE TRIED IT BEFORE AND NO ONE WOULD USE IT. 

Some TMS’s can be difficult to navigate and if there’s not a lot of support, you may abandon it. But a best-in-class TMS should be user-friendly and configurable to the needs of each individual user. You should also have access to a support system that can help you when needed.

There’s a big difference between purchasing software to use from a company and working with a 3PL that offers it as a solution. Considering a 3PL often uses their own TMS, they’ll know how to use it and help you. Quality TMS providers will work with you to make sure the TMS meshes well with your other systems.

ARE YOU EXPERIENCING ANY OF THESE CHALLENGES?

Struggling With Keeping Your Quotes Organized

If you work with several different shipments, it can be time-consuming and overwhelming to be on the phone or going from website to website asking for rates from carriers in your network. Contacting all those carriers for your different shipments and keeping track of those quotes can take you away from the other important aspects of your business.

Managing and Selecting the Best Carriers

We know that not all shipment is the same. Some shipments need temperature control, require special delivery services, or need to be handled with extreme care. Because of that, not all shipments are handled by the same carrier. There are carriers best suited to handle all your shipment needs. However, managing them all can be difficult.

Keeping Track of Your Shipments

As mentioned above, most often all your freight is not hauled by the same carrier. It can be common for several different shipments to be in transit aboard different company trucks all over the country/world. Because of this, freight tracking can be challenging. Without a TMS, there will have to be someone entering shipment numbers into forms on several different carrier sites.

Not Getting Insight into Your Logistics

Without proper reporting from a TMS, it can be hard to gather data to determine which carrier was the cheapest throughout this past year. Or analyze which carrier had the best performance. Or find out what your freight costs were on certain lanes. 

Not all TMS’s may generate the reporting you need, but a best-in-class TMS can off you advanced reporting to go into specific logistics metrics. Without TMS technology to offer you data-driven insight into your business, can you really know how you are doing year after year?

STILL NOT READY TO COMMIT TO A TMS?

Say Hello to Trinity’s Customer Portal

We understand. Committing to a TMS can be a big change. We listened and heard you.

That’s why we now offer our Customer Portal for shippers working with Trinity. There’s no commitment, no additional charges, with a sample of TMS technology right at your fingertips.

Track your shipments, request quotes, view and pay invoices, or view and duplicate historical quotes. See how easy it is.

Start shipping with us today to gain access.

LOOKING FOR MORE?

Trinity’s Managed Transportation

We’re here and ready to help you with your logistics management. Our combination of experienced account management and best-in-class TMS technology offers you a customized solution to help achieve your unique supply chain goals. Through Trinity’s Managed Transportation, there’s no need to worry about an out-of-the-box solution that doesn’t fully meet your needs.

Whether you’re looking for Saas, a Managed TMS, a fully Integrated Outsource, or something in between, we’ll work with you to design a solution unique to your business, not the other way around. You’ll gain control, visibility, improved performance, reduce costs, and eliminate manual, time-consuming processes.

So, what do you have to lose?

Looking to learn more about Trinity’s unique TMS solutions? Schedule a risk-free live demo with Ryan O’Halloran to learn more about our customizable solutions.

AUTHOR: CHRISTINE MORRIS

There’s a famous quote by Carl Barks that says, “Work smarter, not harder”. This idea can make your personal life run smoother, but what about your business? Choosing to partner with a 3PL (third-party logistics), like Trinity Logistics, will save you time and increase the efficiency of your business.

Reduce Your Risk

If you’re selecting carriers on your own, are you examining their operating authority, insurance information, and safety ratings? Carriers in our network are checked in our system on a daily basis for compliance. You can feel confident that we will only place your freight with a qualified carrier.

Capacity Fluctuates

A lot. Changing regulations, rising costs of operating a truck, and disruptions in the industry are all affecting truck drivers. The natural ebb and flow of available trucks is difficult enough to keep up with. Shifts can happen overnight, so having a partner on your side fighting for capacity is key to success. We have access to a base of over 70,000 authorized carriers, meaning that we can always find a way to get your truckload freight from Point A to Point B, no matter the demand for equipment.

Time Is Of The Essence

It can be tedious to spend your day routing your own freight, tracking freight, and managing the day-to-day issues that can occur (delays, breakdowns, blown tires, etc.). Luckily, we’re experts and we can take this responsibility off your hands. We take care of any issues that arise so you can focus more on maintaining the core elements of your business.

Gain Peace of Mind

Partnering with a 3PL means you don’t have to worry about your logistics. Arranging freight transportation can be complex at times and that is where a 3PL excels. Because we work with a variety of industries, modes, and technologies, we know just what to do in any situation. Due to the nature of the business, we’re quick on our feet and able to adapt to changes. Our reputation and expertise speak for themselves, and you can trust that you’re working with one of the best in the business.

Find a New Solution

Partnering with a 3PL can present you with new and unique transportation freight solutions. You could consider consolidating your LTL shipments into one truckload shipment or get a supply chain analysis with Managed Services. A 3PL gives you that opportunity to see what may work best for your company, without all the extra work it would give you if you made that venture alone. And we have the expertise to see if there’s a different, better way for you to be shipping your freight while reducing your costs.

Everyone Else Is Doing It

According to a report by Armstrong & Associates, nearly 90% of Fortune 500 companies partner with a 3PL in order to simplify their lives and increase the efficiency of their business. Don’t be part of the other 10%!

Partnering with a 3PL will be beneficial to your company’s success. With our resources and expertise, Trinity can save you the headaches that come with logistics. Like Carl Barks says, “Work smarter, not harder”.

Originally posted February 7, 2013. Updated July 15, 2020 by Tori Dalton