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TMS Buying Guide for 3PLs

TMS can help 3pls plan, tender, track, and settle freight movements in one operating workflow. Evaluate each option against how your team manages multiple customers, facilities, contracts, service levels, billing rules, and transportation partners.

Why this category matters here

For 3pls, the most relevant fit is multi-tenant transportation and order orchestration. Confirm that the product supports this workflow in practice and fits the people, systems, controls, and exceptions already in place.

Capabilities to evaluate

  • Customer portals
  • Warehouse handoffs
  • Order-to-load workflow coverage
  • Rating, tendering, and dispatch controls
  • Shipment tracking and settlement records

Questions to ask vendors

  • Which modes and shipment types are supported natively?
  • How are exceptions, accessorials, and re-rating handled?
  • Which shipper, carrier, accounting, and visibility systems connect without manual re-entry?
  • How will this fit the way your team manages multiple customers, facilities, contracts, service levels, billing rules, and transportation partners?

40 marketplace profiles are listed for TMS and 3PLs. Compare their listed details with your requirements and confirm fit with each provider.

Options for 3PLs

  • Alvys

    Cloud-based trucking TMS for carriers, brokers, and transportation-focused 3PLs.

    Listed features: Dispatch Planner, Load Tracking, Customer Invoicing. Listed integrations: Samsara, Motive, Geotab.

  • AscendTMS

    Cloud-based TMS for brokers, carriers, 3PLs and shippers, with plan-dependent dispatch, tracking and financial workflows.

    Listed features: Load Management, Carrier Onboarding, GPS Tracking. Listed integrations: DAT, Truckstop, TruckSmarter.

  • Axon Software

    All-in-one trucking management with real-time integrated accounting.

    Listed features: Real-time Dispatch, GPS Tracking, Integrated Accounting. Listed integrations: Omnitracs, PeopleNet, Teletrac Navman.

  • Banyan Technology LIVE Connect

    Multi-mode freight rating, execution and reporting, available as a TMS or API connectivity.

    Listed features: Carrier Rate Comparison, Truckload, LTL, Final Mile and Parcel Shipping, Load Tendering. Listed integrations: McLeod Software, MercuryGate, Revenova.

  • Blue Yonder TMS

    AI-enabled multimodal transportation planning, load optimization, and execution for manufacturers, retailers, shippers, and logistics service providers.

    Listed features: AI/ML transportation planning & optimization (scope varies), Load planning and optimization; solver limits and entitlement depend on setup, Transportation execution & validation (configuration dependent). Listed integrations: FourKites (Blue Yonder partnership; confirm current connector, coverage, licensing, and implementation), project44 (Blue Yonder partnership; confirm current connector, coverage, licensing, and implementation), Loadsmart (Blue Yonder information page lists it with Dynamic Price Discovery; confirm current TMS availability, plan, and workflow).

  • CXT Software

    Cloud-based courier and last-mile TMS for dispatch, routing, tracking, proof of delivery and customer billing.

    Listed features: AI-assisted & autonomous dispatch (optional), Route & itinerary optimization (plan dependent), Driver mobile app for courier operations. Listed integrations: API connectivity (endpoints, package and implementation scope to confirm), EDI and proprietary B2B connectivity (partner, message set and setup to confirm), QuickBooks Online (edition, direction and setup to confirm).

  • Descartes 3G TMS

    Transportation management for shippers and 3PLs, with multimodal planning, rating, execution and settlement.

    Listed features: Order and Shipment Management, Multimodal Planning, Constraint-aware Rating and Optimization. Listed integrations: Oracle NetSuite — confirm TM versus shipping component, Descartes MacroPoint — confirm selected visibility scope, IntelliShift — confirm selected integration scope.

  • Descartes Aljex TMS

    Cloud-based freight broker and 3PL TMS with order automation, carrier management and connected visibility.

    Listed features: Order Management, Carrier Collaboration Portal, Connected Shipment Tracking. Listed integrations: DAT (selected services), Truckstop, Connected carrier networks (scope varies).

  • Dispatch Science

    Last-mile delivery management for couriers and delivery businesses, with routing, dispatch and shipment visibility.

    Listed features: Route Optimization, Configured Automated and Suggested Dispatch, Driver Mobile App. Listed integrations: Openforce — contractor onboarding/compliance connection, Stripe — payment connection, Twilio — communication connection.

  • DispatchTrack

    Last-mile delivery management with AI-powered routing, driver execution and customer delivery visibility.

    Listed features: AI Route Optimization, Predictive ETAs, Driver Mobile App. Listed integrations: ERP integration ecosystem: NetSuite, Storis, Oracle, SAP, Microsoft and DDI (vendor-listed; confirm versions and setup), POS integration support (vendor implementation required), Telematics ecosystem: Samsara, Geotab and Motive (vendor-listed; confirm data scope and setup).

  • e2open Transportation Management (formerly BluJay)

    Cloud TMS for multimodal planning, carrier collaboration, shipment tracking and freight settlement.

    Listed features: Multimodal transportation planning, Routing, consolidation and load building, Carrier rating and tendering. Listed integrations: SAP ECC/S/4HANA via e2open ERP Add-On (configured), C.H. Robinson truckload rating via API/EDI (partner setup), Redwood Rating API (announced for BluJay shipper TMS in 2021; confirm availability).

  • EKA Omni-TMS

    Cloud TMS for brokers, carriers and shippers, with AI-assisted fleet matching and document processing

    Listed features: AI-Assisted Fleet Load Matching, AI Document Extraction and Validation, HOS-Aware Route Planning. Listed integrations: Trucker Tools, Samsara, Motive.

  • FarEye

    Enterprise delivery management for routing, fleet orchestration and last-mile visibility.

    Listed features: AI Route Optimization, Real-time Tracking, Driver Mobile App. Listed integrations: SAP Business Network for Logistics, Oracle Transportation Management (vendor-described), WMS Systems.

  • Fleet Enable

    Final mile TMS for multi-person crew deliveries and white glove services.

    Listed features: Route Optimization, Workforce Management, Capacity Management. Listed integrations: EDI Order and Status Exchange (partner-assisted), API Order Intake.

  • FreightPOP

    Multimode TMS for shipper rate shopping, booking, tracking, and freight audit.

    Listed features: Rate Shopping, Shipment Booking and Dispatch, Label Generation. Listed integrations: SAP (edition-specific), NetSuite, Oracle ERP (confirm edition).

  • Infios TMS

    Infios Transportation Management, formerly MercuryGate, for multimodal transportation planning and execution.

    Listed features: Multimodal Planning and Optimization, Carrier Onboarding and Tendering, Rate Optimization. Listed integrations: SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics.

  • Loadsmart TMS

    ShipperGuide TMS by Loadsmart for freight procurement, planning, execution and analytics.

    Listed features: RFP Management, Automated Tendering, Shipment Tracking. Listed integrations: Opendock, ERP Systems, WMS Platforms.

  • Magaya

    Modular digital freight platform for freight forwarders, 3PLs, and connected logistics workflows.

    Listed features: Freight forwarding workflows, EDI & API connectivity (configuration dependent), US & New Zealand customs filing (separate offerings). Listed integrations: QuickBooks Online, Xero, FedEx.

  • Manhattan TMS

    Cloud-native transportation management for planning, executing, and settling freight across shipper and 3PL operations.

    Listed features: Continuous transportation planning (capabilities vary by edition), Route planning and carrier/rate selection, Shipment and load planning (Load Builder: Enterprise Premier). Listed integrations: Manhattan Active WMS (sister product; confirm edition and integration scope), FourKites (partner integration; confirm entitlement and coverage), Carrier and vendor network connectivity (coverage varies).

  • McLeod PowerBroker

    Brokerage TMS for freight brokers and 3PLs, with order, carrier, rating, tracking, and back-office workflows. AI and market-rate features depend on the enabled product version, module, and licensed partners.

    Listed features: RespondAI Quote & Rating Intelligence (version dependent), Scheduled SMS, call-ins, and status updates (tracking-provider scope is separate), One-click quote generation. Listed integrations: DAT Freight & Analytics / DAT RateView (listed PowerBroker options; licensing applies), Truckstop RateMate / RMIS / SaferWatch and listed Truckstop load-board products (scope varies), FourKites (PowerBroker shipment-tracking option; license/setup applies).

Showing 20 of 40 profiles. View all available options.

Explore the full interactive guide · Browse TMS listings

TMS (Transportation Management System) for 3pl buying guidance

At a glance: A transportation management system (TMS) helps plan, execute, monitor, and settle transportation activity. Scope varies by product and operating model: a broker may focus on quote-to-load and carrier pay; a shipper on tendering, freight audit, and service visibility; a 3PL on repeatable workflows across client accounts. Oracle describes transportation planning, shipment monitoring, and freight billing as parts of its TMS offering; that vendor taxonomy is illustrative, not a universal standard. A software label does not establish compliance, integration depth, or fit. Transportation Management; 49 CFR §371.3 Records to be kept by brokers

Fit for 3pl (core)

Evaluate multi-client controls, configurable operating rules, billing, reporting, and transparent separation of client data as well as core execution. Transportation Management

Workflow: Run two client loads with different routing, status, and billing rules through one proposed configuration. Transportation Management

Ask in a demo: Have an administrator onboard a sample account and produce client-level records and invoices. Transportation Management

Check before choosing: Do not infer tenant isolation, configurable scope, or performance from a product label. Transportation Management

Common workflows

  • Order, quote, and tender: Trace one real order from intake through rate selection and tender. Verify which fields are imported, which require review, and how rejected or duplicate tenders are handled. For brokers, keep shipper and carrier sides distinct; for shippers, test routing-guide rules and tender response. Transportation Management
  • Shipment execution and exceptions: Follow a shipment through status events, delay or appointment exceptions, customer communication, and closure. Confirm the source, freshness, and ownership of location data; a TMS connection does not guarantee continuous tracking or a particular update interval. Transportation Management
  • Freight settlement and records: Reconcile a quoted rate with accessorials, carrier invoice, customer invoice, and payment status. Brokers should separately verify their transaction-record process against 49 CFR §371.3; the regulation requires records but does not prescribe a specific TMS feature. 49 CFR §371.3 Records to be kept by brokers

Questions to ask providers

  • Which exact transaction types, modes, client accounts, and exception paths are included in the proposed edition?
  • What is native, what relies on a partner integration, and what remains manual? Show field mappings, direction, latency, error queues, and recovery.
  • Who owns each order, shipment, carrier, rate, status, and financial record, and can we export it in a usable format?
  • Can you demonstrate our broker or shipper workflow and, for a 3PL, separate rules, users, billing, and reporting for two clients?
  • What are the implementation, migration, integration, usage, support, renewal, export, and termination costs in a written proposal?
  • How are access controls, audit history, data retention, and customer separation configured and verified?

Frequently asked questions

What does TMS stand for?

TMS means transportation management system. The label is broad; assess the specific planning, execution, visibility, settlement, and integration scope offered for your workflows. Transportation Management

Is a TMS only for shippers?

No. Shippers, brokers, carriers, and logistics providers may use transportation software, but their workflows differ. Compare the role-specific transactions and permissions rather than relying on the acronym alone. Transportation Management

Does a TMS have to retain broker transaction records?

A broker must keep the transaction records specified by 49 CFR §371.3. That rule does not mandate a particular software product; verify that your process retains the required records and can retrieve them. 49 CFR §371.3 Records to be kept by brokers

Will TMS software guarantee freight savings?

No. Cost depends on rates, shipment mix, execution, contract terms, and adoption. Establish a baseline and compare like-for-like shipments and total costs; do not treat vendor examples as guaranteed outcomes. Transportation Management

Does a TMS replace an ERP or WMS?

Not by definition. Products and architectures vary; map the system of record for orders, inventory, transportation events, invoices, and payments, then demonstrate the required data exchanges. Transportation Management

What should a TMS demo include?

Use the same representative order, tender, exception, invoice, and correction in every demo. For brokers include shipper and carrier transactions; for 3PLs include separate client rules and outputs. Transportation Management; 49 CFR §371.3 Records to be kept by brokers

Sources (2)
  1. Transportation Management — Oracle
  2. 49 CFR §371.3 Records to be kept by brokers — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations