Looking For an LTL TMS? Make Sure it Has These Features

U.S. e-commerce revenue is about $423.3 billion and is steadily climbing. Whether it\’s full truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), or parcel, carriers are being forced to adjust to changes in the retail industry. But if you\’re looking to boost your bottom line when it comes to a reliable LTL TMS, there are a number of features that make for efficiency, accountability, simplicity, and convenience. Here are just a few basic features to prioritize when looking for the right LTL transportation management software.

Remote Access Capabilities
Trucks carry the largest share of freight by value, tons, and ton-miles for shipments moving 750 or fewer miles. Rail, on the other hand, is the dominant mode by tons and ton-miles for shipments moved from 750 to 2,000 miles. But regardless of your freight type, having access to your system virtually in real time is absolutely essential to proper management and oversight. You as a shipper should have the peace of mind and ability to view your shipment\’s data from any place at any time. When researching types of transportation broker software, make sure to ask if this feature is available.

Seamless Integration
If you already have one or more existing systems in place for transportation management, you\’ll definitely want to make sure that any new software you invest in can be seamlessly integrated with the existing types. Ideally, you should be able to access all software platforms from one convenient information port, whether you\’re reviewing your order management system or any other general ledger information. Connectivity and seamless integration between various platforms is an essential function of freight management.

Route Planning
According to data from CargoNet and FreightWatch International, in the first three quarters of 2016, approximately 615 cargo-theft incidents were recorded. For this reason, it\’s helpful to have a route planning and load optimization feature with your transportation management system that can help to cut back these incidents. When all is said and done, route planning capabilities prioritize the simple task of getting your product to the end user as efficiently as possible.

The LTL market is estimated at approximately $35 billion. Knowing how to take advantage of your LTL TMS features can make for maximum efficiency across all operations.