A s the supply chain eld has evolved and grown increasingly complex, transportation management systems (TMS) have evolved too, adding powerful new capabilities to ensure that users are equipped to meet today’s sophisticated challenges. TMS amounts to “foundational infrastructure” today—not just for transportation execution but for nancial control, says Stewart Dunsmore, senior vice president of supply chain services, nVision Global. “Shippers are operating in a world de ned by compressed lead times, global sourcing complexity, rising freight costs, and relentless pressure to improve visibility at every node in the chain,” he adds. For shippers, the difference between operating without an effective TMS and using one in the current climate is the difference “between running blind and running smart,” says Mark Hill, CEO of PCS Software. “Shippers don’t have much margin for error in today’s supply chain with tight capacity, rate volatility, and customer expectations that don’t bend,” he says.
“Shippers who still manage transportation using spreadsheets or patchwork systems are leaving real money on the table, and many of them don’t fully realize how much,” Hill says. “A modern TMS provides visibility, control, and the data to make faster, better decisions. Without it, you’re reacting. With it, you’re planning. That shift changes how a private eet runs.” Shippers without an effective TMS lack real-time insight into where their freight is, what it costs them, and whether their transportation providers and suppliers are performing to expectation. “An effective TMS is no longer optional for most shippers,” says Ron Dodig, SVP, sales and logistics for CT Logistics. “It’s core to running a competitive supply chain.” A TMS is necessary to manage the growing complexity of carriers, modes, and customer expectations. “Without it, companies rely on manual processes that limit scalability, increase costs, and impact service levels,” Dodig says. “In today’s environment, a TMS isn’t just a tool; it’s a key driver of ef ciency, control, and customer satisfaction.”
May 2026 • Inbound Logistics 39
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