Glossary
Transport Management System (TMS)
A Transport Management System (TMS) is software that plans, executes, and tracks the movement of freight, from order intake through delivery and invoicing.
A TMS is the operational backbone of a logistics company. It centralises transport orders, planning, fleet and driver data, tracking, customer communication, and financial workflows so that planners, dispatchers, drivers, and finance teams work from one shared source of truth instead of spreadsheets and disconnected tools.
Modern TMS platforms range from lightweight dispatch tools to full operational suites. A TMS reduces manual data entry, prevents planning conflicts, gives customers real-time visibility, and creates an auditable record of every shipment.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a TMS and an ERP?
An ERP manages a company's overall finances, HR, and resources, while a TMS is specialised for transport operations — planning trips, managing fleets and drivers, tracking shipments, and producing freight documents. The two are often integrated so financial data flows between them.
Who uses a TMS?
Carriers, freight forwarders, logistics service providers, shippers, and couriers use a TMS to plan and execute transport. Planners, dispatchers, drivers, finance teams, and customers each interact with different parts of the system.
See Transport Management System (TMS) in a real TMS
Transportial puts these concepts to work in one operational platform — planning, tracking, documents, and finance.