How Does a TMS Improve Tracking of Shipments?

Accurate, real-time tracking is an important piece of the puzzle for trucking and freight companies. Enhanced tracking of freight allows carriers to be more proactive in how they approach potential delays and promotes improved communication with clients to improve customer satisfaction. A Transportation Management System (TMS) provides innovative solutions that can help freight companies track their shipments. Trucking companies that are asking — how does a TMS improve tracking of shipments — can find answers with TransPlus. 

6 Ways a TMS Improves Freight Tracking

The freight and logistics industry can be fast-paced, making accurate and timely shipment tracking more than just a luxury. It's a necessity. Trucking and freight companies handle millions of shipments each and every day, with the global freight forwarding market projected to reach new heights in 2026 and beyond.

In this dynamic environment, the ability to know precisely where a shipment is at any given moment is critical. A Transportation Management System (TMS) enhances a company's tracking capabilities, turning reactive responses into proactive management.
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Here are six key ways a TMS improves freight tracking:

1. Real-Time Tracking Capabilities

A quality Transportation Management System leverages advanced GPS capabilities and telematics integrations like Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) to provide constant, real-time location updates for all shipments. This means freight companies can monitor the exact position and status of their fleet and cargo from departure to delivery, which enables faster responses to any unforeseen delays or issues.

2. Enhanced Route Optimization

Beyond tracking freight, a TMS contributes to better and more efficient routing. Innovative solutions analyze real-time traffic, weather, and road conditions to suggest optimal routes that can help drivers avoid delays and ensure shipments stay on schedule. This more proactive approach to freight routing inherently improves the accuracy of freight tracking by minimizing changes to the routes.

3. Proactive Delay Management

The key advantage of real-time visibility with a TMS, is that it gives logistics teams the ability to identify potential delays before they become critical issues. If a shipment gets lost or encounters unexpected traffic and delays, the system can provide alerts that allow freight companies to communicate with drivers and clients, or re-route trucks as necessary to minimize disruptions.

4. Centralized Tracking Data

A TMS consolidates key tracking data on a single, easy-to-access platform. This eliminates the need to track multiple systems or rely on multiple data sets and provides a comprehensive view of all ongoing shipments, which makes it easier to monitor the status of shipments from one central dashboard.

5. Ability to Track and Trace Shipments

Transportation Management System platforms provide a complete and comprehensive audit trail for every shipment, documenting its journey from start to finish. This track-and-trace functionality is invaluable for dispute resolution, compliance, and detailed analysis, ensuring accountability at every step of the process.

6. Real-Time Customer Updates

One of the most important benefits of improved tracking is the ability to provide accurate, real-time updates to customers. Shippers can access portals or receive automated notifications, giving them peace of mind and improving customer satisfaction due to increased transparency.
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READ MORE: How Does a TMS Benefit Trucking Companies in the U.S. and Canada?

How does a TMS improve the tracking of shipments for trucking and freight companies? By combining technology with data management, it transforms tracking from a basic necessity into a strategic tool. Find out how TransPlus TMS capabilities can elevate your freight tracking to the next level — contact TransPlus for a demo today!