Load planning · Carrier selection · Dispatch & tracking · Freight audit
Transportation Management System (TMS) Development
Custom transportation management systems for shippers, carriers, 3PLs and brokers: order planning, load building, carrier selection, dispatch, tracking, freight audit and reporting.
Off-the-shelf TMS products work until your lanes, rates, customers or carriers don't fit their model. Then planners go back to spreadsheets, phone calls and email.
Codersarts transportation management system development builds TMS software around how your freight actually moves: your orders, rate rules, carriers and customers, connected to the systems you already run.
What Is a Transportation Management System?
A transportation management system (TMS) plans, executes and tracks the movement of freight. It takes orders from an ERP or customer portal, builds loads, compares carrier rates, tenders and books shipments, dispatches drivers, tracks loads to delivery, captures proof of delivery, audits freight invoices and reports on cost and service.
Who This Is For
Shippers and manufacturers moving their own freight
Carriers and trucking companies
3PLs and freight brokers
Distributors with regional delivery fleets
Logistics startups building a TMS product
What We Build
Order management
Orders from ERP, EDI, API, portals and spreadsheets in one queue.
Load planning
Consolidation, load building and capacity rules. See operations research.
Rates and carriers
Contract and spot rates, carrier scorecards and automatic tendering.
Dispatch
Driver assignment, trip sheets and mobile driver apps.
Tracking
GPS, ELD and carrier API tracking with ETAs. See shipment tracking.
Freight audit
Invoice matching against rates, accessorials and proof of delivery.
Integrations
ERP, WMS, accounting and carrier APIs. See EDI and API integration.
Off-the-Shelf TMS vs Custom TMS
Option | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
SaaS TMS | Standard shipping with common carriers | Per-shipment fees and rigid workflows |
SaaS TMS plus custom modules | Mostly standard needs with a few unique rules | Integration upkeep |
Custom TMS | Unique rates, networks or a TMS product | Higher upfront cost |
Many companies start with a custom module next to an existing TMS, such as rating or carrier tendering, before replacing anything.
Common TMS Problems We Fix
Problem | Usual cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
Planners working in spreadsheets | TMS doesn't fit lanes or rules | Custom planning module |
Carrier updates by phone | No carrier API or EDI integration | |
Freight invoices overpaid | No automated audit | Freight audit rules |
Slow screens with many loads | Unindexed queries |
How Much Does a Custom TMS Cost?
Cost depends on the modes you ship, carrier integrations, optimization needs and users.
Scope | Typical timeline | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
TMS module (rating, tendering or audit) | 6 to 12 weeks | $15,000 to $50,000 |
Core TMS for one mode | 4 to 7 months | $60,000 to $150,000 |
Multi-mode TMS platform | 8 to 12+ months | $150,000 to $350,000+ |
What changes the cost: transport modes, carrier and ERP integrations, load optimization, driver apps, customer portals and reporting.
Ranges are typical for a global team. Your price is fixed after scoping, before any work starts.
Ways to Start Small
Starting point | Best for | From |
|---|---|---|
Speeding up an existing TMS | $199 | |
Connecting sales and shipment data | $199 | |
A ranked bug list for an existing platform | $199 | |
Ongoing fixes with a fixed budget | $290 for 10 hours |
How We Work
Discover. Lanes, rates, carriers and current tools.
Design. Order-to-invoice workflow.
Build. Core modules in weekly releases.
Integrate. ERP, carriers, telematics and accounting.
Pilot. One region or customer first.
Roll out. More lanes, users and features.
What You Receive
A TMS that fits your freight
Carrier and ERP integrations
Tracking and proof of delivery
Cost and service reports
Documentation and code ownership
Example Engagement: TMS for a Regional Distributor
An illustrative example based on the pattern we see most often. Client details are kept confidential.
The situation: A distributor planned around 300 daily deliveries in spreadsheets and booked third-party carriers by phone.
What we did:
Built order intake from the ERP and load planning by region
Added carrier rate comparison and tendering
Built a driver app with proof of delivery
The result: Planning time dropped sharply, and freight invoices were checked automatically against agreed rates.
Mistakes to Avoid
Copying spreadsheet workflows into software
Ignoring carrier integrations until late
Building optimization before clean order data
No pilot before full rollout
Why Codersarts
Web, mobile, integration and AI engineers in one team
Routing, tracking and real-time data treated as engineering problems, not features to bolt on
Fixed-price tasks for small jobs, so you can start without a large contract
Integrations with carriers, ERPs and telematics handled properly
You own all code, data and accounts
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does custom TMS development cost?
A core TMS for one mode typically costs $60,000 to $150,000.
Should we build or buy a TMS?
Buy when your needs are standard; build when rates, networks or workflows are unique, or when the TMS is your product.
Can a TMS connect to our ERP?
Yes, through APIs, EDI or file integrations.
Can you add route optimization?
Yes. See route optimization software.
Related Pages
Fleet management software: vehicles and drivers.
Freight forwarding software: international shipments.
Logistics solutions: every logistics service in one place.
Move Freight Without the Spreadsheets
Tell us about your lanes, carriers and current tools, and we'll plan your TMS.