How Does a TMS Improve Fleet Operations in Extreme Weather?

Winter has arrived here in the United States and even with the snow and ice on the road, commercial trucks continue to move an estimated 11.5 billion tons of cargo each year. Extreme and inclement weather can have a significant impact on commercial trucking with longer delivery times and unexpected delays that can lead to frustrated and angry customers — but a Transportation Management System (TMS) can help mitigate these issues.

Trucking and freight companies may be asking — how does a TMS improve fleet operations in extreme weather? This breakdown created by TenTrucks may help answer your questions and provide you with added confidence when your fleet of trucks is faced with inclement weather.

4 Ways a TMS Improves Freight Transport in Bad Weather

Do you operate in a part of North America where bad weather is common? Do you regularly have to deal with shipping delays due to winter storms or other extreme weather conditions? If you do, you understand the complications that these weather events can cause and how they can disrupt freight transport operations — but you may not know that a Transportation Management System can help.

The ability to monitor and adjust trucking routes in real-time allows you to minimize delays and the capability to be more proactive in months where extreme weather is expected can keep you on schedule. These are just a few of the ways that a TMS — like TenTrucks TMS — can improve fleet operations.

1. Adaptive Route Planning and Optimization

Is there a storm ahead that has had a severe impact on the road conditions? Adaptive route planning and optimization software provided by a Transportation Management System can help you avoid the delays this weather might cause. The ability to re-route trucks in an instant when there is a road closure or traffic congestion due to extreme weather can help ensure that your trucks reach their destinations on time and safely.

2. Real-Time Visibility of Fleet Trucks 

Extreme weather can cause delays and real-time visibility helps ensure that you always know where your shipments are. Electronic Logging Device (ELD) integrations and GPS applications provide fleet managers and dispatchers with a clear view of where trucks are in relationship to their destination, so that when there is extreme weather and delays, they can provide proactive updates to customers, ensure trucks are safe, and reroute trucks if needed. 

3. Proactive Fleet Management and Routing

The best way to avoid dangerous road conditions and extreme weather is to stay off the roads — but that often isn’t a possibility for commercial truck drivers. The second best way is to avoid extreme weather and dangerous conditions as much as possible. Armed with a cloud-based TMS that employs route optimization software and advanced weather apps, freight companies can be more proactive, making load management and route changes that allow drivers to avoid this extreme weather.

4. Improved Driver and Customer Communication

Clear communication between drivers, dispatchers, and customers is critical when extreme weather is a factor. Mobile TMS apps for drivers allow them to stay up to date on route changes from dispatchers that help them avoid extreme weather and dangerous conditions and allows drivers to provide clear updates for dispatchers about road closures, road conditions, or potential weather delays. In turn, this allows freight companies to provide real-time updates for customers expecting delivery. 

READ MORE: What Are the Challenges Facing the Trucking Industry in 2026?

How does a TMS improve fleet operations in extreme weather? Find out how a high-quality TMS can help your freight company avoid potential days when faced with inclement weather and dangerous road conditions with this breakdown created by TenTrucks.

Contact TenTrucks today for more information on how our platform can help your freight company drive success!