How Much Does a TMS Cost?

Costs are a primary concern and consideration for any business and when a business makes the decision to add new tools, equipment, software, or operating systems, the price is an important factor. Trucking and freight companies interested in technology, like a Transportation Management System (TMS), that can simplify operations, improve efficiency, and drive growth need to know and understand the costs and potential Return on Investment (ROI) that go hand in hand with a TMS platform. 

When potential customers contact us at TenTrucks, one of the first questions that they ask is — how much does a TMS cost? TenTrucks is here to provide answers to your questions with this overview that highlights the multiple factors that impact price, different pricing structures, and the prices for TenTrucks TMS.

What Is the Average Cost of a TMS?

To better understand how the cost of a Transportation Management System will fit your budget, it is important to understand the average cost of a TMS platform for freight companies, as well as how much a TMS can cost on the high end and the low end. This allows you to understand where your costs align with the rest of the industry. 

The cost of your TMS platform is impacted by a variety of factors that can include the number of users, the available features, integrations with your TMS, installation costs, maintenance costs, and the type of Transportation Management System you choose. There are two primary types of Transportation Management System, an On-Premise TMS and a Cloud-Based TMS, that each employ different pricing models and incur different costs. 

On-Premise TMS Pricing vs. Cloud-Based TMS Pricing

An On-Premise TMS is a software platform that employs dedicated servers and infrastructure in a set location at the trucking or freight company, and the company owns the hardware and must maintain the system. This type of TMS is ideal for larger companies and has a higher price tag that can range from $50,000 to $400,000 for the licensed software with additional fees for regular maintenance that are estimated at about 15% – 20% of licensing costs. 

A Cloud-Based TMS is a platform that is hosted on a remote server online rather than physical servers owned by the user. A cloud-based platform allows users to access the system and software from anywhere where you have access to the internet, which makes it a valuable platform for trucking companies that have drivers always on the road. Many Cloud-Based TMS platforms employ a subscription-based pricing structure with monthly costs that can range from $300 to $1,000 based on the features, integrations, and number of users.  

In many ways, a Cloud-Based TMS is a more flexible option for trucking and freight companies with flexible pricing models that cater to small trucking companies and large trucking companies alike. Cloud-based platforms can employ standard annual subscription-based pricing, pay-per-load pricing, pay-per-user pricing, or tiered subscription pricing. Here is a better look at each pricing model that may be used by a Cloud-Based TMS provider.

• Subscription-Based: This is the most common pricing model for TMS providers that involves an annual or monthly fee.
• Pay-Per-Load: This pricing model is ideal for freight companies that have high variances in freight volume and payments are made based on the number of shipments or transactions processed. The average cost with this pricing model for larger companies is $2 – $5 per load. 
• Pay-Per-User: Trucking and freight companies have many people using a TMS platform and this pricing model has costs tied to the number of users. 
• Tiered Subscription: A tiered subscription plan involves different tiers that each provide access to different and more advanced solutions with monthly or annual fees that vary based on the tier you choose.

How Much Does TenTrucks TMS Cost?

TenTrucks TMS is an affordable Cloud-Based TMS platform that employs a tiered subscription pricing model based on the size of the fleet that provides the features you need and has the potential to grow with your business. TenTrucks believes in transparent pricing with no hidden charges or fees, and a subscription can be cancelled at any time. We provide businesses with four basic pricing tiers, Basic, Standard, Pro, and Enterprise with a FREE 30-day trial that doesn’t require a credit card. 

Here is a breakdown of the prices and specifications for each TenTrucks TMS plan:

• Basic Plan – $129 Per Month – 4 to 10 Trucks
• Standard Plan – $239 Per Month – 11 to 20 Trucks
• Pro Plan – $549 Per Month – 21 to 50 Trucks
• Enterprise Plan – Custom Pricing – More Than 50 Trucks

READ MORE: Benefits of QuickBooks® Accounting Integrations for Your TMS  

How much does a TMS cost? This is an important question for trucking and freight companies to ask when they look at their bottom line and plan to invest in brand-new technology that can help them drive growth and create a comprehensive budget plan.

Contact TenTrucks today for more information about our Cloud-Based TMS platform and dispatching services!