3Gtms
by 3Gtms · Transportation Management (TMS)
Multimodal transportation management system for mid-market shippers, 3PLs, and 4PLs.
- Works with
- ERP systems, WMS systems, E-commerce platforms, Descartes MacroPoint
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Company size
- Mid-market, Enterprise
- Pricing
- Subscription (quote-based)
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Shelton, Connecticut, USA
Overview
3Gtms (marketed as Descartes 3G TMS following its 2025 acquisition by The Descartes Systems Group) is a cloud-based transportation management system that covers the full order-to-settlement lifecycle for companies that move freight across multiple modes. The platform is built to plan, optimize, execute, and settle shipments in one system, spanning truckload, less-than-truckload (LTL), parcel, and drayage. It targets mid-market shippers managing their own inbound and outbound freight as well as third-party and fourth-party logistics providers (3PLs/4PLs) that manage transportation on behalf of others.
The core of the product is its rating and optimization engine, which compares carrier rates across modes and builds shipments that respect capacity, service rules, and cost constraints. From there the system handles carrier sourcing and onboarding, tendering, in-transit visibility with proactive alerts, and freight settlement with automated audit. A logistics marketplace and integration layer connect the TMS to ERP systems, warehouse management systems, e-commerce platforms, real-time visibility providers, and carrier networks, allowing order and shipment data to flow between operational systems.
Reviewers generally position 3Gtms as a strong fit for shippers and brokers that need genuine multimodal rate shopping, load optimization, and settlement in a single platform, with typical implementations cited in the range of roughly 8 to 16 weeks. Because its terminology and workflows are oriented toward shippers and domestic North American transportation, it is less suited to international freight forwarding use cases that require house bills of lading, customs documentation, and forwarder-specific billing.
Screenshots & demo
Demo video from the vendor's YouTube channel. Screenshots sourced from 3Gtms.
Features & capabilities
Rating & Optimization
Rate shopping and load building across transportation modes.
- Multimodal rate comparison across truckload, LTL, parcel, and drayage
- Load optimization and consolidation to build cost-effective shipments
- Rating that accounts for tariffs, density, pallets, and flat rates
- Constraint-based planning respecting capacity and service rules
- Pool distribution and multi-stop route planning
- Real-time market pricing and rate index guidance
Carrier Management
Sourcing, onboarding, and performance management of a carrier base.
- Structured carrier onboarding workflows
- Carrier compliance enforcement
- Carrier performance tracking and scorecards
- Tendering and acceptance management
- Carrier network connectivity
Execution & Visibility
Shipment execution with real-time tracking across modes.
- End-to-end shipment visibility across modes
- Real-time shipment tracking with proactive alerts
- Intelligent ETAs
- Dock door appointment scheduling (Dock Door Scheduler)
- Exception-based notifications
- Collaboration on orders, tenders, and documents with carriers and customers
Settlement & Invoicing
Freight audit, settlement, and payment.
- Automated freight audit
- Invoice reconciliation and dispute reduction
- Faster carrier payment cycles
- Order- and shipment-level charge handling
- Per-unit and conditional charge rules
AI, Automation & Analytics
Automation of manual tasks and operational reporting.
- Exception-focused automation of manual tasks
- Machine-learning-driven task automation
- Real-time dashboards for cost, service, and performance
- Reporting and analytics across transportation operations
- Conditional document rules
Integration & Connectivity
Connectivity to operational systems and partners.
- Integration Hub for connecting external systems
- ERP and WMS integrations via logistics marketplace partners
- EDI and API-based data exchange with carriers and partners
- Real-time visibility provider integrations (e.g., Descartes MacroPoint)
- Connectivity to the Descartes Global Logistics Network
Common use cases
- Mid-market shippers managing inbound and outbound freight across multiple modes
- Rate shopping and carrier selection in a single platform
- 3PLs and 4PLs managing transportation on behalf of clients
- Freight brokers tendering and settling loads
- Load consolidation and pool distribution to reduce miles and cost
- Automated freight audit and settlement to reduce billing disputes
- In-transit visibility and proactive exception management
Strengths & considerations
Strengths
- Genuine multimodal rating and optimization (TL, LTL, parcel, drayage) in one system
- Order-to-settlement coverage spanning planning, execution, and freight audit
- Serves both shippers and logistics service providers (3PLs/4PLs) on one platform
- Backed by Descartes' Global Logistics Network and visibility products post-acquisition
- Logistics marketplace model for ERP, WMS, and partner integrations
Considerations
- Terminology and workflows are shipper-centric, which some logistics-provider users find awkward
- Not designed for international freight forwarding (lacks HBL/HAWB, customs documents, forwarder invoicing)
- Strongest fit for North American domestic transportation rather than global forwarding
- Pricing is quote-based with no publicly published rates
- Implementation typically spans roughly 8 to 16 weeks
ERP integrations
Order and shipment data exchanged with ERP systems via the Integration Hub and logistics marketplace partners.
Integration with warehouse management systems for order and fulfillment data.
Order ingestion from e-commerce and omnichannel order sources.
Real-time freight visibility integration within the Descartes ecosystem.
Pricing
Pricing is not publicly listed; 3Gtms provides custom quotes based on requirements. Implementations are typically cited at roughly 8 to 16 weeks. Get an independent shortlist with pricing guidance below.
Technical & security
- Hosting
- Vendor-hosted SaaS (cloud)
- Mobile app
- No
About the vendor
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Shelton, Connecticut, USA
- Ownership
- Acquired by The Descartes Systems Group (Descartes) in March 2025 for USD 115 million
- Notable customers
- Koch Foods, Bemis Manufacturing, ISOFlex Packaging, Vesta Freight
Alternatives to 3Gtms in Transportation Management (TMS)
3Gtms — frequently asked questions
What is 3Gtms used for?
3Gtms is a cloud-based transportation management system that helps shippers, 3PLs, and 4PLs plan, optimize, execute, and settle freight across truckload, LTL, parcel, and drayage modes in a single platform.
Does 3Gtms integrate with ERP systems?
Yes. 3Gtms exchanges order and shipment data with ERP and WMS systems through its Integration Hub and logistics marketplace partners using API and EDI-based connections.
Is 3Gtms a good fit for freight forwarders?
3Gtms is built primarily for shippers and domestic North American transportation. Reviewers note it lacks forwarder-specific workflows such as house bills of lading, customs documentation, and forwarder invoicing, so it is less suited to international freight forwarding.
How much does 3Gtms cost?
3Gtms does not publish pricing. It uses a subscription model with custom quotes based on a buyer's requirements, and implementations are typically cited in the range of 8 to 16 weeks.
Who owns 3Gtms?
3Gtms was acquired by The Descartes Systems Group in March 2025 for USD 115 million and is now marketed as Descartes 3G TMS.
Evaluating Transportation Management (TMS)?
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