ERP Software for Freight & Shipping
Freight carriers and brokers operate on razor-thin margins where dispatching efficiency, load optimization, and carrier cost management determine profitability. ERP systems for freight and shipping must handle load tendering, driver dispatch, freight billing, fuel management, and FMCSA compliance in a tightly integrated platform that supports both asset-based and brokerage operations.
Compare ERP Systems for Freight & Shipping
Select up to 4 ERP vendors to compare side by side. Filtered to show systems with strong freight & shipping capabilities.
Key Challenges for Freight & Shipping
Optimizing load building and route planning to maximize truck utilization and minimize empty miles
Managing driver hours-of-service compliance and ELD data integration in real time
Reconciling freight billing against complex accessorial charge schedules and customer rate agreements
Controlling fuel costs across owner-operators and company drivers with IFTA tax reporting
Onboarding and vetting carrier partners for brokerage operations with insurance and authority verification
Providing shippers with real-time load status and proof-of-delivery documentation
Managing cash flow with quick-pay programs for owner-operators and factoring integrations
Best Freight & Shipping ERP for SMBs
Recommended for companies with $10M–$250M revenue and 10–200 employees.
NetSuite
mid-rangeCloud ERP providing solid freight billing, carrier payables, and financials for smaller freight brokers and regional carriers without the complexity of enterprise TMS platforms.
Best for: Small freight brokers and regional carriers needing unified financials and operations
Acumatica
mid-rangeFlexible cloud ERP with distribution modules adaptable to freight operations, strong financial management, and an open API for connecting carrier and telematics systems.
Best for: Growing freight companies seeking scalable cloud ERP
Aptean Ross
mid-rangeIndustry-focused ERP platform with distribution and logistics capabilities covering freight billing, procurement, and financials for mid-size freight operators.
Best for: Mid-size freight operators wanting a vertically focused ERP
Tecsys
mid-rangeSupply chain platform with strong freight billing, carrier settlement, and multi-client management capabilities for complex freight operations.
Best for: Freight companies managing complex multi-carrier billing and settlement
Infor CloudSuite Distribution
mid-rangeLogistics-capable ERP with strong inventory, purchasing, and order management modules that support freight and distribution operations.
Best for: Freight companies also managing distribution or warehousing operations
Extensiv
mid-rangeFreight and fulfillment platform with strong carrier connectivity, rate shopping, and parcel shipping capabilities for e-commerce and regional freight operators.
Best for: Parcel and e-commerce freight operators needing multi-carrier rate shopping
Best Freight & Shipping ERP for Enterprise
Recommended for companies with $250M+ revenue and complex multi-site operations.
Oracle TMS
enterpriseEnterprise-grade transportation management with global carrier connectivity, advanced load optimization, freight settlement, and deep integration with Oracle Financials Cloud.
Best for: Large freight carriers and shippers managing high-volume, multi-modal networks
SAP TM
enterpriseFull-featured transportation management integrated within SAP S/4HANA covering freight order management, carrier tendering, settlement, and customs compliance.
Best for: Enterprise freight operations embedded within the SAP ecosystem
Blue Yonder TMS
enterpriseAI-driven transportation platform with advanced load planning, dynamic carrier selection, and real-time freight visibility across complex carrier networks.
Best for: High-volume freight operators requiring AI-powered load optimization
Manhattan Associates TMS
enterpriseUnified platform for transportation and warehousing with strong carrier collaboration, freight optimization, and settlement capabilities at enterprise scale.
Best for: Integrated freight and warehouse operators managing end-to-end fulfillment
Essential ERP Capabilities for Freight & Shipping
Load building, optimization, and lane assignment for TL and LTL freight
Carrier tendering, bid management, and automated load acceptance workflows
Driver dispatch and hours-of-service compliance with ELD integration
Freight bill creation with accessorial charges and customer rate agreement enforcement
Carrier settlement and owner-operator pay calculation with quick-pay options
IFTA fuel tax tracking and reporting across fleet and lanes
Proof-of-delivery capture and document management with customer portal access
Real-time load tracking with GPS and telematics integration
Freight broker carrier onboarding with insurance certificate and authority verification
Factoring integration and cash flow management for carrier payables
Freight & Shipping ERP Cost Ranges
SMB
$50,000 – $180,000
10–35 users
Implementation: $35,000 – $130,000
Mid-Market
$180,000 – $750,000
35–150 users
Implementation: $130,000 – $550,000
Enterprise
$750,000 – $5,000,000+
150–2,000+ users
Implementation: $800,000 – $5,000,000+
Implementation Considerations
Map all accessorial charge rules and customer rate agreements before ERP configuration to avoid billing discrepancies at go-live
Plan ELD and telematics integrations early — driver HOS compliance data must flow into the ERP before go-live for regulatory reasons
Define carrier onboarding and vetting workflows for brokerage operations, including insurance verification and authority checks
Involve dispatchers and operations staff in user acceptance testing to validate load planning and tendering workflows
Establish an IFTA reporting process within the ERP and validate fuel tax calculations against historical data before going live
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a TMS and freight ERP?
A TMS (Transportation Management System) focuses on transportation execution — load planning, carrier tendering, tracking, and freight settlement. Freight ERP integrates these capabilities with accounting, driver payroll, fleet maintenance, HR, and customer management. Many large carriers run a best-of-breed TMS alongside a separate financial ERP, while mid-size operators benefit from an integrated platform.
Does freight ERP handle ELD compliance?
Most modern freight ERP platforms integrate with ELD vendors (Samsara, KeepTruckin/Motive, PeopleNet, Omnitracs) via API to pull hours-of-service data into dispatch and compliance workflows. Some platforms have native ELD modules. The ERP uses HOS data to flag drivers approaching limits and prevent illegal dispatch assignments.
How does ERP support freight brokerage operations?
Freight ERP for brokers includes carrier database management with insurance and authority verification, load-to-carrier matching, spot rate procurement, carrier pay management, and customer billing. Platforms like Oracle TMS and Blue Yonder support both asset and non-asset brokerage models, while smaller brokers often use specialized TMS platforms like Echo or MercuryGate.
What is IFTA and how does ERP automate IFTA reporting?
IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) requires carriers operating in multiple US states and Canadian provinces to report fuel purchased and miles driven by jurisdiction each quarter. ERP automates IFTA by capturing fuel receipts, integrating GPS miles-by-state data from telematics providers, calculating net tax owed per jurisdiction, and generating the quarterly IFTA return.
How does freight ERP handle accessorial charges?
Accessorial charges (detention, layover, fuel surcharge, liftgate, etc.) are configured as rate rules tied to specific customer agreements. When an accessorial condition is triggered during execution — such as a driver detained at a shipper — the system automatically generates the charge based on the customer's contracted rate, attaching it to the freight bill without manual entry.
Can freight ERP support both company drivers and owner-operators?
Yes. Leading freight ERP platforms maintain separate settlement logic for company drivers (payroll integration with mileage and HOS data) and owner-operators (per-load settlement with fuel advance, escrow, insurance deductions, and quick-pay options). Factoring integration allows owner-operators to receive immediate payment while the broker collects from the shipper.
What should I look for in a freight ERP for a growing broker?
Key capabilities for freight brokers include a robust carrier database with automated compliance monitoring, spot rate load boards integration (DAT, Truckstop.com), fast load-to-carrier matching, customer and carrier portals, automated freight billing, and strong financial reporting for margin analysis by customer, lane, and carrier.
What is the typical cost of freight ERP per truck?
For SMB carriers, total annual ERP and TMS cost typically ranges from $500–$1,500 per truck per year including software and implementation amortized over five years. Mid-size carriers using enterprise TMS platforms may spend $1,500–$3,000 per truck annually. These costs are typically offset by 3‒7% improvements in truck utilization and 2–5% reductions in freight cost through better carrier procurement.
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