What is the main function of a transportation management system (TMS)?

A transportation management system (TMS) plays a critical role in streamlining and optimizing the planning and execution of transport operations. Its primary function is to enhance the efficiency of transportation logistics by providing tools and functionalities that assist in route planning, load optimization, carrier selection, and real-time tracking of shipments. By facilitating these operations, a TMS can help organizations reduce transportation costs, improve customer service levels, and enhance overall supply chain performance.

While other functions mentioned, such as managing employee schedules and documenting customs compliance, are important aspects of logistics and supply chain management, they are not the primary focus of a TMS. Similarly, forecasting shipping rates, while beneficial, falls outside the core operational capabilities of a TMS, which is fundamentally about managing and improving the flow of goods in transit.