---
title: What Is Your ROI On A TMS When It’s Free To Use?
description: The ROI of a free TMS varies, but having full insight into your shipments' status can lead to significant savings. Let's explore the costs of a TMS.
image: https://blog.customodal.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/roi2.jpg
---

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# What Is Your ROI On A TMS When It’s Free To Use?

TAGS:

- [Blog](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/blog)
- [3pl](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/3pl)
- [Logistics](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/logistics)
- [Freight Brokerage](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight-brokerage)
- [Inbound Freight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/inbound-freight)
- [Digital Freight Management](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/digital-freight-management)
- [Shipping](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/shipping)
- [supply chain](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/supply-chain)
- [Freight Costs](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight-costs)
- [Outbound Freight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/outbound-freight)
- [Specialized Freight Management](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/specialized-freight-management)
- [Technology](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/technology)
- [Freight Forwarding](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight-forwarding)
- [TMS](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/tms)
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- [freight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight)
- [Featured](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/featured)
- [Freight Savings](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight-savings)
- [Logistics Planning](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/logistics-planning)
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- [Digital Freight Brokering](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/digital-freight-brokering)
- [supply chain challenges](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/supply-chain-challenges)
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- [outbound](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/outbound)
- [Critical Infrastructure](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/critical-infrastructure)
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- [Tracking](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/tracking)
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- [sustainability](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/sustainability)
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- [documentation](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/documentation)
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- [inbound freight costs](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/inbound-freight-costs)
- [incoterms](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/incoterms)
- [meet the team](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/meet-the-team)
- [ocean freight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/ocean-freight)
- [parcel](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/parcel)
- [save money](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/save-money)
- [supplychain](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/supplychain)
- [Carrier Selection](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/carrier-selection)
- [Critical Freight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/critical-freight)
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- [Freight Claims](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight-claims)
- [Risk Mitigation](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/risk-mitigation)
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- [current events](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/current-events)
- [inbound](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/inbound)
- [priority1](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/priority1)
- [recession](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/recession)
- [shipping delay](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/shipping-delay)
- [4pl](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/4pl)
- [Analytics](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/analytics)
- [Customs](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/customs)
- [Dock Management](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/dock-management)
- [Downtime](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/downtime)
- [FLEX Freight Control](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/flex-freight-control)
- [Heavy Haul](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/heavy-haul)
- [International](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/international)
- [SDK](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/sdk)
- [Strategic Outsourcing](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/strategic-outsourcing)
- [book review](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/book-review)
- [canada](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/canada)
- [covid 19](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/covid-19)
- [customodal way](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/customodal-way)
- [delivery](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/delivery)
- [digital freight broking](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/digital-freight-broking)
- [exports](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/exports)
- [freight broker](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight-broker)
- [ftl](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/ftl)
- [holidays](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/holidays)
- [in the news](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/in-the-news)
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- [shipping news](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/shipping-news)
- [shipping solutions](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/shipping-solutions)
- [small parcel audit](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/small-parcel-audit)
- [small parcel refunds](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/small-parcel-refunds)
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- [update](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/update)
- [2022](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/2022)
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- [EXACT](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/exact)
- [Electrical Utilities](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/electrical-utilities)
- [Freight Control](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight-control)
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- [Hawaii](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/hawaii)
- [Hazmat](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/hazmat)
- [In-House Fleet vs Virtual Fleet](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/in-house-fleet-vs-virtual-fleet)
- [Inbound Shipping Skills](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/inbound-shipping-skills)
- [Inventory Management](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/inventory-management)
- [JIT](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/jit)
- [Jones Act](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/jones-act)
- [LCL](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/lcl)
- [Maintenance Logistics](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/maintenance-logistics)
- [Midwest](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/midwest)
- [Oversized](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/oversized)
- [Puerto Rico](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/puerto-rico)
- [Reverse Logistics](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/reverse-logistics)
- [air freight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/air-freight)
- [all risk shippers protection](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/all-risk-shippers-protection)
- [asset based](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/asset-based)
- [automated audits](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/automated-audits)
- [automated refunds](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/automated-refunds)
- [benjamin lorr](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/benjamin-lorr)
- [broker](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/broker)
- [bullwhip](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/bullwhip)
- [carmack](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/carmack)
- [central wisconsin manufacturing](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/central-wisconsin-manufacturing)
- [cheap logistics](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/cheap-logistics)
- [china](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/china)
- [choose local](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/choose-local)
- [cip](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/cip)
- [coronavirus](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/coronavirus)
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- [ctb](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/ctb)
- [cybersecurity](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/cybersecurity)
- [dan hendrickson](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/dan-hendrickson)
- [dap](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/dap)
- [dayton freight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/dayton-freight)
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- [diy shipping](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/diy-shipping)
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- [e-commerce](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/e-commerce)
- [ebol](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/ebol)
- [exporting](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/exporting)
- [factoring](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/factoring)
- [freight damage](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight-damage)
- [freight jobs](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freight-jobs)
- [freightforwarding](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/freightforwarding)
- [from the forest](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/from-the-forest)
- [fuel surcharge](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/fuel-surcharge)
- [fulltruckload](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/fulltruckload)
- [glossary](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/glossary)
- [holiday shipping](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/holiday-shipping)
- [how to switch ltl](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/how-to-switch-ltl)
- [importing](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/importing)
- [inboundfreight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/inboundfreight)
- [industry 4.0](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/industry-4-0)
- [insurance](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/insurance)
- [insurance claim](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/insurance-claim)
- [last mile](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/last-mile)
- [location](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/location)
- [logistics coordinator](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/logistics-coordinator)
- [low cost shipping](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/low-cost-shipping)
- [maritimeshipping](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/maritimeshipping)
- [michael standley](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/michael-standley)
- [mycarrier](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/mycarrier)
- [newsletter](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/newsletter)
- [non-performance refunds](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/non-performance-refunds)
- [ocean shipping](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/ocean-shipping)
- [onboarding](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/onboarding)
- [our values](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/our-values)
- [outboundfreight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/outboundfreight)
- [outsource](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/outsource)
- [overview](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/overview)
- [pallet](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/pallet)
- [pandemic](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/pandemic)
- [parcel audit](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/parcel-audit)
- [parcel refunds](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/parcel-refunds)
- [parcel shipping](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/parcel-shipping)
- [partnership](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/partnership)
- [permits](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/permits)
- [predications](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/predications)
- [purchasing management](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/purchasing-management)
- [questions](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/questions)
- [reshoring](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/reshoring)
- [risk management](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/risk-management)
- [rose george](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/rose-george)
- [routing guide](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/routing-guide)
- [save time](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/save-time)
- [sea freight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/sea-freight)
- [seafreight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/seafreight)
- [shipment](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/shipment)
- [shipping 101](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/shipping-101)
- [shipping clerk](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/shipping-clerk)
- [shipping costs](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/shipping-costs)
- [skid](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/skid)
- [staff](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/staff)
- [standley](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/standley)
- [supply chain resilience](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/supply-chain-resilience)
- [team](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/team)
- [testimonial](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/testimonial)
- [trade show shipping](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/trade-show-shipping)
- [transportation](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/transportation)
- [transportation management](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/transportation-management)
- [truck broker](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/truck-broker)
- [truckload specialist](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/truckload-specialist)
- [ups shipping](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/ups-shipping)
- [yellow](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/yellow)

#### Recent Articles

[ How Manufacturers Can Lower LTL Costs Without Hurting Service ](https://blog.customodal.com/how-manufacturers-can-lower-ltl-costs-without-hurting-service)

[ When Should Manufacturers Rebid Freight Contracts? ](https://blog.customodal.com/when-should-manufacturers-rebid-freight-contracts)

[ LTL vs Truckload: Which Is More Cost-Effective for Manufacturers? ](https://blog.customodal.com/ltl-vs-truckload-which-is-more-cost-effective-for-manufacturers)

[ How to Audit Your Freight Spend in 30 Days ](https://blog.customodal.com/how-to-audit-your-freight-spend-in-30-days)

[ Contract Freight vs Spot Freight for Manufacturers ](https://blog.customodal.com/contract-freight-vs-spot-freight-for-manufacturers)

[** PREVIOUS ARTICLE ](https://blog.customodal.com/how-the-pandemic-is-driving-more-supply-chains-to-source-closer-to-home)

[ NEXT ARTICLE ** ](https://blog.customodal.com/expedited-shipping-a-primer)

[Customodaladmin](https://blog.customodal.com/author/customodaladmin) January 26, 2021

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What is your Return On Investment on a [Transportation Management System](https://customodal.com/controlling-transportation-costs/) (TMS) when it’s free to use? It depends. 

While we can’t provide an exact dollar amount you’ll save with full insight into your shipments’ status, you can bet it’s a lot.

## What is the Estimated Cost of a Transportation Management System?

First, let’s examine the average costs of a TMS. If you buy a TMS license outright, expect to pay somewhere between $10,000 and $250,000, and don’t forget to account for support and maintenance fees.

The pricing for a cloud-based TMS is based on a price per freight load booked. Generally, they’re somewhere between $1.00 to $4.00 per load. You may have to pay for initial training or support services too. Let’s average the cloud price to $2.50 a load, now multiply that times your company’s number of annual shipments. 

## Three Additional Ways You’ll Boost Your ROI with a TMS

Now that you have an idea of what it would cost you add it to your savings bucket for the return on a *free* to use TMS. Here are five other ways you’ll boost your ROI.

1. You and your team will save time and money comparing rates and scheduling shipments.
2. Real-time tracking and visibility of your shipments will allow you to address any issues before they become real problems. This is critical for time-sensitive loads that can spoil or are simply on a deadline.
3. Inefficiencies and areas that require changes to grow your business will become clear.

Access to a TMS will change your business. It can eliminate the need to jump around different carrier websites to quote or track shipments and improve your customer satisfaction rates.

### Get Free Access to a TMS by Partnering with Customodal

Partnering with Customodal gives you direct access to a state of the art, mobile-ready TMS portal. It also provides reliable support from logistics experts with industry connections that can help your business. 

Interested in learning more more about Transportation Management Systems?  Read this [article](https://customodal.com/blog/tms-101-every-shipper-needs-a-transportation-management-system/) on why Every Shipper Needs A TMS.

Ready to see how much you can save in transportation costs with Customodal? [Contact us](https://customodal.com/contact-customodal/) to get started.

[Inbound-Outbound Freight](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/inbound-outbound-freight) [Blog](https://blog.customodal.com/tag/blog)

## Related Articles

[![Long-Awaited Pallet Label Fix Available in TMS](https://blog.customodal.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/pallet-label-fix-available.jpg) ](https://blog.customodal.com/long-awaited-pallet-label-fix-available-in-tms)

## [Long-Awaited Pallet Label Fix Available in TMS](https://blog.customodal.com/long-awaited-pallet-label-fix-available-in-tms)

 We’re excited to announce a long-awaited fix in our TMS that rolled out in February, specifically addressing pallet labels for multi-pallet...

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[![TMS 101: Every Shipper Needs a Transportation Management System](https://blog.customodal.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/it1-customodal-370x660-1-4.jpg) ](https://blog.customodal.com/tms-101-every-shipper-needs-a-transportation-management-system)

## [TMS 101: Every Shipper Needs a Transportation Management System](https://blog.customodal.com/tms-101-every-shipper-needs-a-transportation-management-system)

 Does your organization use a TMS? Manufacturers, distributors, and anyone who ships freight can and should reap the benefits of a transportation...

[Read More >](https://blog.customodal.com/tms-101-every-shipper-needs-a-transportation-management-system)

[Customodaladmin](https://blog.customodal.com/author/customodaladmin)

 Sep 2020

[![Explained: The Distinction Between Pallets and Individual Pieces Within Priority 1’s Cabo TMS](https://blog.customodal.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cabo-tms-pallet-explained.jpg) ](https://blog.customodal.com/explained-the-distinction-between-pallets-and-individual-pieces-within-priority-1s-cabo-tms)

## [Explained: The Distinction Between Pallets and Individual Pieces Within Priority 1’s Cabo TMS](https://blog.customodal.com/explained-the-distinction-between-pallets-and-individual-pieces-within-priority-1s-cabo-tms)

 One common point of feedback we’ve received during the transition from TFWW to Priority 1 pertains to the distinction between pallets and individual...

[Read More >](https://blog.customodal.com/explained-the-distinction-between-pallets-and-individual-pieces-within-priority-1s-cabo-tms)

[Mike Eberl](https://blog.customodal.com/author/mike-eberl)

 Nov 2023

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