Managed Transportation Services That Put Shippers in Control
The Ideal Shipper Strategy for Complex Supply Chains
How Shippers Should Choose a Managed Transportation Partner
Selecting a managed transportation provider is not just about outsourcing freight execution—it is about choosing a long-term operating model for your supply chain. TLI has managed transportation programs for shippers across 40+ industries, reducing average freight costs by 4.2% in the first year. Managed transportation services are essential for top-tier businesses nationwide to scale rapidly leveraging these solutions.
The right partner will reduce transportation cost, improve visibility, and strengthen carrier performance over time. The wrong approach can leave you with fragmented supply chain data, inconsistent service levels, and rising logistics costs.
To make the right decision, shippers should evaluate managed transportation against the two most common alternatives: freight brokerage and in-house logistics teams. Freight brokerage is primarily a transactional model. It is designed to move individual shipments by sourcing available carrier capacity at the time of booking. While brokerage can be effective for spot freight or occasional shipments, it is not designed to optimize an entire supply chain.
Managed transportation shifts the focus from execution to optimization. Instead of simply booking freight, a managed transportation partner actively manages and improves the entire transportation ecosystem, including carriers, data, routing, and performance analytics.
With a managed transportation model, shippers gain:
- A centralized transportation strategy across all modes
- Continuous carrier performance management and optimization
- Data-driven cost reduction initiatives over time
- Standardized routing guides and procurement strategy
- Full visibility into spend, service, and carrier behavior
This turns transportation from a reactive cost center into a controlled, optimized supply chain function.
Is Managed Transportation Right for You?
Managed transportation delivers the greatest value for shippers who meet one or more of these criteria:
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You ship more than 50 loads per month.List Item 1
At this volume, rate management, carrier optimization, and data reporting generate measurable savings that justify a managed program.
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You're managing multiple shipping locations.List Item 2
Centralizing freight operations through a single managed provider creates consistency, eliminates redundancy, and gives corporate leadership cross-location visibility.
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Your freight costs are growing faster than your revenue growth.List Item 3
A managed transportation partner introduces cost controls: freight auditing, contracted pricing, and mode optimization, that bring spending back in line
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You lack internal transportation expertise and TMS technology.List Item 4
Instead of building and training an in-house logistics team, a managed provider gives you immediate access to carrier relationships, industry knowledge, and technology at a fraction of the cost.
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You're still manually routing shipments.
If your team is calling carriers or using email to book freight, you're losing hours per week and leaving savings on the table. TLI's managed program automates tendering, tracking, and reporting.
Managed Transportation Services
MANAGE DATA. DELEGATE PROBLEMS.
Implement a forward-thinking approach to boost logistics scalability and visibility using data-driven decision-making. Instead of tackling shipments one by one, oversee the entire supply chain by harnessing the power of big data.
- ERP Integration
- Mode Optimization
- Carrier Sourcing
- RFP Management
- Dedicated Account Manager
- Business Intelligence Dashboards
- Supply Chain Analysis
GAIN CONTROL. SHARE VISIBILITY.
Shippers crave control, and TLI ensures order by furnishing supply chain data for informed decision-making. Our comprehensive, managed transportation program empowers shippers to take command of your logistics network.
- Process Improvement
- Business Analytics
- Tracking Reports
- Carrier Scorecards
- Claim Management
- Dedicated Support
- KPI Reporting
SUPPLY CHAIN TECHNOLOGY
Enhance your freight management system with ViewPoint TMS (Transportation Management System), crafted to streamline supply chain processes and equip your team with essential tools for efficient operations. Our managed logistics technology offers control and visibility over your supply chain. Fueled by data and actionable insights, you hold the key to elevating your business's value.
CONTROL. CONSISTENCY. COMPLETION.
TLI's Inbound Freight Management program presents a comprehensive array of tools and services, adaptable to the specific requirements of your supply chain. Utilizing our Transportation Management System, we can furnish your vendors with access to a vendor routing portal.
Collaboratively, we'll craft a managed logistics program aligned with your distinct strategy. Employing lean workflows, we'll collaborate to meet stringent deadlines, optimize freight costs, and streamline logistics effortlessly. Our seasoned transportation partner professionals will immerse themselves in your supply chain, enabling you to stay competitive in the market.
Managed Logistics Strategy
Are you the ideal shipper for a managed logistics program?
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Managed Transportation Technology
Managed transportation entails entrusting freight and logistics tasks to a third-party logistics provider (3PL) or logistics service provider (LSP), encompassing activities such as carrier procurement, rate management, load tendering execution, least cost provider optimization, cargo claim and freight audit and payment.
Outsourcing managed transportation offers advantages to shippers seeking enhanced efficiency in their operations and streamlined logistics and supply chains. Given these benefits, it is a prevalent practice for both large enterprises and small businesses to delegate managed transportation to 3PLs and LSPs.
LTL & Truckload shippers looking for a reliable and efficient 3PL logistics management provider should look no further than TLI. With Translogistics' complete transportation management solutions, advanced technology platform, cost-effective strategies, experienced team, and exceptional customer service, TLI is the top 3PL truckload and LTL brokerage provider. Choose TLI, based out of Exton PA, for all your transportation management needs, and experience the benefits of working with a top-notch logistics provider.
What Are the Benefits of Managed Transportation?
Managed transportation helps shippers improve efficiency, reduce costs, and gain better control over their supply chain by outsourcing freight management to a specialized provider. Through delegating these logistics services to industry experts shippers benefit from higher fright claim settlements, better transportation analytics technology, along with better pricing.
By working with a 3PL or logistics solutions provider like Translogistics, shippers can improve their operations processing and gain access to TMS tools, supply chain expertise, and motor carrier networks that are difficult to build in-house.
Key Benefits of Managed Transportation:
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1. Lower Transportation Costs Through Formal Transportation RFPsList Item 1
Managed transportation providers secure better freight rates through the use of logistics technology to launch individuated transportation RFPs and offer freight consolidation to reduce overall shipping spend. With enough volume, shippers can benefit from custom FSC tables, and unique accessorial programs tailored to actual historic use of prior shipments.
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2. Greater Freight Capacity AccessList Item 2
Shippers gain access to a broader carrier network, helping secure capacity even during peak demand or tight market conditions.
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3. Improved Supply Chain VisibilityList Item 3
Advanced tracking tools and dashboards that display detailed shipment history improve visibility and give you greater control over supply chain data management.
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4. Better Use of Internal ResourcesList Item 4
Outsourcing transportation management allows internal teams to focus on core business functions instead of day-to-day freight coordination. No more repeated follow-ups on a freight claim dispute, or correcting a motor carrier billing issue as these responsibilities can be delegated to the managed logistics partner.
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5. Stronger Shipping Performance and KPI Tracking
Managed transportation programs monitor key metrics such as cost per shipment, cost per pound, cost per mile, average transit times by carrier, and overall carrier performance, including claims ratios, to drive continuous improvement.
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6. Freight Invoice Audit
TLI's freight audit team reviews every invoice for billing errors, carrier overcharges, and duplicate billing, a step that typically recovers 2.3% of total annualized LTL freight spend for managed clients
Managed Transportation Process
A Fully Managed, End-to-End Transportation Model
Shippers partner with us because we handle the entire transportation lifecycle:
- Carrier sourcing and procurement
- Shipment planning and optimization
- Load execution and tracking
- Performance monitoring and reporting
- Continuous cost and service improvement
This allows your internal team to focus on core business operations while transportation becomes more efficient and controlled.
Data-Driven Carrier Optimization
One of the most overlooked benefits of managed transportation is scalability. Whether you are growing into new regions, handling seasonal spikes, or consolidating supply chain operations, the model adjusts without requiring additional hiring or infrastructure.
This is especially valuable for companies that are growing quickly or operating across multiple distribution points. Instead of relying on static rate sheets or transactional booking decisions, we use performance data to continuously improve your carrier mix.
This includes tracking:
- Cost per shipment
- Transit time performance
- Carrier reliability and service consistency
- Claims and damage ratios
- Lane-level optimization opportunities
Over time, this leads to a more efficient and predictable transportation network.
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ProcureList Item 1
- RFP and carrier bid management
- Rating and capacity market intelligence
- Carrier compliance and vetting
- Finding appropriate carrier capacity mode specific
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RateList Item 2
- Rating Engine for All Modes of Transportation
- Customer Allowance Management
- Inbound Vendor Routing Program
- Spot Quote Management
- Dynamic Routing Guides
- Density Calculator
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PlanList Item 3
- Mode, Equipment Type, and Carrier Optimization
- Load and Route Planning
- Least Cost Provider Accountability
- Inbound Vendor Optimization
- Outbound Shipment Program
- Analytics and Scenario Builder
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ExecuteList Item 4
- Load Creation
- Autotendering and Booking to Carrier
- Multi-stop Loads
- Tracking Visibility via API and Macropoint GPS Tracking
- Exception Management (Lost or Damaged Freight)
- Proof of Delivery Document Management
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Solve
- Freight Bill Audit
- Invoice and Freight Claim Management
- Complex Cost Allocation
- Automated GL Coding
- Cost Center Coding
- FSC and Accessorial Management
- Reclassification and Reweigh Disputing
Learn About Managed Logistics Solutions:
Choosing how to manage transportation is one of the most important decisions a shipper can make. The wrong model can lead to higher costs, poor visibility, and inconsistent carrier performance. The right model creates a more controlled, data-driven, and scalable supply chain.
Below is a clear comparison of managed transportation, freight brokerage, and in-house logistics operations, so you can determine the best fit for your business.
Managed Transportation vs Freight Brokerage
Freight brokerage is often used for transactional shipping needs. A broker acts as an intermediary between shippers and carriers, sourcing capacity and negotiating rates on a load-by-load basis. While this model can be effective for spot freight or low-volume shippers, it is limited when it comes to long-term optimization and strategic control.
Key Limitations of Freight Brokerage
Freight brokerage is reactive by design. It focuses on moving individual shipments rather than improving the overall supply chain.
This creates several challenges:
- Limited visibility into long-term transportation spend
- Inconsistent carrier selection across shipments
- Fewer opportunities for network optimization
- Minimal control over carrier performance trends
- Limited ability to reduce cost per shipment over time
Because brokers are typically focused on executing transactions, they are not always incentivized to improve long-term efficiency or drive structural savings.
How Managed Transportation Is Different than Freight Brokerage
Managed transportation is a strategic, outsourced transportation management model. Instead of handling shipments one at a time, a managed transportation provider takes ownership of the entire transportation function. This includes planning, procurement, execution, tracking, performance management, and continuous optimization.
With a managed transportation program, shippers benefit from:
- A centralized transportation strategy instead of ad hoc execution
- Carrier optimization based on performance data—not just availability
- Continuous cost reduction initiatives
- Full visibility into transportation spend and performance metrics
- Dedicated transportation experts acting as an extension of your team
Rather than reacting to freight needs, managed transportation proactively improves how freight moves over time.
When Freight Brokerage Still Makes Sense
Freight brokerage is still useful in specific cases, such as:
- One-time or irregular shipments
- Overflow capacity needs
- Non-core lanes or markets
- Emergency or spot freight situations
However, when shipping becomes consistent, complex, or high-volume, brokerage alone often becomes a cost center rather than a strategic advantage. TLI offers shippers both managed services along with a team that specializes in the brokerage services so you get the best of both worlds where it makes the most sense for your supply chain.
Managed Transportation vs In-House Logistics Team
Some companies choose to build an internal logistics or transportation department. This model gives full control over carrier relationships, routing decisions, and transportation planning.
While this can work for some unique large enterprises, it comes with significant operational and financial overhead.
Challenges of Building an In-House Transportation Team
Operating transportation internally requires ongoing investment in people, technology systems, and carrier relationships.
Common challenges include:
- High fixed labor costs (dispatchers, analysts, managers, procurement staff)
- Difficulty scaling during volume spikes or seasonal demand
- Limited access to broad carrier networks and negotiated rates
- Heavy dependence on internal expertise and turnover risk
- Continuous investment in Transportation Management Systems (TMS) and integrations
Even well-staffed internal teams can struggle to match the optimization capabilities of a dedicated managed transportation provider with a broader network and data set. This is because they are equipped with the right technology tools and relationships to do the job. Without the proper technology, even the best intentioned in-house teammate will not have as much success as a managed logistics specialists. Often the cost to purchase that technology alone is a higher cost than just partnering with the logistics solutions provider who will offer these services, including the technology, all in one package.
Advantages of Managed Transportation Over In-House Teams
Managed transportation delivers the benefits of an experienced logistics department without the overhead and complexity of building one internally.
With a managed transportation partner, shippers gain:
- Immediate access to established carrier networks and buying power
- Experienced transportation professionals already trained and in place
- Advanced analytics and optimization tools without system investment
- Scalable operations that flex with business demand
- Continuous improvement without increasing internal headcount
Instead of building a logistics department from scratch, companies can plug into a fully functioning transportation organization on day one.
MANAGED TRANSPORTATION FAQ:
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What is managed transportation in logistics?List Item 1
Managed transportation is the outsourcing of freight management activities: including carrier selection, rate management, load tendering, tracking, and freight audit to a licensed third-party logistics provider (3PL) or logistics service provider (LSP).
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Can TLI manage both inbound and outbound shipments?List Item 3
Yes. TLI's managed transportation program covers both outbound freight (from your facility to customers) and inbound freight (from vendors and suppliers to your facility) through a vendor routing portal and dynamic inbound shipping program.
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Does TLI provide a TMS as part of managed transportation?List Item 2
Yes. TLI's managed transportation program is powered by Viewpoint, TLI's proprietary cloud-based Transportation Management System. Viewpoint integrates with most ERP systems and provides real-time quoting, tracking, and business intelligence dashboards.
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How is managed transportation different from a standard freight broker?List Item 1
A standard freight broker arranges individual shipments. A managed transportation provider oversees your entire freight program: including strategy, TMS technology, shipment analytics, reporting, and carrier management. Managed logistics solutions when properly onboarded are acting as an extension of your internal logistics team.
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Is freight auditing included in managed transportation?List Item 3
Yes. TLI includes freight invoice auditing as a core component of managed transportation, reviewing every carrier invoice for billing errors, overcharges, duplicate billing, and reclassification disputes before charges are approved for payment.
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How long does it take to set up a managed transportation program with TLI?List Item 2
Onboarding timelines vary based on freight volume and ERP integration complexity, but most shippers are fully operational within 4–8 weeks. To simply route a shipment, we can get up and running same-day, but if we are going to be launching custom RFPs, and building custom FSC tables and accessorial tables it takes weeks to negotiate back and forth with motor carriers. TLI handles carrier setup, rate loading, TMS configuration, and vendor routing portal access as part of implementation.