In an industry where data flows are increasing at a rapid pace it’s nearly impossible to understand your logistics operation without a TMS. The days of collecting data over a long period, and then taking a few weeks to analyze it are over. If you want to have the most efficient supply chain (and of course you do), data analysis must occur in minutes rather than months.

This is more important than you might think. Longevity in logistics indicates a solid customer and carrier base, as well as, the ability to adapt to and adopt new technologies. You have to figure out what’s important to you in a logistics partner. A brokerage with less than a year under its belt and 100 new employees is a different operation from a brokerage that’s been around for decades with a team of 20-30 experienced professionals.

Agreements with brokers get negotiated via invoices. When making an agreement with the broker, the customer or carriers will issue an invoice for their loads that the broker agrees to pay upon completion of a given contract.