Why We Are Writing
Most freight technology content is written by software vendors, and it tends to end with a sales demo request. Ours will not. Strong Tower Consulting provides independent systems advisory. These playbooks are designed to help motor carriers, freight brokers, and private fleets make better decisions about the software, databases, and operational workflows you already run - whether or not you ever hire us.
Where operational software platforms are discussed, we reference real-world implementations from our sister company Exspeedite (such as Exspeedite TMS, the Pipeline shipper portal, or CheckPoint app-less tracking) alongside our vendor-neutral consulting advisory practices.
Transportation Management Systems (TMS) Strategy
Choosing, evaluating, implementing, and migrating the enterprise systems that run dispatch, rating, and operations.
How to Choose a TMS Without Getting Sold
Requirements, scripted vendor demos, weighted scoring, and the questions software vendors would rather you did not ask.
Read the guide TCO & PricingTMS Pricing Guide: SaaS vs On-Premise 5-Year TCO
An objective breakdown of user-seat fees, EDI markup, integration maintenance, and hidden capital costs for 25 to 500-truck fleets.
Read the guide Comparative ReviewBest TMS for Trucking Companies
An honest, vendor-neutral comparative evaluation of legacy platforms vs modern cloud transportation management systems.
Read the guide Legacy MigrationStay, Fix, or Move: A Legacy TMS Decision Guide
When to stay on your current system, when to fix broken workflows, and when to migrate - plus how to protect legacy data.
Read the guide ProcurementTMS RFP Template for Carriers & Brokers
A section-by-section RFP specification outline, scripted operational scenarios, and a weighted multi-department scoring model.
Read the guide ImplementationThe TMS Go-Live Checklist
Data migration cutover, sandbox verification, parallel dispatch runs, and surviving the first live billing and settlement cycles.
Read the guide M&A SystemsPost-Merger TMS Database Integration Playbook
How private equity and motor carriers consolidate two dispatch systems without dropping customer loads or missing driver pay.
Read the guide Technology AuditTrucking Technology Audit Checklist
A 50-point diagnostic framework across dispatch, multi-matrix rating, billing automation, settlements, and database resilience.
Read the guideData Engineering, SQL Analytics & Cybersecurity
Extracting high-margin intelligence from relational database tables and defending operational systems from business interruption.
Lane Profitability with SQL
Querying revenue per loaded mile, true deadhead cost, and customer margin directly from your relational database tables.
Read the guide Operational KPIsTrucking KPIs: The Metrics That Run a Carrier
Operating ratio, revenue per available tractor day, trailer velocity, and where the raw data lives inside your dispatch database.
Read the guide EDI ArchitectureEDI for Carriers: 204, 990, 214, 210 and 997 Explained
What each freight transaction does, how segments loop, where VAN costs spike, and how to automate transaction confirmation.
Read the guide CybersecurityTrucking Cybersecurity: Dispatch Continuity & Ransomware Defense
Air-gapped database backups, offsite transaction logging, ELD gateway isolation, and operational playbook for carrier survival.
Read the guide Business ContinuityBackups That Actually Restore
The 3-2-1 immutable backup rule applied to enterprise trucking SQL databases, RPO/RTO metrics, and monthly restore drill scripts.
Read the guideBilling, Revenue Recovery & Driver Settlements
Order-to-cash velocity, eliminating unbilled limbo loads, automated fuel surcharges, and audit-proof driver payroll settlements.
Unbilled Freight Revenue Recovery: Stopping Cash Flow Leaks
How carriers eliminate limbo delivered loads, recover unbilled accessorial detention, and shorten DSO from 48 to 18 days.
Read the guide Order to CashOrder to Cash in Trucking
From rate confirmation and mobile POD imaging to touchless batch invoicing, fuel surcharge indexing, and collections.
Read the guide Payroll AuditDriver Payroll & Deduction Audit: Settlement Reconciliation
Auditing lease purchase escrows, maintenance reserves, fuel advances, and percentage pay splits under federal Truth-in-Leasing rules.
Read the guide Driver PayDriver Settlements Without the Disputes
Clear pay tables, transparent mileage calculations, recurring deduction schedules, and statements drivers and contractors trust.
Read the guide IFTA ComplianceIFTA Without the Scramble
Reconciling ELD GPS jurisdiction mileage with fuel card FTP purchases before the quarter closes without spreadsheet chaos.
Read the guideExecutive Leadership & Industry Reference
Fractional CIO advisory models, specialized Truckmate consulting, executive company profiles, and our interactive freight vocabulary handbook.
Does Your Carrier Need a CIO?
When senior technology leadership pays for itself, and when an executive fractional CIO is the right fit for a growing fleet.
Read the guide Advisory ModelsFractional CIO vs vCIO vs MSP for Trucking
Which technology leadership model fits a mid-market carrier, and what strategic freight architecture each actually covers.
Read the guide Truckmate SupportTruckmate Support Options: Vendor, In-House, Independent
Comparing Trimble vendor maintenance, in-house database administrators, and independent third-party consulting expertise.
Read the guide Executive ProfileWho Is Strong Tower Consulting?
Minnesota transportation systems architect Scott Elliott, senior developer Duncan Stickings, and 18+ years of carrier technology.
Read the guide Industry ReferenceFreight Technology & Operations Glossary
150 plain-language definitions spanning ocean shipping, bulk tankers, cross-dock terminals, dispatch, EDI, and settlements.
Read the guideNeed an Independent Systems Review?
If your carrier is facing a critical technology evaluation, an acquisition systems merger, or persistent billing discrepancies, Strong Tower Consulting provides senior, vendor-neutral advisory. See how we work or request a technology assessment.
Truckmate, TMW Systems, and Trimble are trademarks of their respective owners. Strong Tower Consulting is an independent consulting firm and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Trimble or TMW Systems.