Why we are writing
Most freight technology content is written by software vendors, and it tends to end with a demo request. Ours won't. Strong Tower Consulting is independent advisory, and these guides are meant to help you make better decisions about the systems and data you already have, whether or not you ever hire us.
Each guide is grounded in the work we do every day: TMS selections and go-lives, upgrades, SQL reporting, integrations, and support for carriers since 2008.
Technology Decisions
Choosing, keeping, replacing, and leading the systems that run your operation.
How to Choose a TMS Without Getting Sold
Requirements, demos, scoring, and the questions vendors would rather you didn't ask.
Read the guide Legacy TMSStay, Fix, or Move: A Legacy TMS Decision Guide
When to stay, when to fix, and when to move, plus how to protect your data at cutover.
Read the guide ImplementationThe TMS Go-Live Checklist
Data conversion, testing, training, cutover, and the first billing and settlement cycles.
Read the guide LeadershipDoes Your Carrier Need a CIO?
When senior technology leadership pays off, and when a fractional CIO is the right fit.
Read the guideData & Reporting
Getting answers out of the data your TMS already collects, and keeping that data safe.
Lane Profitability with SQL
Revenue per mile, deadhead, and margin by lane and customer, from data you already have.
Read the guide IntegrationEDI for Carriers: 204, 990, 214, 210 and 997 Explained
What each transaction does, how they fit together, and where EDI setups usually break.
Read the guide Data ProtectionBackups That Actually Restore
Protecting the system that runs dispatch, billing, and settlements, and proving you can get it back.
Read the guideOperations & Back Office
Billing, settlements, and compliance work that decides whether the month closes clean.
Order to Cash in Trucking
From order entry and POD capture to invoicing, accessorials, and collections.
Read the guide SettlementsDriver Settlements Without the Disputes
Clear pay rules, clean load data, and statements drivers and owner-operators can trust.
Read the guide ComplianceIFTA Without the Scramble
Getting fuel purchase and mileage data clean before the quarter closes.
Read the guideReference
Want to go deeper with help? Our practice pages cover these topics in depth. Start with TMS Selection & Advisory, Legacy TMS Advisory & Migration, SQL Data Mining & Analytics, ELD, EDI & Back-Office Integration, or Data Protection & Continuity.
From our archive
We have been writing for carriers for a long time. Earlier posts on our site covered:
- Trimble's agreement to acquire TMW Systems (2012). Our view at the time was that the deal was good for TMW customers, and that we expected continued development of Truckmate.
- TransForum 2013 User Conference. An invitation to meet our team at the Anaheim Convention Center, September 22 to 25, 2013.
- The Impact of Technology in the Trucking Industry (2020). How changing technology is pushing even veteran trucking companies to rethink their technology strategies.
See where these fit in our company history.
Have a question you want answered?
Tell us what you are wrestling with, whether that's a TMS decision, a messy report, or an integration that keeps failing. Good questions often become our next guide. Send us your question.
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.