Nobody owns technology
In many freight companies, technology belongs to whoever has time for it. The controller handles the accounting system and the software renewals. The operations manager deals with the TMS vendor and the ELD provider. A local IT shop keeps the network running. The owner signs the contracts. Everyone does their part, but nobody is looking at the whole picture or thinking about where it needs to be in two years.
That works until it doesn't. The signs:
- Vendors set the agenda. Renewals, upgrades and new modules happen on the vendor's schedule, at the vendor's price.
- Projects stall. A TMS upgrade, an EDI onboarding or an accounting change starts and then drifts because nobody is driving it.
- No budget. Technology spending is a series of surprises instead of a plan.
- Hidden risk. Nobody can say for sure that backups work, who has access to what, or how long the company could run if the TMS went down.
- Leadership is guessing. Big decisions, like a new system, a cloud move or an acquisition, get made without an experienced technology voice in the room.
A full-time CIO solves this, but most carriers, brokers and fleets don't have the scale for that salary. A fractional CIO gives you the same leadership for the hours you actually need.
What a Fractional Freight CIO does
Think of it as having a senior technology executive on your leadership team, part time. Strong Tower Consulting brings the strategy, planning and project discipline from our other practices into one ongoing relationship. We've been doing this kind of work for carriers since 2008, including serving as an adjunct project manager inside client companies.
Own the roadmap
We build and maintain your technology roadmap, tied to your business goals, and keep it current as the business changes. New customers, new freight types, new terminals and acquisitions all get reflected in the plan. See IT Strategy & Planning for how the roadmap is built.
Manage the budget
We set an annual technology budget covering licenses, subscriptions, renewals, hardware, projects and support, then track spending against it. Renewals stop being surprises, and every dollar is tied to a reason.
Hold vendors accountable
Your TMS vendor, ELD and telematics provider, EDI provider, accounting software, imaging system, fuel card program and IT support company all need someone on your side who knows what to ask. We review contracts and renewals, escalate support issues, negotiate where it makes sense, and make sure each vendor delivers what you're paying for.
Run the project list
We keep one prioritized list of technology projects and make sure the important ones get done: TMS upgrades, new EDI trading partners, ELD changes, report and settlement statement updates, data cleanup, office moves and system changes. For large efforts we manage the project directly through our Project & Program Management practice.
Protect the business
We oversee backups, disaster recovery, user access, password and multi-factor policies, and ransomware readiness, and we make sure there's a plan for what happens if the TMS, the network or a key person is unavailable. Deeper work goes to our Data Protection & Business Continuity practice.
Report to leadership
We give ownership a regular, plain-language view of technology: what's done, what's next, what it costs, what the risks are, and what decisions are needed. When the leadership team is weighing a big move, you have an experienced freight technology voice in the room.
Independent by design
Strong Tower Consulting never requires you to buy our software. Our sister company, Exspeedite, builds a TMS, and that background helps us understand yours. As your fractional CIO, our only job is to get the most out of the technology that's right for your company, whoever makes it.
I have known Scott Elliot for many years and he has worked as an adjunct employee/project manager for our company.
How the retainer works
Every company is different, so the retainer is scoped to fit. A typical arrangement includes:
| Rhythm | What happens |
|---|---|
| Onboarding | A technology assessment of systems, vendors, contracts, data flows, security and support, which becomes the baseline roadmap and budget |
| Regular check-ins | Scheduled sessions with your operations, finance and IT contacts to work the project list and clear roadblocks |
| Leadership review | A periodic summary for ownership: progress, spending, risks and decisions needed |
| Annual planning | Roadmap refresh and next year's technology budget, aligned with your business plan |
| On call for decisions | A technology voice when a vendor proposal, an outage, a new customer requirement or an acquisition comes up |
Work is a mix of on-site and remote. Busy stretches, like a go-live or an upgrade, may need more time; quiet months need less. We agree on scope up front and adjust it as your needs change. Our general approach is described on How We Work.
The first ninety days
The early months set the foundation. We start by learning how the company runs, from order entry and dispatch to billing, settlements and month-end close, and by meeting each technology vendor and support provider. We gather every contract and renewal date into one place, confirm that backups exist and can actually be restored, and review who has access to the TMS, accounting and email systems. From there we agree on a short list of priorities with leadership, so the first wins are the ones that matter most to the business: a stalled upgrade restarted, a fragile interface documented, a renewal renegotiated before it auto-renews, or a reporting gap closed so ownership can see revenue per mile and AR aging without waiting on a spreadsheet.
Fractional CIO, full-time hire or IT support provider?
| Option | Best fit |
|---|---|
| IT support provider | Keeping computers, networks and users running day to day. Doesn't usually set strategy or manage your freight software vendors. |
| Full-time CIO or IT director | Larger operations with enough technology work to fill a full-time executive role. |
| Fractional Freight CIO | Companies that need executive-level technology leadership and freight software knowledge, but not forty hours a week of it. |
The options aren't exclusive. A fractional CIO often directs the IT support provider, and when a company grows into a full-time role, we help define it and hand over the roadmap, documentation and vendor relationships.
Who this is for
Owners, presidents and CFOs at carriers, brokerages and 3PLs, private fleets, intermodal operators and cartage companies, especially if:
- Technology decisions currently fall to the controller, the operations manager or the owner
- You have a small IT team or an outside support company but no one setting direction
- A big change is coming, like a TMS replacement, an acquisition or rapid growth
- Your full-time IT leader has left and you need coverage while you decide what's next
- You want someone who understands rating, dispatch, settlements and EDI, not just servers
With a Strong Tower advisor in the CIO seat, technology becomes something you manage instead of something that happens to you. For companies weighing a purchase, we also offer Carrier M&A Tech Due Diligence.
Frequently asked questions
What is a fractional freight CIO?
A part-time technology executive who works with your company on an ongoing basis. You get the planning, vendor management, budgeting, project oversight and security leadership of a CIO, scaled to the hours your company needs, from someone who understands freight operations.
How is this different from our IT support provider?
An IT support provider fixes computers, networks and user issues. A fractional CIO decides where technology should go, holds vendors accountable, manages the budget and the project list, and reports to leadership. The two work together, and we can help direct your existing provider.
How much time does a fractional CIO spend with us?
It is set by the retainer and the season. Many months are steady planning and oversight, and some months, like a TMS upgrade or a go-live, need more. We agree on the scope and adjust it as your needs change.
Will a fractional CIO push us toward Exspeedite?
No. Strong Tower Consulting is independent advisory. Our consulting never requires buying our sister company's software, and our job is to get the most out of the systems that are right for you.
What happens if we later hire a full-time CIO or IT director?
That is a good outcome. We can help define the role, take part in interviews, and hand over the roadmap, documentation and vendor relationships so the new hire starts with a clear picture.