The verdict in three sentences
For an Amsterdam haulier with 60 trucks, a custom TMS (subcontracting, planning, eCMR, telematics, invoicing) costs EUR 90,000 to 200,000 excl. VAT, while an off-the-shelf TMS at EUR 80-150 per vehicle per month costs EUR 57,600 to 108,000 every year. Custom pays off from year two or three if operations follow specific rules (regular routes, heavy subcontracting, cross-border flows with Germany and Belgium). The ROI comes mainly from 8% fewer empty kilometres and next-day invoicing instead of two weeks later.
The hidden cost of spreadsheet planning
In a Dutch transport SME, two planners handle 60 trucks, 25 shippers and around ten subcontractors with a spreadsheet, phone calls and WhatsApp. Paper consignment notes come back 5 to 10 days late, invoicing waits, and backhauls are not optimized.
| Indicator (60 trucks, 2 planners) | Spreadsheet and paper | With integrated TMS |
|---|---|---|
| Empty kilometres | 18 to 22% | 11 to 14% |
| Invoicing delay after delivery | 10 to 15 days | next day |
| Planner time spent on data entry | 35 to 40% | 10 to 15% |
| Proof-of-delivery disputes | 3 to 5% of shipments | under 1% |
| Days sales outstanding (DSO) | 50 to 55 days | 38 to 43 days |
| Trucks planned per planner | 30 | 45 to 50 |
2026 orders of magnitude observed on 40 to 100-vehicle fleets in the Benelux.
Custom vs off-the-shelf: the 5-year calculation
| Item | Off-the-shelf TMS (60 vehicles) | Custom TMS |
|---|---|---|
| Setup and configuration | EUR 10,000 to 25,000 | included in development |
| Development | EUR 0 | EUR 90,000 to 200,000 |
| Annual subscription or maintenance | EUR 57,600 to 108,000 | EUR 18,000 to 35,000 |
| Total cost over 5 years | EUR 298,000 to 565,000 | EUR 180,000 to 375,000 |
| Fit with business rules | limited, paid change requests | full |
| Ownership of code and data | no | yes |
| Time to go live | 1 to 3 months | 5 to 8 months |
Off-the-shelf still wins for a young fleet or a business without an investment budget. Above 40 vehicles with stable operations, 5-year total cost clearly favours a custom build. Amsterdam developer rates are 40 to 50% higher than in Lille, which explains the higher range.
Building blocks and prices
| Block | Function | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Order intake and shipper portal | order entry, online tracking | EUR 15,000 to 28,000 |
| Planning and route optimization | drag-and-drop, backhaul suggestions | EUR 22,000 to 50,000 |
| Subcontracting | freight exchange, orders to subcontractors | EUR 12,000 to 25,000 |
| eCMR and driver app | signature, photos, remarks | EUR 15,000 to 35,000 |
| Webfleet or Transics telematics integration | positions, driving times, ETA | EUR 10,000 to 22,000 |
| Invoicing and accounting export | next-day invoices, fuel surcharge | EUR 16,000 to 40,000 |
Automatic fuel surcharge calculation alone prevents several thousand euros of missed billing each year.
Mini case study
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Pieter runs a 60-truck transport company near Amsterdam, with EUR 10M in revenue and 6.5 million kilometres a year. He invests EUR 160,000 in a custom TMS plus EUR 28,000 a year in maintenance. Cutting empty running from 20% to 12% avoids or reloads about 520,000 km; at a cost of EUR 1.25 per km the theoretical gain exceeds EUR 600,000, and he conservatively counts EUR 170,000. Next-day invoicing cuts DSO by 12 days, freeing about EUR 330,000 in cash. The project pays back in about a year.
FAQ
How much does a custom TMS cost for 60 trucks in Amsterdam?
Allow EUR 90,000 to 200,000 excl. VAT depending on the blocks chosen, then EUR 18,000 to 35,000 a year in maintenance. Off-the-shelf costs EUR 57,600 to 108,000 a year for the same fleet.
Can the TMS connect to Webfleet and Transics?
Yes, both expose APIs for positions, driving times and messages. Integration costs EUR 10,000 to 22,000 depending on the number of units and data flows.
Is eCMR valid in the Netherlands?
Yes, the Netherlands was one of the first countries to ratify the eCMR protocol. The driver app handles signatures, photos and remarks with timestamps.
How long does deployment take?
5 to 8 months, with a phased rollout: planning and eCMR first, then invoicing and subcontracting. Planners are trained in 2 days.
What happens to our data if we change provider?
You own the code and the database. Another team can take over maintenance without a migration.
Let's scope your project. Send us your fleet size, telematics provider and invoicing flows, and we will price a EUR 90,000 to 200,000 TMS delivered in 5 to 8 months. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
