The verdict in three sentences
A custom TMS (Transport Management System) costs between 50,000 and 130,000 EUR in 2026 and covers route planning, transport orders, tracking and electronic proof of delivery. Route optimization cuts kilometers by 10 to 18%, with an equivalent drop in fuel and emissions. For an Amsterdam carrier running 20 to 60 vehicles, ROI lands within 12 to 18 months, without the recurring fees of a SaaS TMS.
The budget for a custom TMS in 2026
Price depends on the number of modules (planning, driver app, billing, EDI) and the level of algorithmic optimization. 2026 orders of magnitude.
| Scope | Modules | Budget EUR | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core TMS | Transport orders, planning, tracking | 50,000 - 68,000 | 12-16 wks |
| + Driver app | + Electronic POD, geoloc | 70,000 - 90,000 | 16-22 wks |
| Optimized | + Automatic route optimization | 95,000 - 115,000 | 22-30 wks |
| Integrated | + Transport billing, EDI, ERP | 115,000 - 130,000 | 28-38 wks |
An annual maintenance of 15 to 20% covers hosting, mapping and support. Route optimization relies on a VRP engine tuned to your constraints (time windows, capacity, empty returns).
What route optimization delivers
Compare manual planning (paper or Excel) with a custom TMS for a 30-vehicle fleet.
| Indicator | Without TMS | With optimized TMS |
|---|---|---|
| Km driven / month | Baseline | -10 to -18% |
| Planning time | 4-6 hrs/day | 30-60 min/day |
| Proof of delivery | Paper, lost | Electronic, timestamped |
| Delivery disputes | Frequent | -40 to -60% |
| Billing lead time | D+7 to D+15 | D+1 (auto) |
| Load factor | 70-78% | 82-90% |
For a 30-vehicle fleet driving 1.8M km/year at 0.42 EUR/km of fuel, a 14% reduction represents about 106,000 EUR of annual savings in fuel alone.
Mini case study
Karim, operations director of an Amsterdam carrier with 34 vehicles, planned routes by hand (5 hrs/day of dispatcher time) and billed at D+12 based on often-lost paper PODs. Recurring delivery disputes.
After a custom TMS at 98,000 EUR, optimization cut km by 13%, electronic POD removed 90% of disputes and billing moved to D+1. Estimated year-one gains: about 92,000 EUR of fuel, 35,000 EUR of dispatch time and 20,000 EUR of avoided disputes. Payback in about 9 months.
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FAQ
Does route optimization account for my real constraints?
Yes: the engine factors in delivery windows, vehicle capacity, statutory driving time, empty returns and customer priorities. That is the whole point of custom versus a generic TMS.
How does electronic proof of delivery work?
The driver captures signature, photos and barcodes on the mobile app; the POD is timestamped, geolocated and tied to the transport order, then available in real time at the office and to the customer.
Does the TMS connect to my billing?
Yes: delivered orders trigger automatic pre-billing per your scales (per km, per stop, per weight), cutting billing lead time from D+12 to D+1 and making figures reliable.
How long to deploy?
Between 12 and 38 weeks depending on scope. We start with the core TMS and driver app, then add optimization and billing/EDI integration.
Can vehicles be tracked in real time?
Yes: geolocation via the driver app or telematics boxes gives live position, customer ETAs and delay alerts, with no per-vehicle subscription surcharge.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your fleet size, daily route volume and needs (POD, optimization, billing), and we will frame a quote between 50,000 and 130,000 EUR. 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.
