Custom TMS for a Road Freight Carrier: Amsterdam Cost and ROI (2026)

The verdict in three sentences

An Amsterdam carrier with 80 tractor units that plans trips in spreadsheets and re-types consignment notes runs empty for nearly one kilometre in five. As a 2026 order of magnitude, a custom TMS linking orders, subcontracting, trip planning, e-CMR, telematics and invoicing costs EUR 60,000 to 120,000 excluding VAT and rolls out in 5 to 8 months, against European off-the-shelf TMS subscriptions of EUR 80 to 150 per vehicle per month. Cutting empty running from 22% to 15% pays the project back within months, even on cautious assumptions.

Why a standard TMS is not always enough

From Westpoort, Schiphol cargo areas and the distribution centres around Amsterdam and Rotterdam, an 80-truck carrier often mixes several businesses: container drayage, full loads to Germany and Belgium, regional distribution and subcontracted capacity. European TMS products cover a standard model well, but rarely the exact mix of a real operation: customer-specific priority rules, port slot windows, subcontractor rates, fuel surcharges and, since July 2026, the Dutch per-kilometre truck charge (vrachtwagenheffing) that has to be passed on line by line.

The symptoms show in the numbers: planners juggling three screens, empty return legs because nobody sees available loads, and paper documents arriving days late and delaying invoices. The Netherlands was one of the first countries to adopt e-CMR, so customers and shippers increasingly expect it.

An off-the-shelf TMS remains the right choice for a 15-truck fleet with a standard model. At 80 tractors with mixed activities, custom becomes cheaper from year three, and often sooner thanks to empty kilometres.

Modules and cost

With e-CMR, the invoice leaves the day of delivery. The EU eFTI regulation points the same way by progressively requiring authorities to accept electronic freight information. On driver rules, the TMS warns planners before every download deadline: 28 days for the driver card, 90 days for the vehicle unit.

Technically, a TMS of this scope is a complex web application. On the Kolonell grid, complex applications start at 7,000,000 FCFA and go beyond 15,000,000 FCFA (EUR 10,670 to 22,870+); the figures above are European market orders of magnitude and the exact price is set in the quote.

Rollout in 5 to 8 months

Month 1: scoping with planning, invoicing and two drivers, mapping flows and telematics devices. Months 2 to 4: orders, planning and e-CMR. Months 5 and 6: telematics, invoicing and control. Months 7 and 8: pilot on one depot or activity, such as container drayage from Westpoort, then full rollout. Planners join every demo, because a TMS that operations do not adopt produces no gain.

Mini case study

Sanne de Vries, operations director of an Amsterdam carrier with 80 tractor units, measures 120,000 km per truck per year, 22% of it empty.

• Annual mileage: 80 × 120,000 = 9,600,000 km, of which 7,488,000 km loaded.
• At 15% empty, the same loaded volume needs 7,488,000 / 0.85 = 8,809,000 km: 791,000 km avoided.
• Variable cost per km (diesel, tyres, maintenance, truck charge): EUR 0.62, i.e. EUR 490,000 a year.
• Cautious assumption: only half the target is reached, i.e. EUR 245,000 a year.
• Subscription avoided: 80 × EUR 115 × 12 = EUR 110,400 a year.
• Investment: EUR 95,000. Payback: 95,000 / (245,000 + 110,400) × 12 = about 3.2 months.

FAQ

Do we need to replace our telematics devices?

Rarely. Major telematics providers offer an API and the TMS pulls positions and driving times. Scoping checks compatibility for every device model in the fleet.

Is e-CMR accepted by customers and at roadside checks?

The Netherlands was an early adopter of the e-CMR protocol and eFTI extends acceptance of electronic documents. Plan 2 to 3 months of parallel paper and electronic flows for a few customers.

How does the TMS actually cut empty kilometres?

It shows in real time which trucks are about to free up and which loads are available within 50 to 100 km, including on freight exchanges. The planner picks the most profitable backhaul in one click.

Are fuel surcharges and the truck charge invoiced automatically?

Yes. Each invoice applies the customer's fuel clause and passes on the per-kilometre truck charge, and the control module shows the gap between real and recharged cost.

What does the TMS cost to run after go-live?

Hosting at EUR 500 to 1,500 a month depending on telematics data volume, plus a maintenance and change contract set in the quote.

Let's scope your project. We define orders, planning, e-CMR, telematics and invoicing for your fleet with you, for a rollout in 5 to 8 months. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.