Transport management system for a road haulier in Berlin: custom or package in 2026

The verdict in three sentences

For a road haulier with 60 trucks in Berlin, a SaaS TMS costs EUR 60 to 150 per vehicle per month, so EUR 43,000 to 108,000 a year, while a custom TMS requires EUR 120,000 to 300,000 upfront plus 15 to 20% a year in maintenance. A package remains the right choice for standard full truckload work, while a custom build is justified when groupage, multi-drop runs and EDI exchanges with shippers fall outside the standard. Either way, the criterion that weighs most on margin is the tool's ability to push the empty kilometre rate down to 20 to 25%.

What the TMS must cover for a mixed FTL and groupage haulier

A haulier combining full loads and groupage runs two different logics: assigning a truck to a transport order on one side, consolidating dozens of consignments on routes on the other. Many market TMS products excel at one and struggle with the other.

Empty kilometres are the first lever. A truck covering 120,000 km a year at a cost of EUR 1.25 per km in Germany (driver wages and truck toll included) costs EUR 150,000. Each point of empty kilometres removed adds roughly 1,200 billable km per truck.

Five-year cost comparison

With German development rates, a custom TMS breaks even later than in many other markets, usually beyond 70 to 80 vehicles or when the fleet is growing fast. It also requires a partner able to maintain the tool for ten years, with solid documentation and a clear maintenance contract. A hybrid approach exists: package for FTL, custom module for groupage and a shipper portal, for EUR 50,000 to 120,000.

Regulatory points not to forget

Germany has ratified the e-CMR additional protocol, and the EU eFTI regulation progressively requires authorities to accept electronic freight information. The TMS must also use tachograph data to check driving and rest times under the EU Mobility Package, archive transport documents, handle posting declarations for international runs and price the CO2-based truck toll (Lkw-Maut) correctly into each quote.

Mini case study

Stefan, managing director of a haulier in Berlin (illustrative persona), runs 60 trucks covering 120,000 km a year each, with an empty kilometre rate of 29%. His average invoiced price is EUR 1.70 per loaded kilometre.

He chooses a custom TMS at EUR 220,000 including telematics, e-CMR and backhaul optimisation, plus EUR 35,000 of annual maintenance. If the empty rate falls to 24%, each truck converts 6,000 empty km into billed km, or EUR 10,200 of extra revenue per truck. Across the fleet: EUR 612,000 a year, of which an additional net margin of about EUR 110,000 to 170,000 once variable costs are deducted. D+1 invoicing via e-CMR also improves cash flow by nearly 10 days of revenue.

FAQ

From how many trucks does a custom TMS pay off?

In Germany, typically beyond 70 to 80 vehicles, when the SaaS subscription exceeds EUR 80,000 a year. Below that, a well-configured package remains cheaper.

Can the TMS connect to our current telematics devices?

Yes in the vast majority of cases, through the telematics providers' APIs. Each connector costs EUR 6,000 to 18,000 to build.

Is e-CMR accepted by all clients?

Increasingly, but not everywhere yet. The TMS must handle both paper and digital flows during the transition, switching client by client.

How long does it take to reduce empty kilometres?

First gains appear within 3 to 6 months, the time to build a history and organise backhauls with shippers and freight exchanges.

Can we start with a single module?

Yes, a shipper portal with tracking and proof of delivery starts around EUR 30,000 to 55,000, connected to the existing TMS.

Let's scope your project. We compare package, custom and hybrid options with you, with an indicative budget and a pilot plan on part of the fleet. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.