Transportation management systems sit at the operational core of modern freight logistics. According to Allied Market Research, the global TMS market was valued at $7.3 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $10.6 billion by 2030. The growth is being driven by e-commerce expansion, nearshoring trends, and increasing pressure on shippers to reduce freight costs through better carrier optimization.
TMS software companies benefit from this tailwind, but growth creates operational complexity that software alone can't solve. Managing carrier onboarding, compliance documentation, client training, and support queues requires human effort — and that's where virtual assistants are making a meaningful difference.
Carrier Onboarding and Data Management
One of the most labor-intensive functions at a TMS company is carrier management. Adding new carriers to the platform requires collecting EDI credentials, insurance certificates, operating authority documentation, and rate structures. Maintaining those records as carriers update their information is an ongoing task.
Virtual assistants handle this workflow efficiently. A VA assigned to carrier operations can manage the inbound documentation pipeline, verify that submitted records meet platform requirements, follow up with carriers on missing items, and update carrier profiles in the system. For TMS companies that manage networks of hundreds or thousands of carriers, this function alone justifies the engagement.
Freightos research shows that carrier network breadth is among the top three factors shippers evaluate when selecting a TMS. Keeping that network current and complete is a competitive differentiator — and it's work that a well-trained VA can own.
Compliance Tracking and Regulatory Documentation
Transportation is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the economy. TMS companies serving cross-border freight, hazardous materials shippers, or government contractors must maintain current knowledge of FMCSA regulations, DOT requirements, customs documentation standards, and state-level compliance rules.
Virtual assistants with a logistics background can track regulatory update feeds, flag changes that affect platform documentation or client workflows, and maintain compliance checklists for internal and client use. They can also support the preparation of compliance reports for enterprise clients who require periodic audits of their freight operations.
According to the American Transportation Research Institute, regulatory compliance costs US trucking companies an average of $90.6 billion per year. TMS companies that help clients navigate compliance efficiently become stickier partners — and VAs are part of the infrastructure that enables that value delivery.
Client Training Coordination and Support Operations
Enterprise TMS implementations are complex. Even after go-live, clients require ongoing training as they add users, deploy new modules, or integrate additional carrier partners. Training coordination — scheduling sessions, distributing materials, tracking completion, following up with users who haven't logged in — is a high-touch, time-consuming function.
Virtual assistants excel at this coordination layer. They manage training calendars, send reminder communications, maintain LMS records, and serve as the first point of contact for clients who have basic how-to questions between formal training sessions.
On the support side, VAs can triage incoming tickets, document reproduction steps for technical issues, and handle status update communications with clients while engineers work on resolutions. This reduces perceived response time without requiring additional engineering headcount.
Scaling TMS Operations with Virtual Assistants
TMS companies considering VA partnerships should prioritize candidates with freight logistics backgrounds, experience in tools like Salesforce or HubSpot, and comfort with compliance documentation workflows.
Companies looking for pre-vetted, logistics-experienced virtual assistants can explore options through Stealth Agents, which specializes in matching technology companies with VAs who have relevant domain expertise. Their placement process focuses on operational fit, reducing the ramp time common with generalist VA hires.
In a market growing toward $10 billion, TMS companies that execute operationally alongside their product roadmap will outpace competitors. Virtual assistants are a practical, cost-effective way to build that operational capacity.
Sources
- Allied Market Research, "Transportation Management System Market Size, Share, and Forecast," 2023
- Freightos, "Annual Freight Technology Adoption Report," 2024
- American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), "An Analysis of the Operational Costs of Trucking," 2023