Logistics firm CH Robinson is working with Florida-based InMotion Global to help smaller carriers go digital.

InMotion makes a transportation management system (TMS) for carriers. It has teamed up with CH Robinson’s Navisphere Carrier technology and has an offer for carriers to try its AscendTMS for free.

“Anywhere from 20 to 35% of trucks on the road are running empty at any given time, burning fuel and losing the carrier money,” said Tim Higham, CEO of InMotion Global. “Technology can reduce these empty miles, not to mention reduce everyone’s carbon footprint in the process. It’s time that we, as an industry, help extend these proven technologies to small and medium-sized carriers, so they can see all the benefits of lower costs and better efficiency.”

To help accomplish this goal, CH Robinson is providing API connectivity with key carrier TMS platforms, such as AscendTMS, so users have direct access to its digital freight network, said to be the largest of its kind in the world. Because CH Robinson is the only logistics provider with API connectivity to AscendTMS, only its loads can be booked instantly round the clock without needing to email or call anyone.

This is important as record numbers of small trucking firms have been established, more than 100,000 in the past two years. Many of these new firms have one or two trucks, and nearly 90% of all trucking firms have five or less.

For years, larger carriers have been able to use a TMS, because they had the IT resources to set up and manage the hardware and software. Cloud-based software such as AscendTMS is easily accessed from a smartphone, tablet or laptop with no installs or downloads, giving smaller carriers the same opportunity to run their business digitally.

“At CH Robinson, we are committed to improving global supply chains and driving out waste for our network of nearly 200,000 carriers and shippers,” said Pat Nolan, vice president of operations at CH Robinson. “One of the ways we achieve this is by unlocking new efficiencies for carriers through our technology and integrations. Smaller carriers are the life-blood of our highways. We help them thrive by providing them the best technology and the best choice of loads.”

CH Robinson carriers that are new to freight technology can get AscendTMS free for three months. Free use of AscendTMS is also available to those getting set up as a new carrier with CH Robinson.

AscendTMS is a patent-pending TMS for freight shippers, freight brokers and trucking companies. It is used by over 41,000 companies in 19 countries, from small single-person logistics operations to multi-billion-dollar international corporations. InMotion Global is headquartered in Brandon, Florida.