C.H. Robinson vs AscendTMS

Last Updated:

Our analysts compared C.H. Robinson vs AscendTMS based on data from our 400+ point analysis of TMS Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

C.H. Robinson Software Tool
AscendTMS Software Tool

Product Basics

CH Robinson is cloud-based and offers technology, transportation network and intensive guidance to support supply chain and logistics businesses. Its specialties include global logistics transportation, supply chain and procurement management. Shippers can leverage freight services such as air, flatbed, intermodal, LTL, ocean and rail with temperature-controlled carriers.

Its supply chain modules include warehousing, consulting, last mile and cross-border deliveries, and custom guidance and compliance. It offers region-specific logistics services to companies of all sizes and types across Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America, Oceania and South Asia.
read more...

AscendTMS is cloud transport management software for businesses of all sizes. It helps shippers, carriers, and brokers manage loads, routes and dispatching. The user-friendly interface features GPS tracking from any device. It simplifies logistics processes by providing shipment creation and carrier selection. It lets managers track, dispatch and process payments.

The platform doesn't require upfront, license or support fees. Users value the solution because it's easy to use and affordable. It offers free training and support. Reviewers also like the free tracking and integration with popular accounting tools.

The free plan suits teams under three users and has functions like shipment management, carrier selection and tracking. For larger teams, the premium plan costs $99 per user per month. It also offers a 30-day free trial of the premium plan.

read more...
Undisclosed
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
$99/User, Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Improve Visibility: Leverage end-to-end supply chain visibility, from order placement and processing to delivery. 
  • Facilitate Customs: Ensure trade compliance by decreasing uncertainty and simplifying compliance management. Offers more than 100 licensed custom brokers and 800 cross-border expert assistance to guide cross-border shipments and transactions. 
  • Customer Satisfaction: Improve customer experiences with live shipment tracking, suitable carriers and modes, and lower claims damage. Improve delivery and last-mile connectivity with vetted carrier networks. 
  • Reduce Administrative Work: Eliminate unnecessary manual administration and focus on planning with shipment transparency along with streamlined workflows. 
  • Minimize Cost: Lower supply chain expenses by approximately 7-10% with expert guidance available anytime. Compare and choose reliable carriers with the best rates using a carrier load board network within North America. 
read more...
  • Access for Free: Sign up to try the various features and tools without credit cards, contracts or deals. AscendTMS has a special pricing design. It offers a free plan, mainly for smaller teams. The paid plan is also reasonably priced per user, making it a competitive option.
  • Improve Decision-Making: Use GPS tracking and data analysis to get useful insights that support carrier, pricing and route planning decisions. These insights can improve processes and make them more efficient.
  • Minimize Errors: Give employees custom access to information based on their roles. This helps simplify tasks and ensures everyone knows what they need to do. Managing user roles can reduce the chances of errors and make operations more efficient.
  • Report Taxes: File IFTA taxes with the click of a button, and the app does all the heavy lifting. AscendTMS records where businesses bought fuel, their routes, miles through each state and the tax rates. The manual adjustment mode lets managers import fuel card data. The system then calculates the exact IFTA tax for each state.
  • Save Time: Boost ROI by automating load postings, driver tasks and payroll calculation. Managers can save planning and analysis time with fewer tasks to handle.
  • Gain Visibility: Manage and track freight using one platform. It lets companies create loads and pick carriers. Real-time visibility into the supply chain improves efficiency.
read more...
  • Freight: Access customized solutions to handle multiple freight shipment types.
    • Air: Includes space and scheduling services through passenger and cargo planes using existing carrier relationships. The Global Carrier Management program provides consistent access to daily departure schedules for all air freights.
    • Flatbed: Choose from vetted cross-border flatbeds and specialized equipment, with on-request expert guidance.
    • Intermodal: Offers numerous cross-border, expedited and drayage and port services for simplified intermodal shipping globally.
    • LTL: Provides common LTL carriers to consolidate and deconsolidate freights as per space requirements. Includes expedited carriers, last-mile deliveries and insurance.
    • Ocean Shipping: Expert assistance to help analyze freight characteristics and strategize accordingly. Services include full container load, less than container load, buyer’s consolidation and expedited FCL services on Trans-Atlantic Westbound Trade lanes.
    • Rail Shipping: Provides rail shipment carrier options across Europe and Asia. Includes GPS-enabled block trains for location transparency and door-to-door services beyond the railyard.
    • Truckload: Support truckload strategies with a managed carrier pool of more than 73,000 contract carriers in North America. Supports truckload RFP operations and offers real-time tracking capabilities globally.
    • Temperature Controlled: Access a monitored network of temperature-controlled carriers on contract. Carriers are customized to sustain and deliver product and temperature-specific requirements while staying STF compliant. A team of 8,000 experts is available to handle sensitive freight.
    • Small Parcel: Offers dedicated service for seamless and cost-efficient small parcel deliveries across North America. Parcel intelligence technology provides in-depth insights to support RFP analysis, business intelligence analytics, freight payments and audits.
  • Supply Chain and Logistics:
    • Consolidation: Includes freight, retail and automotive consolidation, with forward distribution. Combine multiple-supplier orders into single shipments with pre-paid supplier and retail-direct programs.
    • Cross-Border: Provides special assistance for intra-Canada and intra-Mexico shipments. Choose between OEA and C-TPAT compliant contract carriers for mitigating shipment-related risks within intra-Mexico shipments.
    • Customs and Trade Compliance: Offers multiple services such as customs brokerage and CARM advisory, import and export compliance consulting, including assistance for trade policy auditing.
    • Last Mile: Leverage last-mile deliveries across North America. Includes curbside, in-home room of choice, in-home package removal and product assembly services.
    • Managed Procurement: Access managed procurement tools for supply chain analysis, SKU translation and order consolidation, and track and trace orders to their store locations.
    • Project Logistics: Offers logistic management solutions across South Asia, North America, Europe, the UK, Oceania and Latin America. Assists with risk assessment, holistic project management, live tracking and global multimodal solutions.
    • Consulting: Leverage live guidance from industry experts on program management, procurement, engineering, data as a service, strategic planning and trade compliance.
    • TMS: Provides customizable and dedicated small business, global services and TMS solutions. Automates transportation and supply chain management across different regions, transportation modes and channels.
    • Warehousing: Access secure warehouse spaces at crucial locations along border sides. Supports product dispersal after meeting compliance requirements.
read more...
  • Load Management: Use the Load Financials tool to keep track of income, budget and expenses. Easily add financial information to a load and monitor profits or losses. Businesses can also export financial data to an accounting system, which makes it easier to track finances.
  • Document Management: View and scan PoD documents that drivers send. Manage important company documents like driver paperwork, credit applications, carrier packets and contracts. Attaching them to carriers, customers, and loads is quick and easy.
  • Truckload Rate Index: Get a free truckload rate index with AscendAccuRate. Access line-haul rates for any lane (low, medium, high and average RPMs) using pickup and drop-off locations. This tool compiles the averages of hundreds of thousands of actual loads. Stay on top of the changing market with real-time rates.
  • Asset and Fleet Management: Give asset management tools to carriers, brokers and shippers. Manage power units, trailers, containers and drivers. Transfer assets or third-party carriers to any load from one screen. Text messages help track drivers.
  • Driver Payroll and Settlement: Choose data ranges for each driver and select different payment types, such as per pallet, per case, hourly, per mile or on a per hundred pounds basis. The system also considers costs like per diems, stop fees and fuel passes.
  • Claims Management: Let drivers take pictures of the cargo at pickup and delivery locations. This feature protects firms from non-legitimate claims. These pictures, sent via text message, are automatically linked to the correct load. They're date and time-stamped and help reduce the amount of a valid claim. This creates unmistakable proof to support companies in case a claim arises.
  • Ascend Dashboard: Access key information about the business in a simple-to-read format. Access modules like Financial Quick Look, Load Volumes, and National Rate and Fuel Trends.
read more...

Product Ranking

#16

among all
TMS Software

#51

among all
TMS Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

67
61
54
78
80
50
54
0
Show More Show More
Transportation Order Management
Transportation Order Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

C.H. Robinson
AscendTMS
+ Add Product + Add Product
Claims Management Compliance And Governance Dock Scheduling And Yard Management Freight Rating And Multimodal Transport Mobile Reporting And Dashboards Transportation Order Management Transportation Sourcing And Procurement 54 80 54 81 81 75 87 41 78 50 0 77 0 73 92 46 0 25 50 75 100
57%
0%
43%
80%
0%
20%
80%
0%
20%
40%
0%
60%
60%
0%
40%
0%
0%
100%
83%
0%
17%
75%
0%
25%
83%
0%
17%
0%
0%
100%
75%
0%
25%
75%
0%
25%
92%
0%
8%
91%
0%
9%
50%
0%
50%
50%
0%
50%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

60%
0%
40%
50%
0%
50%

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Extensive Carrier Network: C.H. Robinson boasts a vast network of carriers, providing shippers with more options and flexibility to move their freight efficiently. This can lead to better rates and improved service levels.
Show more
Reduce Manual Work: A TMS cuts out manual work and makes processes simpler, saving time.
Save Money: The solution provides smarter routes, combines loads and arranges better transport rates. This leads to major cost savings.
Track Shipments: See shipment routes and take care of issues as they happen.
Update Customers: A TMS keeps firms in the loop about delivery so they can give customers timely updates.
Increase Capacity: TMS solutions can handle more volume and grow with business needs.
Show more
Limited Visibility and Control: Users have expressed concerns regarding the platform's lack of real-time tracking and limited shipment visibility, making it challenging to proactively address potential issues and optimize supply chain operations.
Technology and Integration Challenges: The platform's user interface and integration capabilities have been cited as areas for improvement. Users have reported difficulties with system navigation, data synchronization, and compatibility with existing enterprise systems, leading to inefficiencies and frustration.
Customer Support Concerns: Some users have raised concerns about the responsiveness and effectiveness of customer support, particularly in resolving complex issues or providing timely assistance. This can impact user satisfaction and the overall experience with the platform.
Show more
Expensive: Starting and maintaining a TMS can cost a lot due to licensing and subscription fees.
Difficult Setup: Teaching employees a new system can take a while. Adding a TMS to existing software can be tough.
Hard to Use: TMS platforms can be hard to use thanks to numerous features that aren’t all essential.
Show more

C.H. Robinson's software has received mixed reviews from users over the past year, with some praising its comprehensive features and others criticizing its complexity and customer support. Users appreciate the platform's ability to manage various aspects of transportation and logistics, including shipment tracking, carrier management, and freight quoting. The software's strength lies in its extensive network of carriers and its ability to provide real-time visibility into shipment status. However, some users find the interface to be overwhelming and difficult to navigate, particularly for those new to transportation management systems. Additionally, customer support has been cited as a weakness, with users reporting long wait times and unhelpful responses. Compared to similar products, C.H. Robinson stands out for its vast network and global reach, making it suitable for businesses with complex shipping needs. However, its complexity and customer support issues may deter smaller businesses or those seeking a more user-friendly experience. Ultimately, C.H. Robinson's software is best suited for large enterprises with extensive transportation requirements and dedicated personnel to manage the platform effectively.

Show more

AscendTMS is a user-friendly digital tool. It helps all types of companies manage their transport needs. It’s especially useful for professionals who work in shipping, load carrying and routing. Supply chain activities can be seen live, which helps improve freight flow.The solution costs nothing for small teams and has a fair price for larger teams. It doesn't involve any extra fees or license costs.

Show more

Screenshots

Top Alternatives in TMS Software


3Gtms

Alpega TMS

AscendTMS

E2open

FreightPOP

Kuebix

Luminate Logistics

Manhattan TMS

MercuryGate

Oracle Transportation Management

PCS

RateLinx

SAP Transportation Management

Shipwell

Uber Freight

Related Categories

Head-to-Head Comparison

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

Compare products
Comparison Report
Just drag this link to the bookmark bar.
?
Table settings