Short answer
Tai TMS fits brokers and 3PLs with real LTL, drayage or cross-border volume who want a voice check-call agent included, from $995/mo for 2 staff logins and 200 shipments. FreightVero fits FTL-focused brokers who want database-enforced checkpoints and flat plans from $349/mo. FreightVero is new, with one design-partner customer.
FreightVero vs Tai TMS at a glance
| FreightVero | Tai TMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Non-asset brokerages that want hard checkpoints on every load, flat pricing, or a TMS built around their own workflow | Brokers and 3PLs moving FTL plus meaningful LTL, drayage or cross-border freight |
| Broker TMS | Yes, live: load board, load entry, multi-stop, carrier dispatch, rate cons, documents, billing queue, reports | Yes, built exclusively for freight brokers and 3PLs. Direct LTL carrier API and EDI connectivity |
| Carrier TMS | Early access (waitlist) | No |
| AI agents | Seven agents live, from $1,995/mo. AI load intake included | Track and Trace voice agent (April 13, 2026), included for all customers. Email quote extraction and carrier invoice audit |
| Starting price | $349/mo (Starter: 5 users, 250 loads/mo) | $995/mo (Growth: 2 staff logins, 200 shipments) |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly plans. No per-load fees on any plan | Tiers by staff logins and included shipments, plus overages |
| Contract terms | Discussed on the demo call | Auto-renews “in perpetuity” after the initial term. Cancel at least 60 days before each renewal term |
| Implementation | Scoped on a demo call. No published timeline. Customer and carrier CSV import | Dedicated launch on every tier. Timeline not public. Implementation fee not stated |
| Database-enforced checkpoints | Yes. Four checkpoints, enforced at the database level, not a UI setting | Not advertised on public pages. Offers workflow automations. Ask how required-document rules are set |
| Live tracking | Yes, through Load Market (Growth plan and up) | Tracking in the TMS, automated check calls from the voice agent, and integrations including MacroPoint, FourKites and Trucker Tools |
| Integrations | Load Market and Google Maps live. QuickBooks Online in development. DAT, Truckstop, RMIS and EDI planned | Claims 500+, including DAT, Truckstop, 123Loadboard, Highway, QuickBooks Online and Parade. Customer EDIs by tier |
| Company and ownership | New company. CEO and co-founder Ryan Butz | Acquired by Descartes Systems Group (Nasdaq: DSGX) on Aug 24, 2026 for about US$100M. HQ Huntington Beach, CA |
| Track record | One design-partner customer, Bronco Logistics. No public reviews yet | 20+ years in business. Capterra 4.4/5 (77 reviews) |
Pricing as of September 10, 2026. FreightVero publishes this page and FreightVero is our product. Competitor facts come from public pricing pages, terms and review sites checked September 10, 2026. Sources are listed below.
Tai is now owned by Descartes
On August 24, 2026, Descartes Systems Group acquired Tai for about US$100 million in cash. Descartes already owns Aljex, another broker TMS, plus MacroPoint, MyCarrierPortal and 3GTMS. As of September 10, 2026, Descartes hasn’t said publicly how Tai’s pricing or roadmap will change, or whether Tai and Aljex will combine. We cover what Tai customers can check now in this post on the acquisition.
Where Tai TMS is strong
Tai has spent 20+ years building for one buyer, freight brokers and 3PLs. Its strongest ground is LTL.
- LTL depth. Direct LTL carrier rating and dispatch through API and EDI connections. A Capterra reviewer wrote “The LTL functionality is fantastic.”
- Modes beyond FTL. Truckload, LTL, drayage and cross-border in one system.
- AI that makes calls. The Tai Track and Trace Agent, launched April 13, 2026, is a voice agent that calls drivers, logs location and ETA, and moves loads to Delivered. It’s included for all Tai customers. Descartes’s announcement adds that Tai’s agents extract quote requests from inbound emails and audit carrier invoices against rate confirmations.
- Service on every tier. The Tai pricing page lists a branded client portal, partner integrations, a dedicated CSM, a dedicated launch and QBRs on all plans.
- Automations and reporting. Another reviewer wrote “The Workflow Automations and Custom reports allow us to create efficiencies.”
Common complaints on Capterra include “Too many bugs with slow support resolution,” “The cost is a little high,” and “There is currently no parcel shipping option.” Our Tai TMS alternatives page covers other options.
Where FreightVero is different
No seat or shipment caps to model
Tai Growth is $995/mo for 2 staff logins and 200 shipments, with overage pricing above that. FreightVero Starter is $349/mo for 5 users and 250 loads, and Growth is $749/mo for 15 users and unlimited loads. For 12 staff logins, Tai’s published price is $4,595/mo on Premium+, with 1,200 included shipments. FreightVero Scale, with unlimited users, starts at $1,500/mo. See FreightVero pricing.
Checkpoints enforced at the database level, not a UI setting
Every FreightVero status change runs through one database function. The status column is protected from direct edits.
- Alerted: active carrier, approved compliance status on the carrier record, driver and truck details, tracking accepted.
- Carrier Dispatched: latest rate con version signed, with the signed copy uploaded. A rate change after signature needs a new signature.
- Freight On Board: BOL and freight photos.
- Delivered: POD plus the signer’s first and last name.
Tai offers workflow automations, and many TMSs let you mark documents as required. We haven’t tested Tai’s settings, so ask in the demo where the rule lives. See how FreightVero’s checkpoints work.
Contract terms
Tai’s about page says “No Lock-In.” Its terms and conditions say “After the initial term, the agreement will auto-renew in perpetuity,” and customers must cancel “at least sixty (60) days prior to the beginning of each Renewal Term.” FreightVero’s contract terms are discussed on the demo call.
Custom builds, and where AI stands
FreightVero offers custom TMS development. The Bronco Logistics build went from its first database migration on Aug 28, 2026 to live Load Market tracking on Sept 3, 2026. On AI, Tai is ahead: its voice agent is live and included. FreightVero’s AI load intake is live, and its AI agent program is live from $1,995/mo.
Pricing compared
| FreightVero | Tai TMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Plan 1 | Starter $349/mo: 5 users, 250 loads/mo | Growth $995/mo: 2 staff logins, 10 client logins, 500 carrier profiles, 200 shipments |
| Plan 2 | Growth $749/mo: 15 users, unlimited loads, adds live tracking and ETAs, alerts, tasks and messaging, reporting, bulk import | Premium $2,465/mo: 6 staff logins, 40 client logins, 2,000 carrier profiles, 1 customer EDI, 600 shipments |
| Plan 3 | Scale from $1,500/mo: unlimited users | Premium+ $4,595/mo: 12 staff logins, 80 client logins, 3,000 carrier profiles, 3 customer EDIs, 1,200 shipments |
| Plan 4 and up | None. Custom TMS development is quoted after a scoping call | Pro $7,925/mo: 25 staff logins, 175 client logins, 6,000 carrier profiles, 5 customer EDIs, 2,500 shipments. Enterprise: custom |
| Overages | No per-load fees on any plan | “Competitive overage pricing” above included shipments |
| AI agents | Live from $1,995/mo, priced by load volume, scoped on a call | Track and Trace Agent included |
| Renewal | Contract terms discussed on the demo call | Auto-renews in perpetuity. 60 days’ notice before each renewal term |
Pricing as of September 10, 2026. Tai offers no free trial and doesn’t state an implementation fee.
Switching from Tai TMS
- Find your renewal date first. Tai needs cancellation at least 60 days before each renewal term. Miss the window and the agreement renews.
- Records. Customers and carriers import into FreightVero from CSV. There’s no open-load import, so close in-flight loads in Tai.
- LTL. FreightVero has no LTL rating or direct LTL carrier connections. If LTL is a real share of your freight, keep it in Tai or choose another TMS.
- Client logins. Tai includes a branded client portal. FreightVero’s customer portal is in early access.
- Integrations. DAT, Truckstop and EDI are planned in FreightVero. QuickBooks Online is in development.
We scope every move on a demo call and don’t publish an implementation timeline. The TMS migration page covers what to prepare.
Which one fits your brokerage
Choose Tai TMS if
- LTL, drayage or cross-border is a big share of your freight
- You want a voice agent making driver check calls today, included in the price
- You want a dedicated CSM, dedicated launch and QBRs on every tier
- You need a branded client portal and customer EDI
- You’re comfortable with Descartes as the owner
Choose FreightVero if
- You’re FTL-focused and want flat plans without shipment caps or overages
- You want checkpoints enforced at the database level
- You want a custom TMS built around your workflow
- You’re comfortable being an early customer of a new product with one design partner
See the checkpoints on a real load
Book a demo and we’ll walk a load from booking to delivered, including what blocks it and why.