Buying one of the transport management systems in Australia usually starts with a simple goal, such as cutting manual bookings or getting better tracking. Then the requirements grow. Shippers may need to book several carriers and see every consignment in one place. A 3PL may want warehouse and transport work on one platform, with billing for each client. Carriers may need dispatch, proof of delivery, and fatigue records.

This guide compares eight platforms for 2026: Shipsy, Transvirtual, CartonCloud, Cario, Allotrac, CargoWise, Oracle Transportation Management, and Consignmate. For each one, you’ll see what it’s built for, what it costs where pricing is public, and what to test before you sign.

TL;DR

  • Shipsy suits shippers and 3PLs that want carrier allocation, tracking, freight procurement, and settlement on one AI-native platform.

  • Transvirtual and Cario connect your carriers, while Allotrac focuses on dispatch, compliance, and billing for ANZ transport businesses.

  • CartonCloud combines WMS and TMS for 3PLs that run warehousing and delivery for multiple clients.

  • CargoWise suits forwarders and 3PLs handling international freight and customs, while Oracle Transportation Management fits shippers managing transport across a global supply chain.

  • Consignmate offers a browser-based TMS with no installation, from $199 a month plus a setup fee.

Key Takeaways

  • Start with the transport problem you need to fix, not the longest module list.

  • Check carrier integrations, fatigue compliance, and accounting sync before you shortlist.

  • Run your own consignments and exceptions through a trial or demo before you sign.

What Is a Transport Management System?

A transport management system (TMS) plans, executes, tracks, and settles freight movement across every mode, carrier, and lane. That’s how Shipsy defines it, and it covers far more than route planning. Depending on the product, a TMS can also handle carrier allocation, proof of delivery, freight billing, and carrier invoice reconciliation. If the category is new to you, it’s worth reading up on what a TMS is before you compare vendors.

Cloud TMS vs On-Premise: What Australian Buyers Should Know

Logistics software can be cloud-based or installed on-premise. A cloud TMS runs over the internet, so there’s no local server for your team to maintain. Consignmate, for example, runs in a web browser with no installation required, and Cario says its cloud software lets you manage transport operations from anywhere. With on-premise software, your business usually hosts and updates the system itself, so ask each vendor which models it supports.

How We Selected These Platforms

We looked at platforms that serve Australian shippers, carriers, 3PLs, and forwarders, and compared them on five practical checks. Every feature and price in this guide comes from the vendor’s own website. Where a vendor makes a claim about itself, we say so.

Australian Carrier Integrations

If you book freight with several carriers, check whether each platform connects to them directly or through rate cards. Transvirtual, for example, lists integrations with carriers such as Australia Post, StarTrack, Team Global Express, and TNT.

Compliance Fit (CoR and EWD)

Under the Heavy Vehicle National Law, Chain of Responsibility (CoR) makes parties other than drivers responsible for heavy vehicle safety, including businesses that send or receive goods. An Electronic Work Diary (EWD) is an electronic device or system approved by the NHVR to record work and rest times. Drivers can use it as an alternative to a written work diary. Ask each vendor how its fatigue records work alongside an approved EWD.

MYOB and Xero Integration

If your accounts run in MYOB or Xero, check for a direct integration. Consignmate, for example, says connecting its invoicing to your accounting software can save hours on manual data entry.

Multi-Client and 3PL Billing

For 3PLs billing several clients, we looked for client-level rate cards and billing tied to operational activity.

Cloud Deployment and Scalability

We noted which platforms describe themselves as cloud-based, and whether pricing scales by vehicle, user, or usage.

What Are the Best Transport Management Systems in Australia?

1. Shipsy

Best for: Shippers and 3PLs that want carrier decisions, tracking, and freight cost control connected rather than split across tools.

Shipsy describes its transportation management system as a TMS built for AI-native logistics execution. Its AI-driven planning covers load planning, carrier selection, and route optimization, and it builds routes, allocates loads, and dispatches drivers across every mode. Freight audit, invoice reconciliation, and carrier payments are processed with full audit trails. Its transportation management system software connects natively with SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics, and Shipsy lists 240+ pre-built carrier and partner integrations.

In Australia, courier network ANC deployed Shipsy’s TMS, route optimization, and driver app with DFMP (Driver Fatigue Management Plan). In the ANC case study, Shipsy reports a 10 to 15% lift in driver productivity, around 35% fewer failed deliveries, and 6 to 7% of working hours saved.

Due diligence: Ask to see carrier allocation, exception handling, and settlement on your own lanes and carriers.

2. Transvirtual

Best for: Businesses that want transport, freight, and warehouse software from one cloud vendor.

Transvirtual offers a TMS, warehouse management software, and freight management software. It says it integrates with all major carriers as well as hundreds of smaller ones, and its TMS lets you automate carrier accounts and integrate with your ERP and supply chain partners. It also highlights real-time freight tracking from warehouse to delivery, with carrier performance and account management in one place.

Due diligence: Confirm the carriers you use are already integrated, and ask which accounting systems it connects to.

3. CartonCloud

Best for: 3PLs that run warehousing and delivery for multiple clients on one platform.

CartonCloud combines WMS and TMS. On the transport side, it lists route planning and optimization, electronic proof of delivery, real-time notifications, barcode scanning, and carrier and broker integrations. For 3PLs, it offers multi-warehouse management, billing and invoicing, and a customer portal, and its billing engine calculates charges from real operational activity. It integrates with QuickBooks, Xero, and MYOB, and uses usage-based pricing.

Due diligence: Map your client billing rules to its rate cards during the demo.

4. Cario

Best for: Shippers that want freight management and a TMS in one local product.

Cario describes itself as the only Australian logistics solution that provides freight management software with an integrated TMS. You keep control of your own carrier accounts and rate cards, connect to them in real time, and upload carrier invoices for reconciliation. Its TMS, Cario Connect, adds route optimization for your own fleet. Cario also lists native integrations with ERPs such as SAP, NetSuite, Pronto, and Dynamics 365.

Due diligence: Map your ERP and carrier mix against Cario’s integration list before you book a demo.

5. Allotrac

Best for: ANZ transport and logistics businesses that want dispatch, compliance, and billing automated in one system.

Allotrac calls itself a purpose-built logistics operating system for ANZ transport and logistics businesses. It offers digital dispatch with a driver app, live job and vehicle location, and integrated compliance tracking for fatigue, documents, and forms. It also invoices from job data and syncs with Xero and MYOB. Plans run from $30 to $150 AUD per vehicle per month, with digital job management from the $50 Essentials plan, and there’s a 14-day free trial.

Due diligence: Ask how its rating features handle the lanes and carriers you quote most often.

6. CargoWise (WiseTech Global)

Best for: Forwarders and 3PLs that handle international freight and customs.

CargoWise says it unifies the end-to-end supply chain on one intelligent system. Its solutions include international freight forwarding, customs and compliance, international ecommerce, and warehouse management. Its forwarding tools cover capacity planning and rate management through to vessel booking and last-mile trucking.

Due diligence: List the forwarding, customs, and transport modules you would use in your first year, and price those first.

7. Oracle Transportation Management

Best for: Shippers managing transportation activity across a global supply chain.

Oracle Transportation Management covers operational planning, transportation management, fleet management, and logistics network modeling. Oracle also offers freight payment, billing, and claims capabilities, plus a separate Global Trade Management product. A free demo is available.

Due diligence: Test the order-to-settlement process for the sites in scope before you choose modules.

8. Consignmate

Best for: Transport businesses that want a simple, browser-based TMS with published pricing.

Consignmate is designed to manage transport for carriers, senders, and receivers. Users can create, track, print, and email jobs, and it includes a built-in fuel levy for both customers and carriers. It runs in a web browser with no installation, supports EDI, and describes itself as Australian-owned. Pricing starts at $199 a month plus a $900 setup fee, excluding GST, with a free 30-day trial.

Due diligence: Add up the extra users and carrier integrations you’d need, since these are priced separately.

Comparison Table

Platform Best for Core strength Pricing (public)
Shipsy Shippers and 3PLs with multi-carrier operations Carrier allocation, tracking, procurement, and settlement on one platform On request (demo)
Transvirtual Transport, freight, and warehouse software from one vendor Carrier integrations, ERP integration, real-time freight tracking Not listed in this guide
CartonCloud 3PLs with warehousing and delivery WMS plus TMS with activity-based billing Usage-based
Cario Shippers wanting freight management and a TMS Carrier accounts, rate cards, invoice reconciliation Not listed in this guide
Allotrac ANZ transport and logistics businesses Dispatch, fatigue and document compliance, Xero and MYOB sync $30 to $150 AUD per vehicle per month
CargoWise Forwarders and international 3PLs Forwarding, customs, and transport tools Not listed in this guide
Oracle TM Shippers with a global supply chain Planning, fleet management, network modeling Free demo
Consignmate Carriers and senders wanting a browser-based TMS No installation, built-in fuel levy, EDI From $199 a month + $900 setup (ex GST)

How to Choose the Right TMS for Your Business

Structure each demo around a TMS buyer’s evaluation framework, so every vendor answers the same questions. Then match the platform to how you operate.

Shippers Working with Multiple Carriers

Look for carrier allocation, rate cards, live tracking, and invoice checks. Shipsy, Transvirtual, and Cario all list carrier selection or carrier integration features.

3PLs Running Warehouse and Transport Together

Look for WMS and TMS on one platform, with billing per client. CartonCloud is built around this model, and Transvirtual and Consignmate also offer warehouse modules.

Freight Forwarders and Brokers

If you move freight across borders, check customs and forwarding depth. CargoWise covers forwarding and customs, while Shipsy says its TMS digitizes quoting, documentation, and multi-modal container tracking for freight forwarding.

Carriers with Owned Fleets

Look for dispatch, a driver app, proof of delivery, and fatigue records. Allotrac lists dispatch, a driver app, and fatigue compliance, CartonCloud lists a mobile driver app and paperless proof of delivery, and Shipsy supported fatigue management for ANC.

Enterprise vs Mid-Market Budgets

Public pricing varies a lot. Allotrac charges per vehicle, CartonCloud uses usage-based pricing, and Consignmate publishes a monthly plan, while enterprise platforms such as Oracle Transportation Management start with a demo. Before you set a budget, review how a TMS in Australia fits local operations.

Conclusion

The best transport management system in Australia depends on the transport work you need to fix. Shippers juggling carriers need allocation, tracking, and invoice checks. 3PLs need warehouse and transport billing together. Carriers need dispatch, proof of delivery, and fatigue records.

Shortlist two or three platforms, then test them on real consignments, carriers, and exceptions before committing. Have each vendor walk you through the integrations your team depends on. If connected carrier decisions and freight cost control are the priority, request a Shipsy demo to assess fit.