The Hidden Gap for McLeod Users:
IT Support Beyond the TMS
This week I attended my second McLeod User Conference in Denver, CO, and it was so valuable to talk to attendees about what they are experiencing in regards to their technology stacks, how it’s evolving and where they need help. On top of the great weather, mixing it up with brokers and carriers, and attending some of the conference sessions, highlighted what’s going on in the industry, and here are my biggest takeaways.
The Critical Role of Supplemental IT Support
The biggest insight I walked away with at this year’s McLeod User Conference is that freight companies running McLeod need more IT support than they often realize. I heard so many stories of critical situations in which help was needed ASAP, but support was not able to be deployed as rapidly as customers needed it in order to solve those situations, leaving them feeling stuck and frustrated, potentially losing business opportunities.
Even with a strong TMS in place, there are still gaps. Carriers and freight brokers consistently mentioned challenges such as:
- Keeping networks secure and reliable
- Managing integrations and automations beyond the TMS
- Ensuring uptime across systems and devices
- Handling day-to-day IT problems that fall outside McLeod’s scope
Without supplemental support, these challenges usually become major roadblocks. With it, operations run smoother and leaders can stay focused on growth.
AI Is Delivering Results Today
Another strong theme from the conference was the role of artificial intelligence. Vendors like MPact (RespondAI), HappyRobot, and Optimal Dynamics demonstrated real AI applications that are already driving value. Dispatching, pricing, and exception handling are no longer theoretical use cases. They are proven, working solutions.
Speed and Specialization Are the New Differentiators
I also noticed how quickly partners are raising the bar. Highway, FreightVerify, and Parade all demonstrated focused solutions that solve very specific problems, especially around carrier vetting and capacity. Their common promise was immediate deployment and minimal training. The standard is shifting to plug-and-play solutions that can be put to work the same day.
The Takeaway for Brokers and Carriers
McLeod is a strong platform, but success depends on building the right mix around it.
- Supplemental IT support ensures reliability, security, and stability
- AI improves efficiency and decision-making across operations
- Specialized integrations deliver quick wins where they are needed most
Your freight tech stack is not one-size-fits-all. The most effective approach combines a strong core system with IT expertise and partner solutions that fill the gaps and deliver immediate value.
Need a little more IT support? Let’s chat.
