DAT Freight & Analytics and Axele LLC today announced an agreement that expands the integration between Axele’s cloud-based TMS and DAT’s load board network, establishing each other as preferred providers and paving the way for new collaborative product offerings to be brought to market.

As the first step, the two companies will expand the integration of their load board and TMS technologies, giving small and midsized truckload carriers easy access to automated freight-matching features that are typically available only to enterprise carriers. Next, the companies will bring new offerings to carriers to automate their day-to-day operations and reduce the manpower needed to run their businesses.

Axele will become DAT’s preferred TMS provider for truckload carriers, while DAT will become the preferred load board for Axele’s TMS. Carriers can connect to the industry’s largest freight marketplace without ever leaving the Axele TMS, with Axele recommending loads that increase productivity and generate the best return based on driver availability, hours of service, deadhead miles, driver pay, driver preferences and more.

Axele also easily connects with electronic logging devices (ELDs), maps and internal accounting systems, among other databases.

“With the combined power and intelligence of DAT and Axele, small and midsized truckload fleets will now have a modern, connected TMS that can streamline the freight-matching process and lead to better decisions and greater profitability,” said Claude Pumila, President and CEO of DAT.

“With Axele and DAT, smaller truckload carriers can benefit from TMS capabilities enjoyed by only the largest trucking companies,” said Ravi Ahuja, founder and CEO of Axele. “This agreement creates a one-stop shop where carriers can run virtually every aspect of their business, and opens the door for Axele to deliver the latest optimization technology to DAT’s customers.”