Cargobase

What Cargobase does

Cargobase is a Singapore-headquartered, privately held cloud Transportation Management System (TMS) provider founded in 2013 by Wiebe Helder. The company sells a multi-tenant SaaS platform to enterprise shippers that automates spot-buy and contract freight management across all freight modes — air, ocean, rail, road, parcel, OBC, NFO, and charter — with modules covering transportation order management, spot and contract rate comparison, shipment execution, visibility and tracking, invoice audit, analytics, and carbon emissions reporting. Its target customers are large enterprise manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers in Automotive, Semiconductor, Oil & Gas, Energy, and Industrial Machinery, with enterprise brands such as Continental, Mahle, Bosch, Siemens, Reckitt, Sulzer, Vantage Drilling, Maxeon, Prysmian, VDL, Mekra Lang, and Cascade Die Casting Group among named users, plus Aviation (AOG) as a secondary vertical.

The product is differentiated by rapid 4-week average implementation (versus years for legacy TMS), a shipper-centric spot quote routing and comparison engine, multi-level approval workflows, predictive ETA through a Portcast partnership, automated invoice matching, and 250+ integrations to ERP, Freight Audit & Payment, and BI systems. Differentiated capabilities also include SOC 2 Type II (Nov 2024) and ISO 27001 (May 2025) security certifications, GDPR compliance, and a control-tower visibility layer aggregating tracking from 1,200+ vetted logistics service providers across 50+ countries.

Cargobase operates a sales-led go-to-market with enterprise field sales targeting Fortune 500 manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers globally, supported by content marketing through its blog, G2 peer review presence (ranked #6 of 184 TMS solutions), industry events, and an inbound referral channel via its 1,200+ logistics service providers. Revenue is generated primarily through quote-based SaaS subscriptions paid by enterprise shippers; logistics service providers are onboarded without platform fees, while an additional recurring revenue stream comes from freight forwarder and carrier directory listings (from US$999/year). The company closed a Growth Financing round in September 2022 led by Trestle Partners with participation from Lufthansa Innovation Hub, used to open new offices in Mexico City, Detroit, and Schiphol alongside its Singapore headquarters and Kuala Lumpur office.

Name

Cargobase

Legal name

Cargobase

Website

https://cargobase.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cargobase is a Singapore-based cloud Transportation Management System serving enterprise shippers in Automotive, Semiconductor, Oil & Gas, Energy, and Industrial Machinery with spot and contract freight procurement, shipment execution, visibility, invoice audit, and analytics across all freight modes in 50+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transportation Management Software

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Freight Transportation Arrangement (4885)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Carrier/Ship-From TMS (Shipper-Facing Execution) (TLAEAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Carrier Sales & Capacity Sourcing Platforms (TLAEAJAD), Shipper-Carrier Direct Contracting Networks (TLAEAJAC)

Keywords

• Freight management software
• Transportation management system
• Spot freight procurement
• Supply chain visibility
• Logistics technology platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. SaaS/TMS Platform Subscription: Cargobase generates revenue through SaaS subscription fees for access to its cloud-based Transportation Management System. The platform is sold to enterprise shippers who pay for the software to manage their spot and contract freight procurement, shipment execution, tracking, invoice audit, and analytics. Logistics service providers are not charged for platform usage, benefiting from streamlined operations and improved communication with shipper customers.
2. Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory Listing: Logistics service providers can pay to be listed on the Cargobase Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory, a one-time setup cost plus annual subscription starting from US$ 999/year. This allows providers to be discovered by enterprise shippers searching by freight mode, region, language, and specialised services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Cargobase sells a cloud-based Transportation Management System (TMS) as a multi-tenant SaaS platform for enterprise shippers to manage spot-buy and contract freight procurement, shipment execution, real-time visibility, invoice audit, and analytics across all freight modes (air, ocean, road, rail, parcel, OBC, NFO, Charter). The platform connects shippers to a network of 1,200+ vetted logistics service providers and supports 250+ integrations with ERP, Freight Audit & Payment, and business intelligence systems. It also offers a separately priced Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory service for logistics providers.

Product overview

Cargobase offers a cloud-based Transportation Management System (TMS) as a unified platform for enterprise shippers. The core product consists of integrated modules including Transportation Order Management, Spot & Contract Rate Management, Shipment Execution, Visibility & Tracking (enhanced by Portcast partnership), Invoice Audit, Analytics, and Carbon Visibility. The platform supports spot-buy freight automation across all freight modes (air, ocean, road, rail, parcel) and is used by enterprise shippers in automotive, semiconductor, oil & gas, energy, and industrial machinery sectors in 50+ countries. Additional services include a Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory and LSP Introduction Program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cargobase Transportation Management System (TMS) Cloud-based multi-tenant SaaS Transportation Management System for enterprise shippers, providing spot-buy and contract freight management, shipment execution, real-time multi-modal visibility, predictive ETA, automated invoice matching, multi-level approval workflows, carbon emissions tracking, and freight analytics. Supports air, ocean, road, rail, parcel, OBC, NFO and Charter modes with 250+ ERP/FAP/BI integrations.
• Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory Discoverability directory for logistics service providers (freight forwarders and carriers) listing their services by freight mode, region, language, and specialisation. Providers pay a one-time setup cost plus annual subscription starting from US$ 999/year. Major listed providers include Kuehne+Nagel, DSV, Hellmann, DB Schenker, Geodis, Röhlig and Sky Global Time Critical Solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 27% cost savings within months of implementation
• +14 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability4 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• PortcastcoreTechnology or Integration · 7 June 2024Strategic partnership integrating Portcast's real-time container tracking, terminal insights, predictive analytics on shipment arrivals, and delay/exception reasons within the Cargobase TMS dashboard. Provides actionable visibility data with exception management across the shipment lifecycle from planning to booking to real-time tracking.
• GateHouse MaritimemoderateTechnology or Integration · 9 May 2023Extended partnership with GateHouse Maritime to enhance supply chain visibility through AIS-based vessel tracking and maritime data, providing data-driven solutions for enterprise shippers.
• Kuehne + NagelmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKuehne+Nagel (80,000+ employees, 1,300 sites in ~100 countries) is listed on the Cargobase Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory and is active on the Cargobase platform, providing spot and contract freight services to shippers. Supports Ocean FCL/LCL, Road FTL/LTL, OBC/Handcarry across all major regions.
• DSVmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDSV (~75,000 employees in 80+ countries) is listed on the Cargobase Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory, providing rail and expedited road freight services to enterprise shippers using the platform.
• Hellmann Worldwide LogisticsmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHellmann Worldwide Logistics (20,500+ people, 489 offices in 173 countries) is listed on the Cargobase Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory, providing airfreight, sea freight, road, rail, and contract logistics through the platform.
• DB SchenkermoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDB Schenker is listed on the Cargobase Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory as a global logistics provider active on the platform for enterprise shippers.
• GeodismoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGeodis is listed on the Cargobase Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory as a leading global logistics provider serving enterprise shippers on the platform.
• RöhligminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRöhlig (2,700+ employees, 35+ countries, founded 1852) is listed on the Cargobase Freight Forwarder & Carrier Directory, providing sea freight, air freight, and contract logistics services.
• Sky Global Time Critical SolutionsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSky Global Time Critical Solutions (based in Malaysia/Singapore) offers OBC, NFO, Air Charter, and Customs Clearance Solutions on the Cargobase platform for time-sensitive and high-value shipments.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Manhattan Active Transportation Management: Manhattan's TMS is part of the broader Manhattan Active supply chain suite (WMS, OMS, TMS). Competes with Cargobase for multi-mode execution, rate management, and visibility across enterprise shippers, with bundled supply chain value versus Cargobase's standalone focus.
• Blue Yonder: Blue Yonder is a major end-to-end supply chain platform with TMS capabilities, expanded through the acquisition of several logistics technology assets. Competes with Cargobase at the enterprise shipper level, offering much broader functionality and integration with planning, WMS, and yard.
• SAP Transportation Management: SAP TM is integrated within SAP S/4HANA and competes for enterprise shippers that want TMS consolidated with ERP and broader supply chain processes. Direct functional competitor to Cargobase for large global manufacturers, especially within SAP customer bases.
• Descartes Systems Group: Descartes provides a broad logistics technology portfolio including TMS, visibility, customs, and routing solutions for global shippers. Overlaps with Cargobase in rate management, execution, and tracking, but sold through a much wider portfolio rather than a focused TMS play.
• Oracle Transportation Management: Oracle TMS is a long-standing enterprise TMS offered as part of Oracle's wider SCM cloud. Competes against Cargobase for Fortune 500 / large enterprise shipper freight procurement and execution, with the advantage of ERP/SCM bundling but typically slower implementation.

Others

• project44: project44 is a supply chain visibility platform integrated with TMS workflows, providing predictive ETA and exception management. Cargobase is partly a partner (via Portcast for similar capabilities) and partly a competitor in the control tower / visibility layer that overlaps with TMS execution.

Emerging players

• Uber Freight (incl. Transplace): Uber Freight combines a digital freight marketplace with Transplace's TMS capabilities, competing with Cargobase on both the carrier sourcing side and shipper TMS execution. Stronger in North American over-the-road but expanding into adjacent modes and enterprise TMS.

Direct peers

• MercuryGate (Infios/Körber): MercuryGate is a standalone transportation management system provider offering rate management, shipment execution, visibility, and carrier sourcing - highly comparable to Cargobase's full TMS suite. Both target enterprise shippers across multiple modes and compete head-to-head for similar procurement and execution workflows.
• 3Gtms (now part of Mecalux): 3Gtms (3G-TL) is a dedicated TMS vendor known for complex rating, multi-mode execution, and enterprise shipper workflows. Direct competitor to Cargobase in shipper-side freight procurement, contract and spot management, and global logistics execution.
• Alpega TMS: Alpega's TMS (formerly TMS edi) is a multi-modal transportation management platform for shippers and logistics providers, with strong presence in Europe - a geography where Cargobase also operates (Schiphol office). They overlap in carrier sourcing, execution, visibility, and integration capabilities for enterprise customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cargobase
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cargobase
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cargobase

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors5 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cargobase