Williams & Associates

What Williams & Associates does

Williams & Associates, Inc. is a privately held, third-generation family-owned freight management and transportation consulting firm founded in 1921 by F.V. Caesar and headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota. The company provides freight bill audit and payment services, freight claims management, post-audit recovery, transportation consulting, and software to businesses ranging from small and medium businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises in the United States (and more recently Canada via its Transport USA subsidiary). Its core offerings center on auditing freight invoices for overcharges and billing errors, processing payments through an EDI platform, and recovering carrier overcharges on a contingency or flat-fee basis; auxiliary services include carrier contract negotiation, RFP management, routing guide development, and logistics execution through the May 2024 Transport USA acquisition, which added truckload, hazmat, and carrier brokerage capabilities.

The technology stack is anchored by proprietary software including Compass Transportation Intelligence (a real-time freight spend visibility and analytics dashboard), MultiRate (multi-mode freight rating tool), the EDI platform for paperless carrier invoicing, and a web-based carrier Payment Inquiry Portal. The technology layer automates structured-data workflows: invoice auditing against contracted rates, GL coding for charge allocation, duplicate-payment detection, small-package line-item audit, and predictive carrier performance tracking via defined KPIs. AI/ML is not a disclosed capability; automation is primarily rules-based. The firm has maintained AICPA SOC 1 Type II compliance for 13 consecutive years (2011-2024), reinforcing enterprise procurement credibility.

Williams & Associates operates a sales-led, relationship-driven go-to-market targeting both SMBs and large enterprise shippers, with dedicated account clerks, auditors, and a US-based staff model rather than self-service PLG. Revenue is generated through a mix of professional services fees, transaction- or percentage-based post-audit recovery (clients pay a share of recovered overcharges), flat-fee claims processing, hourly transportation consulting, and transportation software licensing. The company has never taken external funding, is led by CEO Matt Anderson and Chief Relations Officer Ryan Williams (third-generation family leader and prior CEO), and serves US and Canadian shippers across SMB and Fortune 500 segments via direct enterprise sales and a recently integrated 3PL service line.

Name

Williams & Associates

Legal name

Williams & Associates, Inc.

Website

https://waionline.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Williams & Associates is a privately held, family-owned freight bill audit, payment, claims management, and transportation consulting firm serving SMBs to Fortune 500 shippers across North America through proprietary technology, EDI processing, and a wholly-owned 3PL subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Freight Management Services

NAICS

Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services (541614)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Cargo Claims Management & Loss Prevention (Survey, Recovery, Subrogation Support) (TLACAHAH)

Keywords

• Freight bill auditing
• Freight payment services
• Transportation consulting
• Logistics cost reduction
• Freight claims management

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Freight Bill Audit and Payment Services: Core revenue stream providing freight invoice auditing and payment processing. Services include pre-audit before payment, post-audit recovery, and ongoing freight payment management with detailed reporting and analytics.
2. Freight Claims Management: Claims filing and collection services for loss and damage claims as well as overcharge claims. Charged as a flat fee for claim filing and collection, with an average recovery rate of 78%.
3. Post-Audit Recovery: Post-audit services examining invoices to identify discrepancies such as duplicate payments, incorrect rates, and unauthorized charges. Clients pay only a percentage of the amount recovered.
4. Transportation Consulting: Consulting services including carrier contract negotiation, RFP process, routing guide development, and supply chain analysis. Billed on an hourly fee structure with per-project maximums, with typical ROI of 2-3 months after project completion.
5. Transportation Software Licenses: MultiRate software and customized transportation software solutions provided to clients for freight rating and analysis, generating software licensing revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Williams & Associates provides outsourced freight bill auditing, payment processing, and transportation cost management services for businesses across the U.S. The firm combines proprietary software (Compass Transportation Intelligence, MultiRate) with EDI-based pre-audit, post-audit recovery, claims management, and transportation consulting to identify carrier overcharges and optimize shipping spend. The May 2024 acquisition of Transport USA added third-party logistics brokerage (truckload, hazmat) to the portfolio.

Product overview

Williams & Associates offers a unified freight management platform centered on its COMPASS Transportation Intelligence system, complemented by a suite of audit, payment, claims, and consulting services. The core offering includes Freight Payment Services (with EDI-based pre-audit and payment processing), Freight Claims Management (with 78% average recovery rate), and Freight Bill Post-Audit for overpayment recovery. These services are supported by Transportation Consulting, Freight Cost Reduction consulting, and Traffic Management. The MultiRate Software provides freight rating capabilities for LTL, TL, and parcel. The May 2024 acquisition of Transport USA expanded the portfolio to include full-service 3PL logistics. COMPASS serves as the central intelligence hub, integrating real-time visibility, automated auditing, carrier tracking, and custom dashboards across all services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Compass Transportation Intelligence: A proprietary transportation intelligence tool providing visual representation of transportation costs, freight spend analysis, real-time shipment tracking, automated invoice auditing, and carrier performance metrics.
• Transport USA
• MultiRate

Products and services

• COMPASS Transportation Intelligence Proprietary transportation intelligence platform providing real-time freight data visibility, automated invoice auditing, carrier performance tracking, custom dashboards, and freight spend analysis with trend visualization for business shippers.
• Freight Payment Services End-to-end freight invoice payment processing using EDI technology with automated pre-audit for errors and overcharges, carrier payment tracking, GL-coded management reporting, and detailed analytics for business clients.
• Freight Claims Management Full-service claims filing and collection for loss and damage claims and overcharge claims, including documentation gathering, validity determination, carrier negotiation, and real-time reporting with claim history and aging analysis.
• Freight Bill Post-Audit Post-payment examination of freight invoices to identify discrepancies such as duplicate payments, incorrect rates, and unauthorized charges; claims are filed on behalf of clients and clients pay only a percentage of the amount recovered.
• Transportation Consulting Expert consulting services including carrier contract negotiation, RFP process coordination, classification analysis, FOB/freight-term analysis, rate quotations, and logistics strategy planning across all transportation modes.
• Freight Cost Reduction Carrier contract analysis, shipping data review, rate negotiation, and routing guide optimization using advanced freight rating and analysis software, delivered by consultants with 20+ years of supply chain experience.
• Traffic Management Expert oversight of routing, carrier selection, and freight optimization including shipment consolidation into truckloads, pickup/delivery coordination, emergency shipment handling, carrier performance measurement, and rate quotations.
• MultiRate Software Web-based transportation software offering multi-mode freight rate display on a single screen, ranking modes and carriers by cost including line haul and accessorials for LTL, TL, and parcel shipments; provided to clients on a licensing basis.
• Transport USA Logistics Services Full-service third-party logistics (3PL) offering nationwide transportation solutions including truckload shipping, hazmat transportation, and carrier brokerage, connecting shippers with vetted carriers and providing dedicated brokers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $37 million saved for clients in the current year
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Transport USA, LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2024Williams & Associates acquired Transport USA, a full-service third-party logistics company established in Minneapolis in 2001. Transport USA offers truckload shipping, hazmat logistics, and carrier brokerage services nationwide. The acquisition adds 3PL capabilities to Williams & Associates' existing freight auditing and consulting services, enabling deeper integration between carrier payment, auditing, and logistics operations. Transport USA President Matt Anderson joined Williams & Associates as CEO.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cass Information Systems: Cass Information Systems is a publicly traded provider of freight bill audit, payment, and transportation management services for enterprises. They are the most direct competitor to Williams & Associates' core freight payment and audit business with a similar enterprise-targeting model.
• nVision Global Technology Solutions: nVision Global provides freight audit, payment, and global supply chain visibility services to enterprise shippers. It competes directly with Williams & Associates in transportation cost management, freight invoice auditing, and claims recovery, with comparable EDI-driven processing capabilities.
• CT Logistics: CT Logistics is a long-established freight audit, rating, and payment services firm serving shippers and carriers. It offers freight bill audit and supply chain consulting analogous to Williams & Associates' services, with similar consultative delivery and enterprise focus.
• Redwood Logistics: Redwood Logistics offers a combination of managed transportation, 3PL brokerage, and logistics technology services. Its mix of brokerage and digital logistics technology makes it directly comparable to W&A's Transport USA division and the integrated services strategy post-acquisition.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Bank Freight Payment: U.S. Bank's Freight Payment division is a large bank-owned provider of freight audit, payment, and supply chain finance services. As part of a major financial institution, it offers freight payment capabilities that overlap with Williams & Associates but with broader scale, banking relationships, and capital access.
• Trimble Transportation: Trimble Transportation provides a broad TMS and freight management platform used by enterprise shippers and carriers. While not a freight audit specialist, Trimble bundles audit and visibility functionality that competes with W&A's COMPASS and freight payment services as part of a larger tech stack.
• Blue Yonder: Blue Yonder (formerly JDA Software) offers an end-to-end supply chain platform including TMS, transportation visibility, and freight audit/payment features. As a major incumbent in supply chain software, it represents the bundled-software competitive threat to Williams & Associates' standalone audit/payment business.
• MercuryGate International: MercuryGate provides a multi-modal TMS used by shippers, 3PLs, and brokers. While its core is TMS rather than freight audit, its carrier rating, payment, and visibility features overlap with parts of W&A's COMPASS and freight payment value proposition.
• Uber Freight: Uber Freight (including the legacy Transplace managed transportation business) is a large digital freight broker and managed transportation provider. It competes with Williams & Associates' Transport USA subsidiary in truckload brokerage while also offering adjacent supply chain technology.
• A.P. Moller-Maersk Logistics & Services: Maersk's Logistics & Services segment offers end-to-end supply chain management including managed transportation, customs, and visibility solutions. As a global incumbent, it represents the scale and integration risk that smaller freight specialists face when competing for multinational enterprise contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Williams & Associates