---
title: Find Your Hidden In-House Freight Costs | Loadsmart
description: Shippers spend lots of money on staff and software just to manage freight in-house. Here’s how much transportation overhead costs, and what to do about it.
image: https://blog.loadsmart.com/hubfs/transportation-in-house-cost.png
---

[![01\_Loadsmart\_Horizontal\_Green\_RGB](https://blog.loadsmart.com/hs-fs/hubfs/loadsmart%20logos/01_Loadsmart_Horizontal_Green_RGB.png?width=200&height=35&name=01_Loadsmart_Horizontal_Green_RGB.png "01_Loadsmart_Horizontal_Green_RGB")](https://loadsmart.com/)

[![01\_Loadsmart\_Horizontal\_Green\_RGB](https://blog.loadsmart.com/hs-fs/hubfs/loadsmart%20logos/01_Loadsmart_Horizontal_Green_RGB.png?width=200&height=35&name=01_Loadsmart_Horizontal_Green_RGB.png "01_Loadsmart_Horizontal_Green_RGB")](https://loadsmart.com/)

[![01\_Loadsmart\_Horizontal\_Green\_RGB](https://blog.loadsmart.com/hs-fs/hubfs/loadsmart%20logos/01_Loadsmart_Horizontal_Green_RGB.png?width=200&height=35&name=01_Loadsmart_Horizontal_Green_RGB.png "01_Loadsmart_Horizontal_Green_RGB")](https://loadsmart.com/)

- [Home](https://blog.loadsmart.com)
- Segment
    - [Shipper](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/shipper)
    - [Carrier](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/carrier)
    - [Warehouse](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/warehouse)
- Interests
    - [Data Insights](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/data-insights)
    - [Market Trends](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/market-trends)
    - [Thought Leadership](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/thought-leadership)
    - [News](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/news)
- Resources
    - [Blogs](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/blog)
    - [Community](https://community.loadsmart.com/)
    - [Case Studies](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/case-study)
    - [eBooks](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/ebook)
    - [Videos](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/video)
    - [Assets](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/asset)
- [Signup](https://loadsmart.com/)

[Learn more](https://loadsmart.com/)

[Learn More](https://loadsmart.com/)

[Learn More](https://loadsmart.com/)

- [Home](https://blog.loadsmart.com)
- Segment

    - [Shipper](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/shipper)
    - [Carrier](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/carrier)
    - [Warehouse](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/warehouse)
- Interests

    - [Data Insights](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/data-insights)
    - [Market Trends](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/market-trends)
    - [Thought Leadership](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/thought-leadership)
    - [News](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/news)
- Resources

    - [Blogs](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/blog)
    - [Community](https://community.loadsmart.com/)
    - [Case Studies](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/case-study)
    - [eBooks](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/ebook)
    - [Videos](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/video)
    - [Assets](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/asset)
- [Signup](https://loadsmart.com/)

<https://blog.loadsmart.com/> Loadsmart Blog

#### Share this

[Share on X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://blog.loadsmart.com/transportation-in-house-cost&text=Find+Your+Hidden+In-House+Freight+Costs+%7C+Loadsmart) [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.loadsmart.com/transportation-in-house-cost&t=Find+Your+Hidden+In-House+Freight+Costs+%7C+Loadsmart) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.loadsmart.com/transportation-in-house-cost&t=Find+Your+Hidden+In-House+Freight+Costs+%7C+Loadsmart)

# The Transportation Tax: The Hidden Cost of In-House Freight

 by [**Sarah Fidrych**](https://blog.loadsmart.com/author/sarah-fidrych)

Key Takeaways

- The transportation tax is the hidden cost of running freight logistics in-house, beyond obvious direct expenses.
- It stems from in-house staffing, disconnected software subscriptions, integration costs, and missed optimization savings.
- This tax compounds invisibly as teams and software usage scale, growing without a clear ceiling.
- Managed transportation bundles technology and expertise, addressing the tax better than TMS, 3PLs, or AI alone.

For many shippers, calculating the cost of running freight in-house starts and ends with direct costs. Think subscription fees, employee wages, and money that goes to fines and charges. However, there are plenty of hidden transportation operational costs that go unnoticed when running in-house freight, ones that can add up to several million dollars once you account for them.

This post breaks down what we call the transportation tax, the hidden cost of running transportation in-house. Not only will we help you identify it, but we'll help you make smarter decisions about how you run your transportation logistics, including whether [managed transportation](https://loadsmart.com/shipper/managed-transportation/) fits your operation.

[![The Complete Guide to Transportation Management Systems eBook](https://blog.loadsmart.com/hs-fs/hubfs/TMS%20eBook%20Download%20CTA.png?width=1200&height=475&name=TMS%20eBook%20Download%20CTA.png)](https://lp.shipperguide.com/tms-ebook?utm_source=loadsmart&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=managed-transportation-loadsmart-shipperguide-q4-26&utm_content=transportation-in-house-cost)

## What Is the Transportation Tax?

The transportation tax is the total hidden cost of running transportation in-house. In some cases, this hidden cost can reach more than $1 million for Enterprise Shippers.

## Breaking Down the Transportation Tax

This transportation cost is more easily understood when we break it down into its individual components.

### FTEs Managing Transportation

Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs) making up a transportation team in-house are probably the largest hidden cost. The money paid to FTEs covers not just their salaries but benefits and overhead. For Enterprise Shippers, a transportation team is likely to consist of four to eight FTEs being paid $500,000 to $1.2 million total.

### Disconnected Software Subscriptions

Enterprise Shippers typically invest in two to three software subscriptions:

- A [transportation management system (TMS)](https://blog.shipperguide.com/what-is-a-transportation-management-system?utm_source=loadsmart&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=managed-transportation-loadsmart-shipperguide-q4-26&utm_content=transportation-in-house-cost) for execution
- A shipment tracking and visibility platform
- Rate benchmarking or procurement tools

This can run anywhere from $75,000 to $300,000.

### Implementation and Integration Costs

[Integration and implementation costs](https://blog.shipperguide.com/tms-implementation-costs?utm_source=loadsmart&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=managed-transportation-loadsmart-shipperguide-q4-26&utm_content=transportation-in-house-cost) go hand-in-hand with any software investment. Connecting your TMS to ERPs, carrier networks, and EDI partners can run $100,000 to $300,000, depending on the number of systems and integrations involved.

### Lost Savings From No Visibility or Optimization

Operating in-house without dedicated logistics expertise can make it difficult to detect inefficiencies. Missed opportunities typically represent 5% to 15% of your total freight spend.

[![Take the ShipperGuide Analytics product tour](https://blog.loadsmart.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Product%20Tour_ShipperGuide.png?width=1200&height=475&name=Product%20Tour_ShipperGuide.png)](https://loadsmart.navattic.com/lj7y0vxu?g=cmovz62k8007h04jvgo7fhbee&s=0&utm_source=loadsmart&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=managed-transportation-loadsmart-shipperguide-q4-26&utm_content=transportation-in-house-cost)

## Why the Transportation Tax Grows Invisibly

The transportation tax isn't a static figure in your operations. Instead, it only grows with every new addition to your team or attempt to scale your software usage. Subscription upgrades and growing headcount: these costs compound over time.

## What Do Shippers Do About the Transportation Tax?

Shippers usually try one of four moves, and each one addresses a different part of the cost.

### Buy a TMS

Often, shippers turn to technology to try to solve their operational issues. Investing in a transportation management system is a logical impulse. The only problem is that it won't make the transportation tax disappear. Implementation of a legacy TMS takes 12 to 18 months on average (though some modern TMS platforms can get you up and running much quicker), and you'll still need a transportation team to manage your operations and interpret data.

### Hire a 3PL

Another step shippers take is engaging a 3PL to take some of the load off of managing their transportation. A 3PL can take on staffing and carrier management, and the points to check are how it prices the service and who owns your rate and shipment data, which our breakdown of the [3PL cost structure](https://blog.loadsmart.com/3pl-cost-structure) covers.

### Adopt an AI Point Solution

The other solution shippers run to is AI. Treating AI tools as a cure-all is a misstep, as artificial intelligence only augments human operators rather than replacing them. This is why [more than 40% of shippers](https://www.bcg.com/press/27march2026-ai-expectations-rise-in-logistics-scaled-adoption-remains-limited) take logistics providers' AI capabilities into account, but fewer than 10% treat AI as a mandatory criterion. Even if you're adopting AI-powered solutions, you still run into the issue of needing a team to manage your transportation.

### Managed Transportation

Enterprise Shippers may turn to [managed transportation providers](https://blog.loadsmart.com/managed-transportation-services) that bundle the technology and expertise they'd otherwise have to [build in-house](https://blog.loadsmart.com/in-house-vs-managed-transportation). The model scales with your needs; you can start with specific functions like optimization or freight audit, and expand to fully managed end-to-end execution as your operation scales.

## Find Out What Your Transportation Tax Actually Is

The figures above are industry ranges. Your actual number depends on your team size, freight volume, and software stack. Loadsmart offers a [free transportation savings assessment](https://lp.loadsmart.com/en/free-transportation-savings-assessment) that analyzes your freight data and identifies where your hidden costs are.

[![Talk to a Loadsmart transportation specialist](https://blog.loadsmart.com/hs-fs/hubfs/loadsmart-blog-cta-1200x475.png?width=1200&height=475&name=loadsmart-blog-cta-1200x475.png)](https://loadsmart.com/contact/#contact-form)

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How Do I Calculate My Company's Transportation Overhead?

You can calculate your company's transportation overhead by identifying all indirect expenses such as insurance, taxes, management salaries, and rent. Add the four components above to that list: people, software subscriptions, integration work, and the savings you are not capturing.

### How Does AI-Powered Managed Transportation Reduce Reliance on a 3PL?

It bundles the technology and the people in one service, while your rates, shipment history and carrier records stay with you. As the section above sets out, a TMS on its own still needs a team to run it, and an AI point solution only augments the operators you already have. An [AI-driven managed transportation](https://blog.shipperguide.com/ai-managed-transportation?utm_source=loadsmart&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=managed-transportation-loadsmart-shipperguide-q4-26&utm_content=transportation-in-house-cost) provider covers planning, execution and audit under one fee, and you can start with a single function rather than handing over the whole operation.

### What's the Fastest Way to Reduce Transportation Overhead?

The fastest way to reduce transportation overhead is through strategic route planning, shipment consolidation, and more effective carrier negotiation. Each one attacks a cost you are already paying, rather than adding another tool to the stack.

Topics: [Managed Transportation](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/managed-transportation)

#### Share this

[Share on X](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https://blog.loadsmart.com/transportation-in-house-cost&text=Find+Your+Hidden+In-House+Freight+Costs+%7C+Loadsmart) [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.loadsmart.com/transportation-in-house-cost&t=Find+Your+Hidden+In-House+Freight+Costs+%7C+Loadsmart) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.loadsmart.com/transportation-in-house-cost&t=Find+Your+Hidden+In-House+Freight+Costs+%7C+Loadsmart)

- Recent
- Topics
- Archive

Recent

Topics

- [Loadsmart Blog (160)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/loadsmart-blog)
- [Blog (121)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/blog)
- [Shipper (107)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/shipper)
- [Market Trends (101)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/market-trends)
- [Enterprise Shipper (69)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/enterprise-shipper)
- [Carrier (66)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/carrier)
- [Data Insights (51)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/data-insights)
- [Thought Leadership (45)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/thought-leadership)
- [Warehouse (42)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/warehouse)
- [SMB Shipper (38)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/smb-shipper)
- [Our Partners (34)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/our-partners)
- [ShipperGuide TMS (32)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/shipperguide-tms)
- [Opendock (31)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/opendock)
- [Product Updates (29)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/product-updates)
- [Mode Optimization (25)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/mode-optimization)
- [Loadsmart (23)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/loadsmart)
- [Freight Brokers/Brokerages (22)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/freight-brokers-brokerages)
- [Case Study (18)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/case-study)
- [Managed Transportation (18)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/managed-transportation)
- [Mid-Market Shipper (18)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/mid-market-shipper)
- [Brokerage Services (15)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/brokerage-services)
- [Featured (9)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/featured)
- [Video (9)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/video)
- [Award (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/award)
- [FreightIntel AI (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/freightintel-ai)
- [Instant Execution (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/instant-execution)
- [Asset (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/asset)
- [Food and Beverage (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/food-and-beverage)
- [Freight Management (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/freight-management)
- [Logistics Solutions (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/logistics-solutions)
- [YMS (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/yms)
- [eBook (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/ebook)
- [4PL (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/4pl)
- [Events (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/events)
- [International (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/international)
- [NavTrac (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/navtrac)
- [Podcast (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/podcast)
- [UK (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/uk)
- [Yard Management System (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/yard-management-system)
- [Cold Storage (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/cold-storage)
- [Faces of Loadsmart (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/faces-of-loadsmart)
- [News (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/news)
- [Paper Packaging (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/paper-packaging)
- [Retail (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/retail)
- [Security (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/security)
- [Transportation Management System (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/tag/transportation-management-system)

See all

Archive

- [September 2026 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2026/09)
- [August 2026 (8)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2026/08)
- [July 2026 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2026/07)
- [June 2026 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2026/06)
- [May 2026 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2026/05)
- [April 2026 (19)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2026/04)
- [March 2026 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2026/03)
- [January 2026 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2026/01)
- [December 2025 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/12)
- [November 2025 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/11)
- [October 2025 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/10)
- [September 2025 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/09)
- [August 2025 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/08)
- [July 2025 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/07)
- [June 2025 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/06)
- [May 2025 (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/05)
- [April 2025 (6)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/04)
- [March 2025 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/03)
- [February 2025 (10)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/02)
- [January 2025 (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2025/01)
- [December 2024 (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/12)
- [November 2024 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/11)
- [October 2024 (11)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/10)
- [September 2024 (11)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/09)
- [August 2024 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/08)
- [July 2024 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/07)
- [June 2024 (9)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/06)
- [May 2024 (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/05)
- [April 2024 (6)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/04)
- [March 2024 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/03)
- [February 2024 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/02)
- [January 2024 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2024/01)
- [December 2023 (6)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/12)
- [November 2023 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/11)
- [October 2023 (12)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/10)
- [September 2023 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/09)
- [August 2023 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/08)
- [July 2023 (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/07)
- [June 2023 (10)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/06)
- [May 2023 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/05)
- [April 2023 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/04)
- [March 2023 (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/03)
- [February 2023 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/02)
- [January 2023 (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2023/01)
- [December 2022 (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/12)
- [November 2022 (13)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/11)
- [October 2022 (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/10)
- [September 2022 (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/09)
- [August 2022 (11)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/08)
- [July 2022 (6)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/07)
- [June 2022 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/06)
- [May 2022 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/05)
- [April 2022 (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/04)
- [March 2022 (6)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/03)
- [February 2022 (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/02)
- [January 2022 (9)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2022/01)
- [December 2021 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/12)
- [November 2021 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/11)
- [October 2021 (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/10)
- [September 2021 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/09)
- [August 2021 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/08)
- [July 2021 (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/07)
- [June 2021 (6)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/06)
- [May 2021 (6)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/05)
- [April 2021 (5)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/04)
- [March 2021 (8)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/03)
- [February 2021 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/02)
- [January 2021 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2021/01)
- [December 2020 (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/12)
- [November 2020 (9)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/11)
- [October 2020 (7)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/10)
- [September 2020 (6)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/09)
- [August 2020 (10)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/08)
- [July 2020 (8)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/07)
- [June 2020 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/06)
- [May 2020 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/05)
- [April 2020 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/04)
- [March 2020 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/03)
- [February 2020 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/02)
- [January 2020 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2020/01)
- [November 2019 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2019/11)
- [October 2019 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2019/10)
- [September 2019 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2019/09)
- [August 2019 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2019/08)
- [July 2019 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2019/07)
- [June 2019 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2019/06)
- [May 2019 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2019/05)
- [March 2019 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2019/03)
- [February 2019 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2019/02)
- [December 2018 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/12)
- [November 2018 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/11)
- [October 2018 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/10)
- [September 2018 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/09)
- [August 2018 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/08)
- [July 2018 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/07)
- [June 2018 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/06)
- [May 2018 (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/05)
- [April 2018 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/04)
- [February 2018 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/02)
- [January 2018 (4)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2018/01)
- [November 2017 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2017/11)
- [October 2017 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2017/10)
- [June 2017 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2017/06)
- [May 2017 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2017/05)
- [April 2017 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2017/04)
- [February 2017 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2017/02)
- [January 2017 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2017/01)
- [October 2016 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2016/10)
- [August 2016 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2016/08)
- [July 2016 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2016/07)
- [June 2016 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2016/06)
- [March 2016 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2016/03)
- [January 2016 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2016/01)
- [December 2015 (3)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2015/12)
- [November 2015 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2015/11)
- [October 2015 (6)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2015/10)
- [July 2015 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2015/07)
- [June 2015 (1)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2015/06)
- [April 2015 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2015/04)
- [March 2015 (13)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2015/03)
- [February 2015 (17)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2015/02)
- [January 2015 (15)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2015/01)
- [December 2014 (35)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2014/12)
- [November 2014 (26)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2014/11)
- [October 2014 (60)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2014/10)
- [September 2014 (2)](https://blog.loadsmart.com/archive/2014/09)

See all

### Subscribe by email

#### About Loadsmart

Loadsmart is on a mission to transform the future of freight.   
We combine cutting edge technology with deep industry expertise to fundamentally change how freight is priced, booked and shipped.

<https://www.linkedin.com/company/loadsmart><https://www.instagram.com/loadsmart><https://twitter.com/LoadSmartUS/><https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN-pkKcoMargmyL0Br3-H5w><https://www.facebook.com/loadsmartUS>

SHIPPERS

- [Shipper Solutions](https://loadsmart.com/shipper/)
- [Managed Transportation](https://loadsmart.com/shipper/managed-transportation/)
- [ShipperGuide TMS](https://loadsmart.com/shipper/shipperguide/)
- [Private Fleet Optimizer](https://lp.loadsmart.com/loadsmart-fleet-optimization)
- [Flatbed messenger](https://loadsmart.com/shipper/flatbed-messenger/)

CARRIERS

- [Carrier Solutions](https://loadsmart.com/carrier/)
- [Carrier Loadboard](https://carrier.loadsmart.com/#/)
- [Carrier TMS](https://loadsmart.com/carrier/tms/)
- [Factoring](https://lp.loadsmart.com/factoring-sign-up)
- [Apps for iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/developer/loadsmart-inc/id983298955)
- [Apps for Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Loadsmart,+Inc.&hl=en_US)

DOCKS & YARDS

- [Warehouse Solutions](https://loadsmart.com/warehouse/)
- [Dock Scheduling](https://opendock.com/)
- [Yard and Asset Visibility](https://www.navtrac.com/)

ABOUT

- [Who we are](https://loadsmart.com/about)
- [Careers](https://loadsmart.com/careers)
- [Partnerships](https://lp.loadsmart.com/loadsmart-partner-portal-1)
- [Blog](https://blog.loadsmart.com/)
- [Resources](https://content.loadsmart.com/)
- [Contact](https://loadsmart.com/contact)
- [Community](https://community.loadsmart.com/hc/en-us)
- [Loadsmart API](https://developer.loadsmart.com/docs/)
- [Engineering Blog](https://engineering.loadsmart.com/)

© 2026 Loadsmart Inc. All rights reserved.

- [User Agreement](https://loadsmart.com/user-agreement)
- [Master SaaS and Services Agreement](https://loadsmart.com/master-saas-and-services-agreement)
- [Privacy Policy](https://loadsmart.com/privacy-policy)
- [Subscription and Professional Services Agreement](https://loadsmart.com/subscription-and-professional-services-agreement)
- [Security](https://lp.loadsmart.com/security)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Sarah Fidrych",
    "url" : "https://blog.loadsmart.com/author/sarah-fidrych"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-10-01T16:31:23.933Z",
  "datePublished" : "2026-05-06T13:49:38.000Z",
  "headline" : "Find Your Hidden In-House Freight Costs | Loadsmart",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.loadsmart.com/hubfs/transportation-in-house-cost.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.loadsmart.com/transportation-in-house-cost",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.loadsmart.com/hubfs/ls-logo.png"
    },
    "name" : "Loadsmart"
  }
}
```

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "FAQPage",
  "mainEntity" : [ {
    "@type" : "Question",
    "acceptedAnswer" : {
      "@type" : "Answer",
      "text" : "You can calculate your company's transportation overhead by identifying all indirect expenses such as insurance, taxes, management salaries, and rent. Add the four components above to that list: people, software subscriptions, integration work, and the savings you are not capturing."
    },
    "name" : "How Do I Calculate My Company's Transportation Overhead?"
  }, {
    "@type" : "Question",
    "acceptedAnswer" : {
      "@type" : "Answer",
      "text" : "It bundles the technology and the people in one service, while your rates, shipment history and carrier records stay with you. As the section above sets out, a TMS on its own still needs a team to run it, and an AI point solution only augments the operators you already have. An AI-driven managed transportation provider covers planning, execution and audit under one fee, and you can start with a single function rather than handing over the whole operation."
    },
    "name" : "How Does AI-Powered Managed Transportation Reduce Reliance on a 3PL?"
  }, {
    "@type" : "Question",
    "acceptedAnswer" : {
      "@type" : "Answer",
      "text" : "The fastest way to reduce transportation overhead is through strategic route planning, shipment consolidation, and more effective carrier negotiation. Each one attacks a cost you are already paying, rather than adding another tool to the stack."
    },
    "name" : "What's the Fastest Way to Reduce Transportation Overhead?"
  } ]
}
```