R&J Trucking Migrates From Legacy System to Cloud-Based TMS

Key Takeaways

• Legacy AS/400 replaced by cloud-native BulkOffice TMS.
• Built on Microsoft Power Platform via TwoSommers.
• Enables custom billing, driver pay structures for bulk carriers.
• Improves reporting, visibility, and reduces manual workload.
• Positions R&J for AI-driven routing and service.

Summary

R&J Trucking, a bulk carrier with over 600 trucks and 1,000 trailers, retired its IBM AS/400‑based system in favor of a custom cloud transportation management system called BulkOffice. The new TMS was built on the Microsoft Power Platform by TwoSommers, preserving the deep customization the company valued while adding modern integration and reporting capabilities. BulkOffice handles the unique billing and driver‑pay structures of bulk carriers, streamlining operations and reducing manual effort. The platform also opens a path toward AI‑driven routing and customer service enhancements.

Pulse Analysis

Legacy transportation software often hampers growth, especially for bulk carriers that rely on highly specialized billing and dispatch rules. R&J’s former AS/400 environment, while customizable, suffered from integration bottlenecks and a shrinking talent pool capable of maintaining decades‑old code. By moving to a cloud-native architecture, the company sidestepped these constraints, gaining instant scalability and the ability to connect with modern data sources without the overhead of legacy hardware.

The BulkOffice TMS was engineered on Microsoft’s Power Platform, a low‑code environment that accelerates development while preserving the deep configurability R&J demanded. TwoSommers leveraged code‑generation tools to replicate the AS/400’s flexibility, then layered industry‑specific features such as “all‑in” rate quoting, percentage‑based driver pay, and granular accessorial charge tracking. The result is a system that delivers real‑time visibility into loads, simplifies report generation for any stakeholder, and reduces manual data entry, directly translating into faster billing cycles and higher driver satisfaction.

Beyond immediate operational gains, the cloud foundation positions R&J to adopt advanced analytics and artificial intelligence. With data centralized and accessible, predictive routing, dynamic pricing, and automated customer service become viable next steps. This migration reflects a broader trend where bulk and specialized carriers are abandoning one‑size‑fits‑all LTL solutions in favor of bespoke, cloud‑first platforms that can evolve alongside emerging technologies, ensuring long‑term competitiveness in a rapidly digitizing logistics landscape.