WiseTech Global acquires TMS vendor SaaS Transportation

Australian logistics software provider WiseTech Global said late Monday it acquired the transportation management system (TMS) vendor SaaS Transportation Inc. in a bid to expand its share of the U.S. less-than-truckload (LTL) shipping sector.

Sydney, Australia-based WiseTech acquired the firm to take advantage of its knowledge of the American market, LTL road rate capabilities, and connections to U.S. carriers, WiseTech Founder and CEO Richard White said in a statement. SaaS Transportation's cloud-based software supports connections between retailers and third-party logistics (3PL) providers and LTL carriers, including FedEx Freight, XPO Logistics, Old Dominion Freight Line Inc., UPS Freight, and YRC Freight.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Destin, Fla.-based SaaS Transportation said the acquisition would expand its customer reach by opening up access to WiseTech's global infrastructure, SaaS Transportation Managing Director Ken Pehanick said in a statement.

SaaS Transportation said it will continue to provide LTL shipping solutions directly to its U.S. customers and potentially expand its market to include WiseTech's roster of customers, including the 7,000 international logistics providers who use the firm's integrated supply chain execution solutions, WiseTech said.

The acquisition is WiseTech's latest move to expand its market share, following several other acquisitions of logistics solutions providers outside the U.S. and WiseTech's 2017 decision to join a consortium formed by transportation technology provider Banyan Technology. The consortium connects retailers and 3PLs with local truckers nationwide to provide same-day delivery of heavyweight e-commerce orders.