Reinventing
Freight
Procurement

Frequently asked questions about Emerge

What is Emerge?

Emerge is a freight procurement platform for shippers. On one platform, ProcureOS, shippers run annual RFPs and mini bids with their own carriers, quote and book spot freight, benchmark rates against market data, and add capacity from Emerge Marketplace, a network of more than 45,000 vetted carriers.

What kind of company is Emerge?

Emerge is a freight technology company. It builds ProcureOS, the procurement platform shippers use to run contract bids, spot quoting and benchmarking, and it operates Emerge Marketplace, the carrier network behind it. The about page reports more than 55,000 shippers and carriers on the platform, more than 20 billion dollars of freight flowed through the marketplace, and a team of more than 200 people.

Is Emerge a freight broker or a software platform?

Emerge is a software platform. Shippers license ProcureOS to run annual RFPs, mini bids and spot quoting across their own carrier base, and to benchmark every rate against market data. Emerge Marketplace sits alongside the platform as an optional source of extra capacity, so you choose lane by lane where the trucks come from.

Who is Emerge for?

Emerge is built for shippers that buy truckload and LTL freight, from small businesses to mid-size companies and enterprise procurement teams, across contract and spot. Carriers use Emerge too: they create an account to bid on contract lanes and spot loads from those shippers.

What is freight procurement?

Freight procurement is how a shipper buys transportation: deciding which carriers move which lanes, at what rate, under what terms, and for how long. In truckload it runs on an annual freight RFP that sets contract rates for the year, mini bids that reset lanes that drift between bids, and spot quoting for loads the contract carriers do not cover.

Can I use my own carriers, or do I have to use the marketplace?

You can use your own carriers only. The Platform Only option licenses ProcureOS to run procurement across your existing carrier base with no marketplace required, and the Marketplace option adds Emerge's vetted carrier network on top of the same platform. Both are described on the pricing page.

How is Emerge different from a load board or a digital freight marketplace?

A load board posts loads and waits for whoever responds. Emerge is where the shipper runs the bid: the RFPs and mini bids, the contract rates, the spot quotes and the carrier scorecards live in one place, with your own carriers first and the marketplace as added capacity. Our post on load boards versus freight marketplaces explains the difference in detail.

Does Emerge handle contract freight, spot freight, or both?

Both. Contract procurement covers annual RFPs, mini bids and carrier scorecards. Spot procurement covers quote execution, instant booking through Dynamic Book It Now, and tracking. Since August 2026 Emerge also supports LTL quoting: you connect your own LTL carriers and brokers and compare their rates on one screen.

Does Emerge integrate with my TMS?

Yes. Emerge connects to OTM, MercuryGate, e2open, Princeton TMX and IntelliTrans, so your team can access Emerge Marketplace, Dynamic Book It Now and auto-awarding without leaving the TMS. Details are on the TMS integrations page.

Is Emerge a TMS?

No. A transportation management system executes loads: tendering, tracking, freight audit inputs. Emerge decides the rates and carriers before that, which is why shippers sometimes describe it as a light TMS for quoting, and it connects to the TMS you already run. Our guide to what a light TMS is explains the difference.

Where does Emerge's market data come from?

FreightWaves SONAR provides market analysis and project44 provides real-time tracking through Emerge's data partners, and DAT provides the branded truckload rate benchmarking inside the platform. Contract Benchmarking uses that data to identify underperforming lanes and create a bid event directly from the benchmark report.

What is the freight market doing right now?

Emerge publishes market updates for shippers, with every figure sourced and dated. The current view is in our H2 2026 freight market outlook, and Contract Benchmarking shows where your own lanes sit against the market today.

How much does Emerge cost?

Emerge does not publish a price list, because the price is based on the procurement capabilities you need, the amount and type of freight you manage, and the level of partnership that is right for your business, with a Marketplace option and a Platform Only option. ProcureOS platform access, spot quoting with Dynamic Book It Now, reporting and analytics, and onboarding and support are always included. Ask for custom pricing and you get a quote built around your freight.

Is Emerge secure?

Emerge is SOC 2 Type II, offers US and EU hosting, and is privacy first. Security and hosting options are listed on the pricing page under what is included.

Which shippers use Emerge?

Emerge publishes resources for retail, food and beverage, and industrial and manufacturing shippers. Ace Hardware moved nearly 3,800 shipments with Emerge in 2026 at 98 percent on-time delivery and under 1 percent rejections, and case studies are published for Dollar Tree, Pepsi Bottling and Golden State Foods on the resources page.

How do I set up as a carrier with Emerge?

Carriers create an account and start bidding on contract lanes and spot loads from shippers on the platform. Large fleets that perform consistently can apply to the Premier Program for access to premier freight.