ABOUT TCI
Transportation Spend Management Backed by 40+ Years Experience
Since 1983, we’ve helped Finance, Accounting, and Supply Chain teams validate, manage, and reduce freight and 3PL costs.
Before 1980, transportation billing was simple by design.
The U.S. freight industry operated under strict federal regulation. Carriers filed tariffs with the Interstate Commerce Commission, rates were uniform and posted publicly.
Because pricing was fixed, billing was predictable and shippers had little need to negotiate. Everyone essentially paid the same rates for the same lanes.
The Motor Carrier Act of 1980 changed that.
Deregulation allowed carriers to set their own rates, offer individual contract pricing, and compete on service and cost. Pricing became negotiated and confidential, while accessorial charges multiplied. Billing formats diverged. Shippers working with multiple carriers were suddenly managing multiple pricing structures, each with their own terms and conditions.
What had been a compliance exercise became a management challenge — you could no longer assume a carrier’s invoice was correct.
TCI was founded in July 1983 to give shippers and carriers a trusted, independent check on an increasingly complex billing process.
How We’ve Adapted Over the Years
1983
After 35 years in the transportation industry, Al Konrad Sr. founded Traffic Consultants, Inc. to help shippers and carriers navigate the new deregulated landscape. TCI launched with two employees and one post-audit client.
1986
TCI introduced freight bill audit, payment, GL coding, and reporting services, capturing key data elements to give clients structured visibility into their transportation costs for the first time.
1987 – 1992
TCI grew to 12 employees and surpassed $100M in freight bills processed annually.
1990
As contract-based pricing replaced carrier tariffs, TCI developed LTL contract structures to ensure enforceable pricing and protect clients from billing disputes.
That same year, TCI began processing EDI carrier invoices and built an in-house translation program to standardize carrier data.
1995
TCI expanded audit coverage across all domestic and international modes — parcel, LTL, truckload, air freight, and ocean — and surpassed $250M in annual freight bill processing.
2000 – 2007
TCI scaled to support multi-location client networks and higher shipment volumes, processing over $400M in freight annually with a team of 24.
2008 – 2009
TCI introduced online tools giving carriers real-time invoice payment visibility and clients access to KPI dashboards and custom freight reporting.
2010
Annual freight bill processing surpassed $650M.
TCI continued its push toward full EDI invoicing and data standardization across carrier partners.
2015
Jeff Konrad was named President. Under his leadership, TCI has grown its client base, expanded its capabilities without compromising the accuracy, trust, and partnerships at the core of our business.
2020 – 2022
While businesses across every industry faced unprecedented disruption throughout COVID, TCI maintained uninterrupted operations and continued processing freight invoices without a single day of downtime.
TODAY
TCI processes nearly $1B in freight invoices annually, serving companies across diverse industries with complex, high-volume transportation needs.
We continue to invest in people, process, and technology to deliver the accuracy, visibility, and responsiveness our clients rely upon – while preserving the experience and trusted relationships that have defined us from the start.
“Our freight allocation process is exceptionally complex. TCI adapted their GL Coding Program around our specific needs — 150+ codes, across every location, division, and sales channel — giving us precise visibility and control over how our freight costs are defined and applied.”
– Telecommunications Distributor
The Values that Drive Everything We Do
People First
We are proud of our long history of treating people like people, not numbers.
That goes for our clients, our carriers, and our own team. We want to be a company our employees are proud of and one that makes a positive difference in the communities we serve.
Proven Reliability
99.9% accuracy is not a goal we work toward. It’s the standard we hold ourselves to every day.
Our clients trust us with complex financial workflows and material decisions — and we’ve spent over 40 years proving that trust is well placed.
Trusted Insights
We were founded on the belief that shippers and carriers both deserve clarity in an increasingly complex billing environment. That has not changed.
We provide fair and independent visibility across every carrier, mode, and contract, so our clients always have a complete picture of their transportation spend.
Human Ingenuity
No algorithm or dashboard can replace people who truly understand the transportation industry.
We bring creative problem-solving and strategy to every client engagement, finding solutions to complex challenges that technology or AI alone would never catch.
Relentless Curiosity
Our team brings decades of specialized transportation knowledge to every client engagement.
We stay closely attuned to industry shifts and their effect on clients’ businesses, so we can connect those changes to spend and respond before they drive cost or misalignment.
Responsible Stewardship
We hold ourselves to the highest standards in managing our clients’ resources responsibly.
Cost efficiency, quality, and sustainability are not just good business. They reflect our commitment to doing right by the people and communities we serve.
Who We Work With and What They Say
- Industrial & Equipment Manufacturing
- Pharma & Life Sciences
- Distribution & Wholesale
- Consumer & Specialty Products
- Medical Device & Healthcare
- Food, Beverage & Ingredients
- Private Equity-Backed Companies
We are the right partner for companies with complex networks, in highly regulated industries, or under increased financial scrutiny — where comprehensive audits and KP reporting positively impact service, quality, cost, and customer relationships.
“TCI defined, implemented, and analyzed our recent small parcel RFP. The results exceeded our expectations and we will be realizing an 8.3% annual savings on our $30M spend. ”
– Fortune 500 Pharmaceutical Manufacturer
“We’ve worked with TCI since 2008 — and the value of their pre audit services for all transportation modes continues to provide financial benefits. We have saved over $13M on our freight spend.”
– Medical Device Manufacturer
“TCI coordinated our 2025 LTL RFP. With their knowledge and experience, we’re saving $3M annually on our transportation spend.”
– Construction & Mining Equipment Manufacturer
Our Leadership
Jeff Konrad, President
Jeff joined TCI in 1988 and was named President in 2015. Under his leadership, TCI has broadened its capabilities, strengthened client partnerships, and delivered value that consistently exceeds the cost of the service.
Patricia Langley, Controller
As a member of the TCI team since our founding in 1983, Patricia brings unmatched institutional knowledge to every financial process and client engagement.
Candie Johnston, IT Director
Candie joined TCI in 1996 and oversees the technology infrastructure and EDI systems that keep client data accurate and accessible.
Jason Ross, TMS / Rating Director
Since joining TCI in 2010, Jason has led transportation management and rating operations, ensuring contract compliance and pricing accuracy across all modes.
Paul Konrad, Corporate Strategy Director
Paul joined TCI in 2015 and drives the company’s growth strategy and continued investment in data, tech, reporting / analysis, and client services.
Get the “Guide to Understanding LTL Freight Class Changes”
How recent classification updates affect transportation spend