Rain Transport manages shipments 20× faster with Planlogi
In this customer story, we take a closer look at how Rain Transport adopted Planlogi's all-in-one transport management software (TMS) together with its eCMR (electronic consignment note) solution, and the impact it had on the company's day-to-day work and results.
Company profile
Rain Transport is an Estonian transport company founded in 1992, providing domestic haulage services (including temperature-controlled transport and the carriage of dangerous goods (ADR)).
Its main customers are large retail and logistics companies for whom staying precisely on schedule and handling goods reliably are essential.
Rain Transport has decades of experience and is known as a flexible, customer-focused partner. It was precisely their rapid growth and high-volume daily operations that created the need to make their workflows more efficient through digitalisation.
Its main customers are large retail and logistics companies for whom staying precisely on schedule and handling goods reliably are essential.
Rain Transport has decades of experience and is known as a flexible, customer-focused partner. It was precisely their rapid growth and high-volume daily operations that created the need to make their workflows more efficient through digitalisation.
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Company size90 employees (including 4 dispatchers) -
Fleet size120 vehicles (of which 30 are semi-trailers and 60 are tail-lift trucks) -
Service areaDomestic haulage across Estonia -
ServicesDirect point-to-point deliveries and multi-drop distribution -
CustomersLarge retail and logistics companies such as DPD Eesti AS, Eesti Post AS, Onninen AS, A. Le Coq AS, Coop Eesti, Kaubaekspress OÜ, Raben Eesti OÜ and Palmako AS -
Transport volume500 orders a day, often with several pickups and drop-offs within a single run
Before Planlogi: manual processes were holding back growth
Previously, Rain Transport handled order management, transport planning and documentation largely in Excel, and managed transport documents on paper.
"Before Planlogi, we ran orders and shipments in Excel, and the invoices were all on paper.
We sent job and shipment information to drivers as text messages, and it happened that if the information reached the driver half-finished or they misunderstood it, they'd already be on their way to the wrong destination."
The workload on the dispatchers was significant: it took an estimated half an hour to process and manage a single shipment. That meant 20 hours a week spent on paperwork in transport coordination alone.
Accounting depended on the delivery notes drivers brought back, which often delayed issuing invoices to customers, and cash stayed tied up until the signed paperwork had come in.
This approach created several pain points:
Slow, labour-intensive processes
The paper consignment note (CMR) caused problems
Passing information to drivers was slow and error-prone
Logisticians' time lost to administrative tasks
Slow cash flow
Overall, Rain Transport was not satisfied with the way work was organised at the time, because it was far too time-consuming and inefficient. It was clear they needed a new solution, a TMS software that would reduce paperwork and manual effort, speed up processes and cash flow, standardise workflow and communication, and ensure real-time shipment information and visibility.
Accounting depended on the delivery notes drivers brought back, which often delayed issuing invoices to customers, and cash stayed tied up until the signed paperwork had come in.
This approach created several pain points:
Slow, labour-intensive processes
- No shared, real-time overview, because shipments and tasks started out in Excel.
- Double entry of data across different systems.
- Invoices were printed out and then moved by hand from the logistician to the accountant's desk.
- Resolving disputes often took weeks or months (for example, reviewing camera footage).
- Huge time cost, because every step required manual checking, signing and physical hand-off.
- High risk of errors, because the processes were largely manual and fragmented.
The paper consignment note (CMR) caused problems
- Consignment notes often depended on the sender: if the customer didn't hand one over with the shipment, the document never got passed on.
- Drivers frequently didn't have a suitable consignment note form, or left it blank to save time.
- Problems confirming deliveries and handling disputes (for example, if goods were already damaged, the driver had no way to document it, which could mean the driver was left to blame).
- Paper delivery notes often went missing.
Passing information to drivers was slow and error-prone
- Before Planlogi, all job information was sent to the driver by text message. These were long, detailed messages that took the logisticians a significant amount of time and effort to put together.
- If the logistician's information was incomplete, the driver could already be heading to the wrong place.
- Errors led to empty running and mis-run shipments, previously up to 10 times a month.
Logisticians' time lost to administrative tasks
- Planning and documenting a single shipment took nearly 30 minutes before Planlogi (Excel + paper + text to the driver + tracking + invoicing).
- A large share of the working day used to go on admin, leaving less time for the core work: planning, customer communication and building new customer relationships.
Slow cash flow
- Previously, a driver had to physically bring the delivery note into the office (often only once a month, when the vehicle was out on longer runs). Only then could the accountant prepare the invoice and send it to the customer.
Overall, Rain Transport was not satisfied with the way work was organised at the time, because it was far too time-consuming and inefficient. It was clear they needed a new solution, a TMS software that would reduce paperwork and manual effort, speed up processes and cash flow, standardise workflow and communication, and ensure real-time shipment information and visibility.
Why did Rain Transport choose Planlogi?
When it came to choosing software, two things mattered most to Rain Transport: lower risk and a fast return on investment (ROI).
“We wanted a solution that would improve the quality of our work and save us both time and money. Our dispatchers were spending far too much on paperwork and other duties, which left us little time for planning and for talking to customers.”
Rain Transport went with Planlogi largely because it:
✅ Automates the workflow: information moves in real time from logistician to driver and back, with no time-consuming texts or paper forms.
✅ Comes with a driver app that runs on both iOS and Android.
✅ Speeds up invoicing and improves cash flow: digital CMRs and the integration with their accounting software (Noom) let them issue invoices every day, instead of once a week or less.
✅ Cuts errors: drivers get precise job information through the system, can add photos of damage and confirm loadings, which reduces disputes and protects both the drivers and the company's reputation.
✅ Frees up the logisticians: with less admin to carry, they can focus on planning, customer communication and delivering a high-quality service.
✅ Keeps them compliant with the EU eCMR regulations that take effect in 2027.
✅ Automates the workflow: information moves in real time from logistician to driver and back, with no time-consuming texts or paper forms.
✅ Comes with a driver app that runs on both iOS and Android.
✅ Speeds up invoicing and improves cash flow: digital CMRs and the integration with their accounting software (Noom) let them issue invoices every day, instead of once a week or less.
✅ Cuts errors: drivers get precise job information through the system, can add photos of damage and confirm loadings, which reduces disputes and protects both the drivers and the company's reputation.
✅ Frees up the logisticians: with less admin to carry, they can focus on planning, customer communication and delivering a high-quality service.
✅ Keeps them compliant with the EU eCMR regulations that take effect in 2027.
How does Rain Transport manage shipments now, with Planlogi?
Today, Rain Transport's dispatchers plan and manage every order and shipment in Planlogi. The whole team works on one platform with a single set of data, which cuts errors, double entry and the risk of something being left unentered.
They have a real-time view of every shipment's status. The logistician sends job instructions to the drivers' mobile app through Planlogi, and sees on the map where the vehicles are and which shipments are on the road. Drivers report straight from the app and use it to collect pickup and delivery confirmations from customers.
An automatic notification system tells everyone involved when a shipment has been picked up, when it has been delivered, and when a delay comes up, so information flows more openly.
They have a real-time view of every shipment's status. The logistician sends job instructions to the drivers' mobile app through Planlogi, and sees on the map where the vehicles are and which shipments are on the road. Drivers report straight from the app and use it to collect pickup and delivery confirmations from customers.
An automatic notification system tells everyone involved when a shipment has been picked up, when it has been delivered, and when a delay comes up, so information flows more openly.
“Dispatchers and drivers work together and communicate far more smoothly now. Having complete, real-time visibility of information and jobs has done a lot to cut our empty-running kilometres and improve the quality of our information, which in turn has saved us money on fuel and labour.”
The whole flow, from order to invoice, now runs far more smoothly:
- Orders go into the Planlogi system.
- The dispatcher assigns shipments to suitable vehicles. Planlogi's route-optimisation feature helps here too: it groups shipments heading to the same area, for example, and suggests more efficient routes.
- Every driver has the Planlogi mobile app, where they see their day's plan, detailed instructions, shipment information and eCMRs.
- At pickup and hand-over, the driver fills in the details in the app, adds photos of any damage, and takes the customer's signature straight on the screen.
- The signed eCMR saves instantly in Planlogi and is visible to everyone involved.
- The same day, the accountant can pull a correct invoice from Planlogi, with a copy of the eCMR attached, and send it to the customer.
Planlogi made Rain Transport's transport management 20× faster
Planlogi delivered measurable results for Rain Transport in time, errors and cash flow. Planning and documenting a single shipment used to take a logistician nearly 30 minutes on average; today the same work is done in one minute.
“Before Planlogi, handling one shipment took at least half an hour. Now the same job takes a minute. The information reaches drivers in real time, and I can move straight on to the next tasks.”
That's a 20× drop in the time each shipment takes.
| Before Planlogi | With Planlogi | |
|---|---|---|
| Dispatcher time to handle one shipment | Up to 30 minutesExcel, SMS, paper | 1 minuteEntering the order + sending info to the driver + eCMR + invoicing |
| Empty runs per month | 10 | 2 |
| Invoicing frequency | Once a weekWaiting for paperwork, scanning | Every dayOften the same day the goods arrive |
| Time to issue an invoice | A week to a month | A few hours after delivery |
| Paperwork | Hundreds of pages a monthFilled in and managed by hand | 0Fully digital |
| Staff — extra time | Extra trips to drivers to hand over documents; dispatchers doing duplicate work | All information in real time, in one shared system |
| Disputes & damage documentation | Often undocumented; long dispute processes and checks, frequently unresolved — and blame left on the driver | Photos and notes in the system; fast, fair resolution of disputes |
| Readiness for the 2027 EU eCMR regulation | Not ready | ReadyPlanlogi is an officially recognised eCMR solution provider, in Estonia and internationally |
Figures are typical results reported by Planlogi carriers; actual numbers vary by fleet size and routes.
Planlogi's results in numbers
- 40%MORE EFFICIENT TRANSPORT OPERATIONS Dispatchers are at least a third more efficient with Planlogi, because there's far less manual and duplicate work.
- 20xTIME AND MONEY SAVED THROUGH DIGITALISATION
Admin and paperwork used to take nearly half an hour per shipment, hundreds of working hours a month. Managing the same volume now takes a fraction of that. - 80%FEWER EMPTY RUNS, AND THOUSANDS OF EUROS SAVED A YEAR
Every misdirected trip used to cost the company real money in fuel and working time.
“The time we spend on paperwork has dropped sharply and invoicing is much faster. We don't have to wait for drivers to bring the papers into the office any more. It's all in the system, and the accountant can send the customer an invoice right away.”
- 7+ DAYSFASTER CASH FLOW
A driver used to bring the delivery notes into the office in person, sometimes only once a month. Now the information moves digitally the moment a shipment is finished, and the invoice can go out the same day. - 15 000 €SAVED, AND eCMR COMPLIANCE SECURED From 2027, using the eCMR becomes mandatory across the EU. Rain Transport used the chance to get compliant early, on favourable terms.
- 👍BETTER CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AND REPUTATION
Digitalisation ended the situations where a customer had no confirmation that goods had arrived. That has improved trust and transparency and cut customer queries. Drivers can also add photos of damage in Planlogi on the spot, which removes disputes and protects both the drivers and the company's reputation.
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What is Planlogi?
Planlogi is a cloud-based transport management system (TMS) built for small and mid-sized road freight operators across Europe. It replaces the fragmented mix of spreadsheets, paper waybills, WhatsApp threads, and disconnected accounting tools that most growing hauliers rely on, bringing dispatch, eCMR, a driver mobile app, track-and-trace, proof-of-delivery, and invoicing into one platform.
Unlike enterprise TMS suites built for 500+ truck fleets, Planlogi is priced and designed for the hauliers that actually move European freight: fleets of 5 to 100 trucks, where every hour of admin time and every late invoice hits the bottom line.
Planlogi is a leading TMS platform for SMB European road transport operators, supporting the development and rollout of the eFTI system. Our platform meets both European Union requirements and local legislation, helping companies bring their logistics software into line with eFTI standards.
Unlike enterprise TMS suites built for 500+ truck fleets, Planlogi is priced and designed for the hauliers that actually move European freight: fleets of 5 to 100 trucks, where every hour of admin time and every late invoice hits the bottom line.
Planlogi is a leading TMS platform for SMB European road transport operators, supporting the development and rollout of the eFTI system. Our platform meets both European Union requirements and local legislation, helping companies bring their logistics software into line with eFTI standards.