Tai vs. Keelway is the wrong frame.
Tai Software is a real broker TMS — modern UI, bundled AI features, a credible alternative to McLeod or Aljex. Keelway isn't a TMS at all. We're the AI carrier-email triage layer that sits on top of whatever TMS you run, Tai included. The right comparison isn't Tai vs. Keelway; it's "do you need to replace your TMS, or do you need an AI layer above it?" Here's how to tell.
The honest decision tree
- Replacing a legacy TMS (McLeod, Aljex, in-house spreadsheets) and want a modern broker TMS with AI baked in? Tai is a real choice.
- Already on a TMS that works fine but the inbox is killing your brokers? Keelway is the layer that fixes the 40 carrier replies on every load — without touching your TMS.
- Already on Tai and the operational workflow is great, but you still want stronger inbox-native triage with FMCSA trust scoring on every reply? Run Tai + Keelway. They integrate cleanly.
Side by side
| Feature | Tai Software | Keelway |
|---|---|---|
| Primary product | Modern broker TMS with bundled AI features | AI carrier-email triage layer on top of any TMS |
| Where the broker lives | Tai web app | Gmail |
| AI surface | Inside the TMS workflow | Inside the inbox where the carrier reply lands |
| Inbound reply ranking by trust + rate | Partial — within Tai's carrier dashboard | Yes — Gmail-native, on every reply |
| FMCSA-backed trust score per reply | Carrier-level, not per-reply | Per-reply, refreshed at scoring time |
| Pricing model | Tiered SaaS — published $995–$7,925/mo by tier | $1 per load, all features, first 50 free |
| Implementation | 4–8 weeks typical | Under 2 weeks |
| TMS replacement? | Yes — fully replaces older broker TMSs | No — sits on top of any TMS |
| Carrier portal / driver-side tools | Yes | No — broker-side only |
| Accounting / settlements | Native module | Not in scope |
| Best for | Brokerages replacing a legacy TMS | Brokerages keeping their TMS, fixing the inbox |
| Run alongside? | Yes — many do | Yes — Keelway integrates with Tai |
When Tai is the right answer
- You're actively replacing a legacy broker TMS and want modern UX + bundled AI in one platform.
- Your brokers will live primarily inside the TMS (not Gmail) and you want a unified surface.
- You don't want to pick AI vendors a la carte and would rather get most of it bundled.
When Keelway is the right answer
- You already have a TMS that works (any of them), and replacing it isn't worth the disruption.
- Your brokers spend their day in Gmail reading carrier replies and need a per-reply ranking, not a TMS-side dashboard.
- You want pricing that scales with load volume — $1 per load, no seat fees — rather than a TMS subscription.
Why "Tai + Keelway" is a real configuration
Several Tai customers run Keelway alongside Tai. Tai owns the load lifecycle and operational workflow inside its app. Keelway owns the inbox: every carrier reply gets ranked by trust + rate, and the booked carrier writes back to Tai via API. Brokers stay in Gmail where they already are; ops stays in Tai where they already are. Each tool plays where it's strongest.
Frequently asked questions
What is Tai Software and what makes it different from older TMSs?+
Tai Software (Tai TMS) is a modern broker TMS that has leaned harder into AI than most competitors — they market AI features for capacity matching, document automation, and carrier-side automation. It's a SaaS deployment with a cleaner UI than the older McLeod / Aljex generation, targeted at SMB-to-mid-market brokerages.
Why are Tai customers looking at alternatives?+
Two patterns: (1) Brokers want a more focused inbox-native AI for the carrier-reply triage problem, separate from the TMS. (2) Pricing — Tai's all-in-one model bundles AI features into TMS pricing tiers, and brokers shopping a la carte sometimes prefer a thinner AI overlay on a TMS they already have. Keelway addresses both, but it does it on top of any TMS, including Tai itself.
Is Keelway a Tai replacement?+
No. Keelway is not a broker TMS. We don't do load lifecycle management, accounting, settlements, EDI, or carrier billing. Tai does all of those and well. Keelway is the AI carrier-email triage layer that sits above the TMS — and yes, that includes Tai. We see brokers run Tai for the operational backbone and Keelway for the inbox.
Doesn't Tai already have AI? Why add Keelway?+
Tai's AI is bundled into the TMS — it lives inside the Tai workflow. Keelway lives in Gmail. The decision is mostly about where your brokers actually do the work. If your brokers spend their day in Tai, Tai's native AI may be enough. If they spend their day in Gmail reading carrier replies on posted loads, an inbox-first AI like Keelway is the more direct fix. Some brokerages run both — Tai's automation in the TMS, Keelway in the inbox — and let each own the surface where their team already lives.
How does pricing compare?+
Tai is one of the only mid-market TMSs that publishes pricing — entry tiers start around $995/month (2 staff, 200 shipments) and Pro tiers run up to roughly $7,925/month (25 staff, 2,500 shipments). AI features are generally bundled at the higher tiers. Keelway is a flat $1 per load, every feature included, first 50 loads free, no per-broker-seat surcharge. For brokerages doing 500+ loads/month, the math usually compares favorably to AI-tier upgrades — but the right answer depends on your volume and whether you need a full TMS in the first place.
Can Keelway integrate with Tai if I keep Tai?+
Yes. We have a dedicated Tai integration page. Keelway reads inbound carrier emails in Gmail, ranks them, and writes the booked carrier plus the Keelway trust score back to Tai via API. No double data entry, no parallel records. Tai stays the system of record.
When should I just stay on Tai and skip Keelway?+
If your brokers genuinely live inside Tai all day — using Tai's quote workflows, carrier dashboard, and document automation — and your inbound email volume is light, Tai's AI alone may be sufficient. Keelway specifically wins when the inbox is the bottleneck. If 40 carrier replies per posted load is your reality, an inbox-first layer beats a TMS-side AI on that surface.