The Courier TMS Built for UK Same-Day Operators
If you post and take work on the UK transport exchanges, you already know the word: a TMS, the system your jobs, drivers and subbies live in. InstaDispatch is a TMS built for couriers from day one, not a haulage system cut down or an enterprise suite you need a project team to install.
I have found my TMS partner and I hope we work and grow together for many years to come.Dave, SAS Sameday Ltd (Trustpilot)
The TMS behind UK couriers and delivery teams
What a courier TMS does (and how it differs from a haulage TMS)
A haulage TMS plans full loads, trailers and tachographs. A courier TMS is a transport management system for a different day: dozens of short-notice jobs, a mix of your own drivers and subcontractors, work coming in from customers and the exchanges, and proof of delivery on every drop.
| Courier TMS (InstaDispatch) | Haulage TMS | Enterprise logistics suite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical user | Same-day and multi-drop courier firms | Hauliers, trailers, full loads | Shippers, national carriers |
| Work in from | Customers, portal and API; loads posted to the UK transport exchanges | Contracts, planners | ERP orders |
| Set-up | First job in one working day; full set-up usually 1–3 days | Typically weeks | Typically months |
| Pricing | A starting plan, then pricing that grows with your volume | Per vehicle / licence | Licences + implementation |
Swipe the table sideways to compare →
UK transport exchanges, connected both ways
Your own work and your exchange work run on one board, from posting the load to the invoice.
- Post loads to the UK transport exchanges from InstaDispatch, including multi-drop loads; update or withdraw them in one click.
- Bids and booking statuses come back into the same allocation board.
- Tracking events sync both ways in real time, so the exchange and your customer see the same picture.
- POD and the invoice stay in your system, against the job.
More on the UK transport exchanges integration.
Moving from SmartLM? A SmartLM alternative for UK couriers
SmartLM (Smart Logistics Manager) closed on 20 March 2026. It was a UK courier TMS with two-way UK transport exchange integration, a customer booking portal, an online booking widget and a driver app. If your day ran on it, InstaDispatch covers the work you relied on.
We’ll help you move your customers, drivers and rate cards across.
We moved here after the demise of SmartLM. That was excellent software, probably the best out there at the time. This is now even better than they were.
Everything else a courier TMS should run
- Bookings and quotes: customer portal, API, instant quotes from your rate cards. Send quotations
- Allocation: auto-broadcast to drivers and subbies by vehicle and position, or pick from the live board. courier dispatch software
- Driver app: jobs, navigation, scans, photo and signature POD. Delivery driver app
- Tracking: live map, ETAs, branded tracking links. Delivery tracking software
- Invoicing: customer invoices and subbie self-billing from the completed job. Courier invoicing
| Ref | Pickup | Delivery | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AT5521 | Northampton, NN414 Oct · 09:30 | Luton, LU114 Oct · 12:30 | |
| AT5520 | Bridlington, YO1514 Oct · 14:00 | Leeds, LS11ASAP · 16:10 | |
| AT5519 | Girvan, KA2615 Oct · 10:00 | Sleaford, NG3415 Oct · 17:45 | |
| AT5518 | Leicester, LE315 Oct · 09:00 | Nuneaton, CV11ASAP · 11:30 |
What couriers say on Trustpilot
“Amazing company with great customer care, we have advanced so much since switching to Insta.”
“What really stands out, however, is their customer service. The support team is responsive, helpful, and quick to understand and resolve any issues or requirements.”
“Great company to work with, have used them for years now. Always helpful… Great software.”
No credit card needed. Extra features, such as the UK transport exchange connection, are optional add-ons. After the trial, see pricing.
Start free trial See pricingRunning more than same-day work?
Most couriers do more than one kind of work. If yours does, these pages go further:
Same-day
Same-day jobs from customers and the UK transport exchanges? See same day courier software →
Parcel and multi-drop
Parcel volumes and hub scanning? See parcel delivery software →
Two-person
Two-person furniture and bulky deliveries with date booking? See two-man delivery software →
Forwarding shipments with external carriers? See freight forwarding software.
Built and hosted in the UK
A UK company, with customer data stored in the UK on AWS servers in London.
Frequently asked questions
What is a courier TMS?
A transport management system built for courier work: bookings, allocation to drivers and subcontractors, exchange loads, live tracking, proof of delivery and invoicing in one place.
Is InstaDispatch a TMS?
Yes. It is a TMS built for couriers, with a two-way connection to the UK transport exchanges (an optional add-on).
What’s the difference between a TMS and courier software?
For couriers they are the same thing: the exchanges call it a TMS, operators often say courier or dispatch software. A haulage TMS is different: it is built for full loads and trailers.
How much does a courier TMS cost?
A starting plan that includes your first shipments each month, then pricing that grows with your volume. Extra features are optional add-ons. See pricing.
Is there a free TMS?
InstaDispatch has a free trial of 14 days or 50 shipments, with no card. After that you choose a paid plan; there’s no free-forever plan.
Does it integrate with the UK transport exchanges?
Yes: post loads, receive bids and booking statuses, and sync tracking both ways.
What if I don’t use a TMS today?
Many couriers start from spreadsheets, WhatsApp and the exchange website. You can import your customers and drivers, and with our team’s help your first job can go live within one working day; full set-up usually takes 1–3 days.
What replaced SmartLM?
After SmartLM closed in March 2026, UK courier firms that relied on its exchange integration, booking portal and driver app moved to other courier TMS platforms. InstaDispatch covers two-way UK transport exchange posting and tracking, a customer booking portal, a branded driver app with ePOD, and invoicing with subbie self-billing.
Run your courier business on one TMS
Start free, import your customers and drivers, and run real jobs before you pay.
