Axel Brenner

Axel spent 8 years managing transport operations for a 9-figure European manufacturer, then 4 years as Commercial Director at a global forwarder. He now shares insights from both shipper and carrier sides, and enjoys the occasional piña colada.

Axel Brenner
The European Shipper's TMS Automation ROI Framework: How to Build Bulletproof Business Cases That Survive CFO Scrutiny While 76% of Digital Transformation Projects Fail to Meet Targets

The European Shipper's TMS Automation ROI Framework: How to Build Bulletproof Business Cases That Survive CFO Scrutiny While 76% of Digital Transformation Projects Fail to Meet Targets

The CFO summons you to discuss your TMS automation ROI proposal again. Third time this quarter. You've watched colleagues across the hall get approval for fleet management software while your transport management system request sits in bureaucratic limbo. The numbers look good on paper, but something feels missing.

By Axel Brenner
The European Shipper's Acquisition-Resistant TMS Vendor Selection Framework: How to Build Due Diligence Criteria That Protect Against Integration Failures When 66% of Technology Projects End in Disaster

The European Shipper's Acquisition-Resistant TMS Vendor Selection Framework: How to Build Due Diligence Criteria That Protect Against Integration Failures When 66% of Technology Projects End in Disaster

A German automotive parts manufacturer discovered this the expensive way. After selecting their TMS based on a feature comparison spreadsheet, they faced €800,000 in additional costs when carrier integration failures emerged post-acquisition of their chosen vendor. According to the Standish Group's CHAOS 2020 report, 66% of technology

By Axel Brenner
The European Shipper's Conversational AI TMS Interface Guide: How to Design Natural Language Systems That Actually Work Without Joining the 76% Failure Rate

The European Shipper's Conversational AI TMS Interface Guide: How to Design Natural Language Systems That Actually Work Without Joining the 76% Failure Rate

Generative AI is reshaping how European shippers interact with their transportation management systems. While 96% of TMS users are adopting generative AI in their operations and 75% of companies have at least one GenAI implementation in their supply chain functions, the technology faces a sobering reality: the majority of conversational

By Axel Brenner
The European Shipper's Guide to TMS-Marketplace Integration: How Built-In Freight Connectivity Can Cut Procurement Time by 60% While Expanding Your Carrier Network to 300+ Verified Providers

The European Shipper's Guide to TMS-Marketplace Integration: How Built-In Freight Connectivity Can Cut Procurement Time by 60% While Expanding Your Carrier Network to 300+ Verified Providers

European manufacturers with €50 million+ annual transport spend are watching a significant shift unfold. The growing chasm between retiring and new drivers is set to triple the rate of unfilled truck driver positions, to over 60% by 2026, while unfilled driver positions for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in Europe have

By Axel Brenner
The European Shipper's Digital Freight Marketplace Integration Guide: How TMS Platforms with Built-In Carrier Marketplaces Can Cut Procurement Time by 60% While Expanding Your Network to 300+ Qualified Providers

The European Shipper's Digital Freight Marketplace Integration Guide: How TMS Platforms with Built-In Carrier Marketplaces Can Cut Procurement Time by 60% While Expanding Your Network to 300+ Qualified Providers

Your procurement team spends €800,000 annually negotiating with the same 30 carriers while qualified alternatives operate just one API call away. Modern transport tender management through TMS platforms can reduce procurement cycle times by 60% while delivering measurable cost savings, but most European shippers miss the bigger opportunity: marketplace

By Axel Brenner
The TMS Digital Compliance Sprint: How European Shippers Can Prepare Their Transport Systems for 2026's Regulatory Revolution Before Implementation Deadlines Hit

The TMS Digital Compliance Sprint: How European Shippers Can Prepare Their Transport Systems for 2026's Regulatory Revolution Before Implementation Deadlines Hit

The year 2026 brings a perfect storm of digital compliance requirements that will fundamentally change how European shippers manage their transport operations. From January 1, 2026, all ECMT permits will be issued exclusively in electronic form, while July introduces mandatory smart tachographs for commercial vehicles between 2.5 and 3.

By Axel Brenner
The January 2026 eFTI Strategic Window: How European Shippers Can Use the New Compliance Milestone to Make Smarter TMS Procurement Decisions Before July 2027's Mandatory Deadline

The January 2026 eFTI Strategic Window: How European Shippers Can Use the New Compliance Milestone to Make Smarter TMS Procurement Decisions Before July 2027's Mandatory Deadline

As of January 2026, eFTI platforms and service providers can start preparing for operations, while on July 9, 2027, Member States must accept digital freight transport data, making paperless logistics a reality across the EU. This creates an 18-month window that smart European shippers can leverage to secure better TMS

By Axel Brenner