McLeod Software has expanded its MPact analytics platform with two new modules designed to help carriers and freight brokers improve profitability and respond faster to operational issues.

The additions — MPact.Benchmark and MPact.RespondAI enhancements — were introduced as part of the company’s Version 26.1 update to its transportation management system during the Truckload Carrier Association’s annual conference in Florida.

“The freight market is moving too quickly for seat-of-the-pants decision-making,” said Tom McLeod, president and CEO of McLeod Software. “By expanding MPact, we are giving our customers a smarter, faster way to manage profitability, bidding strategy, benchmarking, and communication. These solutions reflect our ongoing commitment to innovation and to helping carriers as well as brokers lead with data-driven decisions.”

MPact.Benchmark

The new MPact.Benchmark module allows truckload carriers and brokers to compare operational performance against peer groups in real time. Unlike traditional industry benchmarks that rely on historical data, the system provides current performance comparisons integrated directly into the McLeod transportation management platform.

“What Impact Benchmark does is it takes operational KPIs for brokers and carriers, brings it into a system with visibility and allows them to see where they rank in similar‑type companies,” said Doug Schrier, vice-president of growth and special projects at McLeod Software. “So if I’m a 100-truck operator, how well do I perform in comparison to other 100-truck operators? A 100-truck operator that does reefer [is] compared against a 100-truck operator that does reefer.”

He added that the tool is designed to help executives and operational leaders identify favorable and unfavorable outcomes, pinpoint root causes, and apply best practices more quickly.

On the trucking side, the comparison groups are largely determined by freight type and fleet scale, while brokerage operations are also segmented by revenue size. To ensure accurate comparisons while protecting privacy, the system requires a minimum number of participants within each group.

“Initially, in our first pilots, the minimum amount is 15…this being more operational KPIs and a wider spectrum, we’re looking for more participation,” Schrier said.

The platform tracks 25 operational metrics designed to give carriers a clearer view of how they perform against peers. These include driver turnover, paid mileage, deadhead rates, fuel economy, and maintenance performance, and more.

MPact.RespondAI

Alongside the benchmarking module, McLeod is expanding its AI capabilities through a tool called RespondAI, designed to help fleets manage large volumes of communication.

“When you look at the frontline dispatcher, CSR, broker… they can spend as much as 35% of their time in unstructured, written communication,” Schrier said. RespondAI analyzes incoming communications across channels such as email, messaging platforms, and mobile communications to determine intent and urgency before drafting a suggested reply.

Fully embedded within the McLeod platform, MPact.RespondAI integrates with tools such as Microsoft Outlook and Gmail, with expanded back-office communication capabilities planned for future releases.