Comparison
Tailwind TMS alternative: Nucra
Tailwind is a TMS for motor carriers, freight brokers and companies that do both. It now sits in the CargoWise Transport line of WiseTech Global, and its online sign-up lists $250 per user plus a $1,500 setup fee, with a three-month trial. Nucra starts at $99 a month with unlimited users and no setup fee. Here is a fair comparison.
| Nucra | Tailwind TMS | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From $99/mo · users unlimited | Not on its product page; online sign-up: $250 per user |
| Setup fee | None — self-serve sign-up | $1,500 on the online sign-up |
| Users included | Unlimited on every plan | Priced per user on the online sign-up |
| Free trial | 14 days on plan S, no card | 3-month trial on the online sign-up, with the $1,500 setup fee paid at sign-up |
| Carrier bidding / RFQ | Double-blind tender — carriers never see your customer | Not listed; Trucker Tools Smart Capacity integration |
| Rate & margin guidance | Freight Intelligence — expected rate from your own past loads | Custom reporting with Power BI |
| Tracking & ELD | Driver App, GPS/ETA, reads Samsara or Motive | GPS shipment tracking, driver app, Samsara ELD |
| Accounting | Invoicing, factoring, bank-statement matching | A/R and A/P, settlements, QuickBooks Online sync |
| Own trucks | Own trucks and outside carriers in one system | Carriers, brokers or both; maintenance and fuel-card imports |
| Operations Center (one screen) | Operations Center: late loads, missing documents, free capacity, margin | Admin, accounting and operations reports |
Choose Nucra if…
- You want a published monthly price, no setup fee, and every user included.
- You want carrier bidding where carriers never see who your customer is.
- You want one screen that shows what needs action now.
Choose Tailwind TMS if…
- You need QuickBooks Online sync, fuel-card imports or maintenance tracking today.
- You want a long trial before you commit: its online sign-up shows three months, after the setup fee.
- Your workflow is already built around Tailwind and switching is not worth it.
Questions
- How does Nucra’s price compare with Tailwind TMS?
- Tailwind does not show a price on its product page; its online sign-up lists $250 per user and a $1,500 setup fee, paid at sign-up, followed by a three-month trial. Nucra is $99 a month for up to 150 loads, $199 for up to 400 and $399 for up to 1,000, with unlimited users, no setup fee and a 14-day free trial on S with no card.
- Is there a Tailwind alternative with carrier bidding built in?
- Yes — Nucra includes a double-blind carrier tender (RFQ) at its standard price, so you can put a load out to carriers and compare rates without a separate tool, and carriers never see who your customer is.
- Can I try Nucra for free?
- Yes. Start a 14-day free trial on plan S — no card needed. After it you can still see and export everything you entered, and you choose a plan, from $99 a month, for new loads.
See it on one of your real loads.
14 days free on plan S, no card · then from $99 a month, users unlimited.
Comparison based on the information Tailwind TMS publishes on its own website, checked October 2026 (the Tailwind TMS page on cargowise.com, where tailwindtms.com now points, and its US online sign-up). Prices and features change — check with the vendor before you decide. Nucra is not affiliated with or endorsed by Tailwind TMS. Trademarks are the property of their respective owners.