To say TMW Systems Inc. is on a roll would be an understatement — its record on the Weatherhead 100 list is a testament to its 24-year success. The software developer for the trucking and logistics industry has had a spot on the list 14 out of the 20 years the awards program has been in existence and holds the record for the most consecutive years on the list: 12 (from 1993 to 2004).
"The record is an outgrowth of the focus and commitment we have shown in our core market — the transportation industry," says Dave Wangler, president and CEO of TMW Systems. "If we hadn't listened to our customers and not consistently been able to deliver value in the products we offer, the record wouldn't have been possible."
The success of TMW began with its founder, Tom Weisz, who seized the opportunity to combine his passion for trucking and technology in 1983. And his timing couldn't have been better: The deregulation of the trucking industry came with the passing of the Motor Carrier Act of 1980 and personal computers were quickly gaining traction in both businesses and households.
The company continuously invested in research and development to provide customers the most progressive enterprise software product available in the trucking industry, Wangler says. As a result, TMW has been growing by leaps and bounds, both through organic sales and acquisitions.
In 2005, TMW was acquired by Wachovia Capital Partners and Peppertree Capital Management, providing the company greater access to financial capital. In May 2007, TMW acquired TMT Software, increasing the company's size to more than 1,500 total customers and driving annual revenues past $56 million.
"TMT Software had been a longtime business partner of TMW Systems and this combination created a unique opportunity for both TMT and TMW customers," Wangler explains. In fact, the two companies now serve more Top 100 carriers than any other software provider in the North American market.
In September, TMW acquired Integrated Decision Support Company (IDSC), which allows both companies to better service their customers through expanded products and services, broader geographic reach and greater scale.
In addition to strategic acquisitions and partnerships, location has also played a key role in TMW's growth, Wangler says. "Software companies are few and far between in Cleveland, and many outside Northeast Ohio would say our location would be detrimental to the growth and vibrancy of the company — but that has not been the case," he says. In fact, while many software companies spend their dollars trying to recruit talent from Silicon Valley and other tech-savvy regions, Wangler proudly declares, "TMW has been built on the ingenuity, intelligence and work ethic of people who were born and raised in Northeast Ohio."
As TMW rounds out another healthy year, it shows no signs of stopping. The company remains committed to improving operational efficiency and delivering superior customer service to its more than 1,500 customers.