The verdict in three sentences
A custom fleet management app costs between 12,000,000 and 30,000,000 FCFA (about USD 21,000 to 53,000) in 2026, plus 80,000 to 150,000 FCFA of GPS tracker (USD 140 to 265) per vehicle. For a carrier where 8 to 12% of fuel vanishes through siphoning, fake fill-ups or detours, the realistic goal is a 10% saving in year one. Custom work pays off when GPS, fuel cards, maintenance and customer billing must live in one tool shaped to your own routes, whether West African corridors or Florida interstates.
Custom build or off-the-shelf telematics
International telematics platforms (Samsara, Geotab, Verizon Connect) deploy fast but are billed per vehicle per month, with little room for your business rules.
| Criterion | Off-the-shelf telematics | Custom app |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | 0 to 2,000,000 FCFA setup (up to USD 3,500) | 12,000,000 to 30,000,000 FCFA (USD 21,000 to 53,000) |
| Subscription per vehicle | 10,000 to 25,000 FCFA a month (USD 18 to 45) | 3,000 to 6,000 FCFA (USD 5 to 11, SIM and hosting) |
| 3-year cost for 70 trucks | 25,200,000 to 63,000,000 FCFA | 19,600,000 to 45,100,000 FCFA, code included |
| GPS and fuel card reconciliation | Rarely native | Native, automatic alerts |
| Local rules (checkpoints, corridors) | No | Yes |
| Offline mode for drivers | Partial | Yes, light mobile app |
| Data ownership | Vendor | You |
Below 25 vehicles, an off-the-shelf tool remains cheaper. Above 50, custom becomes profitable from year two.
Detailed budget
| Module | Features | Budget 2026 (order of magnitude) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scoping and field workshops | Depots, drivers, maintenance shop | 1,000,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Real-time GPS tracking | Map, trip history, geofencing | 3,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Fuel module | Fuel card import, theoretical consumption, variance alerts | 2,500,000 to 6,500,000 FCFA | 4 to 5 weeks |
| Maintenance planning | Oil changes, tyres, inspections, parts stock | 2,000,000 to 5,000,000 FCFA | 3 to 4 weeks |
| Driver app | Jobs, proof-of-delivery photos, offline incident reports | 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 FCFA | 4 to 6 weeks |
| Dashboards and reports | Cost per km, driver ranking, accounting export | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Software total | 12,000,000 to 30,000,000 FCFA (USD 21,000 to 53,000) | 3 to 5 months | |
| GPS trackers (70 vehicles) | Installation included | 5,600,000 to 10,500,000 FCFA | 2 to 3 weeks |
A tank level sensor adds 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA (USD 265 to 445) per truck. It detects siphoning while parked, which GPS alone cannot see.
How fuel disappears, and how to detect it
Three frauds account for most losses. Siphoning while parked, visible when tank level drops while the vehicle is stationary. Fake fill-ups, when the fuel card records 300 litres but the tank holds only 220. Detours, measured by the gap between planned route and actual mileage. The app compares each fill-up with the truck's theoretical consumption (for example 35 litres per 100 km for a loaded semi) and alerts beyond an 8% variance.
Mini case study
Mamadou, logistics director of a 70-truck haulage company in Bamako, sees an 11% gap between theoretical consumption and fuel paid. Each truck covers about 5,000 km a month at 35 L per 100 km, i.e. 1,750 litres at 775 FCFA (2026 order of magnitude): 1,356,000 FCFA per truck per month, and about 95,000,000 FCFA (USD 170,000) for the fleet.
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With a 10% saving, the gain reaches 9,500,000 FCFA a month, or 114,000,000 FCFA (about USD 204,000) a year. Year-one cost: app 22,000,000 FCFA, GPS trackers 70 × 120,000 = 8,400,000 FCFA, SIM and hosting 70 × 5,000 × 12 = 4,200,000 FCFA, i.e. 34,600,000 FCFA (about USD 62,000). Payback: under 4 months, not counting fewer breakdowns thanks to maintenance planning. The same logic applies to a Miami fleet, where diesel and driver costs are higher and payback is often faster still.
FAQ
Does GPS work on long-haul corridors with weak coverage?
Yes, positioning is satellite-based. Transmission depends on the mobile network: trackers store up to 30 days of trips and upload them as soon as the network returns.
Can we integrate station fuel cards?
Yes, through statement imports or APIs depending on the provider. Automatic matching with GPS flags fill-ups made away from the truck's position.
How long does rollout take?
Allow 3 to 5 months for the software and 2 to 3 weeks to equip 70 vehicles. A one-month pilot on 10 trucks is recommended.
Can drivers bypass the system?
A disconnected tracker triggers an immediate alert. With a tank sensor at 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA, siphoning while parked becomes visible too.
Do we need a permanent connection at the depot?
No. The web app runs on a standard 4G connection and the driver app works offline, syncing as soon as a network is available.
Let's scope your project. Tell us your fleet size, routes and fuel cards: we will price an app between 12,000,000 and 30,000,000 FCFA (USD 21,000 to 53,000) with a 10-truck pilot. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
