The verdict in three sentences
A temperature-controlled haulier with 60 rigid trucks and semi-trailers, based near a major wholesale food market, can turn its website into a quote channel for food shippers, with a realistic target of 20 to 40 requests a month. The key is a per-load quote form (pallets, temperature range, frequency, origin and destination) and a prominent display of its IFS Logistics certification. Kolonell builds this site in 5 to 8 weeks for 800,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (1,220 to 5,340 EUR) depending on the tier, while a specialist agency charges 7,000 to 14,000 EUR or GBP.
What a food shipper checks before asking for a quote
The transport manager of a fresh food manufacturer (dairy, meat, ready meals) or a wholesaler does not pick a haulier from a brochure. They check the temperature range covered (chilled 0 to 4 °C, frozen at minus 18 °C, multi-temperature), record traceability, certifications, geographic coverage and capacity to absorb seasonal peaks. The site should answer these five points on one page, then offer a quote form that avoids three rounds of emails.
| Form field | Why it matters | Example entry |
|---|---|---|
| Pallets per shipment | Rigid or articulated truck | 8 Euro pallets |
| Temperature range | Refrigeration equipment | 0 to 4 °C |
| Frequency | Contract or spot price | 3 times a week |
| Origin and destination | Mileage calculation | Paris area to Lille |
| Product type | Sanitary constraints | Dairy products |
| Delivery slots | Planning | Before 6 am at retail DCs |
| Start date | Sales prioritisation | Within 30 days |
With this information, the operations team can return a priced quote within 24 to 48 h. Without it, the request stalls and the shipper goes to a competitor.
Options for building the site in 2026
The 2026 orders of magnitude for a haulier's B2B site vary widely depending on whether the provider understands operations or just builds brochure pages.
| Option | Budget | Timeline | Per-load quote form | Certification showcase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer | 2,500 to 5,000 EUR or GBP | 6 to 10 weeks | Generic contact form | Logos only |
| Transport-specialist agency | 7,000 to 14,000 EUR or GBP | 10 to 16 weeks | Yes | Dedicated pages |
| Kolonell Starter | 800,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA (1,220 to 1,830 EUR) | 5 weeks | Structured form | Certifications page |
| Kolonell Growth | 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA (1,830 to 3,050 EUR) | 6 to 7 weeks | Conditional form per flow type | Pages per client sector |
| Kolonell Premium | 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 to 5,340 EUR) | 7 to 8 weeks | Advanced form and source tracking | Sector pages, regular lanes and advanced SEO |
To reach 20 to 40 requests a month, Growth or Premium fits: they allow pages per sector (dairy, meat, seafood, ready meals, fresh produce) and per regular lane, which capture precise searches. The site's languages are set in the quote, useful if you work with shippers across borders. A customer portal with live temperature tracking falls under a custom application, from 2,500,000 FCFA (3,810 EUR).
Driver recruitment: the site's second job
A 60-vehicle haulier often hires 8 to 15 drivers a year, and the shortage of reefer drivers remains acute in 2026. A careers page with indicative pay, schedule (night, long haul, regional), equipment and a 2-minute mobile application reduces reliance on agency staff. It also supports sales credibility: a shipper prefers a haulier that shows a stable team.
| Indicator | Before redesign | 6-month target |
|---|---|---|
| Quote requests per month | 6 | 25 |
| Average response time | 72 h | 24 h |
| Quotes converted to contracts | 15 % | 20 % |
| Driver applications per month | 4 | 12 |
| Share of requests from search | 20 % | 50 % |
Mini case study
Nadia runs a 60-vehicle refrigerated haulier and estimates that a new regular contract brings in 4,500 EUR of revenue a month on average.
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- Today: 6 requests a month, 15 % conversion, so 0.9 new contracts a month.
- Target: 25 requests a month, 20 % conversion, so 5 new contracts a month.
- Gain: about 4 extra contracts a month, so 18,000 EUR of additional monthly revenue after a few months.
- At a 4 % net margin, that is 720 EUR a month per cohort of contracts, against a Growth site of 3,050 EUR at most and 114 EUR of monthly maintenance.
Even at half the target, the investment is covered in under a year.
FAQ
Should we show haulage rates on the site?
Rarely, since the price depends on the load, distance and frequency. It is more effective to show a response time, for example a quote within 24 h, and let the form collect the parameters.
How do we make the most of IFS Logistics certification?
A dedicated page shows the certified scope, the date of the last audit and the score achieved, with a downloadable certificate. Many manufacturers' specifications require IFS Logistics or equivalent before listing a haulier.
How many quote requests can we expect?
A site that ranks well on regular lanes targets 20 to 40 requests a month after 4 to 6 months. The first quarter often brings 8 to 15 a month while pages gain rankings.
Can the site display live temperatures?
Yes, through a customer portal linked to your telematics units, which is a custom application from 2,500,000 FCFA (3,810 EUR). To start, sending temperature records as PDFs is often enough.
How long does it take to launch?
Allow 5 to 8 weeks depending on the tier. Fleet and warehouse photos should be ready from week one.
Let's scope your project. Tell us about your regular lanes, temperature ranges and certifications, and we will define the scope and a 5 to 8 week schedule. 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.
