The verdict in three sentences
For a haulage company running 60 trucks on the Dakar-Bamako and Abidjan-Bamako corridors, a custom fleet management app costs between 10 and 25 million FCFA excl. VAT (about 15,000 to 38,000 EUR) and ships in 3 to 4 months. The main gain comes from fuel tracking cross-checked with GPS trackers, which cuts consumption and siphoning by up to 12%. With an annual diesel bill often above 1.5 billion FCFA for 60 rigs, the project usually pays back in 6 to 10 months.
What the app must cover, module by module
A Malian haulier does not need a generic European fleet tool. It needs software that understands corridors, border posts (Diboli, Kati, Zégoua), loading slips, drivers paid per trip and spare parts bought in Bamako. The scope splits into modules you can price separately.
| Module | Key features | Indicative 2026 cost (FCFA excl. VAT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core (accounts, roles, fleet) | Truck, trailer and driver records, access rights | 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 | 3 weeks |
| GPS tracker integration | API link to Teltonika, Ruptela or existing box, positions, stop alerts | 2,500,000 to 5,000,000 | 4 weeks |
| Fuel tracking | Diesel vouchers, fuel cards, level sensor, consumption vs mileage gaps | 2,000,000 to 4,500,000 | 3 weeks |
| Preventive maintenance | Mileage-based plans, oil and tyre alerts, parts history | 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 | 3 weeks |
| Vehicle documents | Insurance, roadworthiness, registration, transit passes, SMS expiry alerts | 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 | 2 weeks |
| Trips and invoicing | Mission orders, road expenses, driver bonuses, client invoice | 1,000,000 to 4,000,000 | 3 weeks |
| Driver mobile app | Delivery photos, breakdown reports, offline mode | 0 to 2,000,000 (option) | 2 weeks |
A base version (core, GPS, fuel, documents) lands around 10 to 13 million FCFA excl. VAT. The full version, with trips, invoicing and an offline driver app, rises to 20 to 25 million FCFA excl. VAT. Modules are built in parallel, which is why the timeline is 3 to 4 months rather than the sum of the weeks.
Where the savings are: figures to check in your own fleet
Payback depends on your starting point. A fleet with no tracking at all recovers much more than one already fitted with trackers but not reconciling them with fuel vouchers.
| Lever | Common situation before | Realistic gain after 6 months (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel consumption | Unexplained gaps of 8 to 15% | 6 to 12% of the fuel budget |
| Roadside breakdowns | 2 to 4 immobilisations per truck per year | 30 to 40% fewer avoidable breakdowns |
| Tyres | Replaced by guesswork, costly blowouts | 10 to 15% longer life |
| Fines and document blockages | Expired inspections discovered at the border | Close to zero with 30-day alerts |
| Rotations per truck | 2 to 2.5 Dakar-Bamako round trips per month | +0.3 rotation thanks to measured waiting times |
| Admin time | 2 full-time staff on Excel | 1 person, the other moved to sales |
Diesel is the dominant lever. A 40-tonne truck burns roughly 38 to 42 litres per 100 km, and a Dakar-Bamako round trip is close to 2,500 km. At 775 FCFA per litre in Mali, each rotation costs about 770,000 FCFA in fuel.
Technical choices that move the budget
Three decisions weigh most. First, keep your existing trackers: if your boxes expose an API or data feed, integration costs half as much as replacement. Second, offline mode in the driver app is essential between Kayes and Diboli, where coverage is patchy: it adds 15 to 20% to the mobile module. Third, hosting: a cloud server in Paris or Frankfurt costs 60,000 to 150,000 FCFA per month and suits a fleet this size well.
Also budget for maintenance: allow 15 to 20% of the initial cost per year, i.e. 2 to 4 million FCFA, for fixes, security updates and small enhancements.
Mini case study
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Moussa, manager of a 60-truck haulage company in Bamako, averages 2.2 rotations per truck per month on both corridors. His annual fuel bill: 60 × 2.2 × 12 × 770,000 FCFA, roughly 1.22 billion FCFA. He picks an app at 16 million FCFA excl. VAT (core, GPS, fuel, maintenance, documents), plus 2.5 million per year for maintenance.
With a conservative 6% diesel saving, he recovers about 73 million FCFA a year. Even halved to account for slow adoption in year one, the gain is still 36 million FCFA, a payback of about 6 months. Avoided breakdowns and extra rotations come on top.
FAQ
How much does a fleet management app for 60 trucks in Mali cost?
Between 10 and 25 million FCFA excl. VAT depending on modules. A base with GPS, fuel and documents sits around 10 to 13 million FCFA, while the full version with invoicing and a driver app reaches 20 to 25 million.
Do we need to replace our current GPS trackers?
Rarely. Most boxes on the market (Teltonika, Ruptela, Concox) offer an API or exportable platform, and integration costs 2.5 to 5 million FCFA. Full replacement would add 150,000 to 250,000 FCFA per truck.
Does the app work without network on the road?
Yes, if offline mode is planned from day one. Data is stored on the driver's phone and synced once coverage returns, adding 15 to 20% to the mobile module.
How long until the tool is live?
Allow 3 to 4 months for the full version, with a first partial go-live (fleet, GPS, documents) by week 6 or 7. Training drivers and dispatch takes 1 to 2 extra weeks.
Can the project be paid in instalments?
Yes, payment is usually split into 3 or 4 milestones: 30% at kickoff, 40% on intermediate deliveries and 30% at acceptance. Bank transfers and Wave or Orange Money are accepted.
Let's scope your project. Share your fleet size, corridors and current trackers, and we will price a scope between 10 and 25 million FCFA excl. VAT with a 3 to 4 month plan. 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.
