“We are building the logistics backbone that the African trade needs,” Haul247’s Sehinde Afolayan says

Nigeria’s logistics sector is beleaguered by systemic inefficiencies. Over 90% of truck operators are small-scale, informal, lack asset visibility or access to finance.

Trucks frequently travel one way with cargo and return empty, leading to low asset utilisation. This inefficiency inflates operational costs, which account for nearly 70% of product pricing in Nigeria. For businesses, especially in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and agriculture, this translates to delayed deliveries, spoilage, and lost revenue.

This challenge is what Sehinde Afolayan and Haul247 set out to solve. “We are building the logistics backbone to support African trade,” Afolayan told Technext in an interview. This encapsulates his company’s mission to transform how goods move across Nigeria and beyond.

By leveraging cutting-edge technology, Haul247 is tackling the critical first-mile and middle-mile logistics challenges, reducing costs, and boosting efficiency in a sector ripe for disruption.

The first mile, where goods move from producers to initial storage or processing points, and the middle mile, where goods travel from warehouses to distributors, are particularly problematic.

Poor road conditions, fragmented coordination, and delayed payments exacerbate these issues. Only 10% of Nigeria’s logistics sector currently uses technology for optimisation, leaving a vast opportunity for innovation. 

Haul247 is rewriting the rules of logistics with its “Airbnb for Trucks” model. Founded five years ago by Sehinde Afolayan, Akindele Phillips, and Tobi Obasa, who met during their university days at Obafemi Awolowo University and have known each other for over 14 years.

The startup integrates haulage and warehousing into a single platform, offering real-time visibility and seamless coordination. 

Afolayan explains, “We are transforming how goods are transported and stored across Africa.” By aggregating micro-fleet owners and warehouse operators, Haul247 creates a unified ecosystem that matches trucks with cargo in real time, ensuring no vehicle returns empty.

The company’s proprietary software is the heart of its operation. It uses algorithms that consider load size, destination, truck availability, and warehouse proximity to optimise routes. 

“Our technology facilitates real-time matching of cargo with available trucks,” Afolayan says. This ensures trucks are fully utilised, cutting down on idle time and reducing operational wastage. For businesses, this translates to faster deliveries and lower costs.

Tackling the logistics challenge 

The first mile is critical, especially for perishable goods like agricultural produce. Nigeria’s food delivery market is projected to reach $2.4 billion by 2032, but spoilage remains a significant challenge due to delays and inadequate infrastructure.

Haul247 addresses this with predictive analytics and route optimisation. “Speed is expected, and minimal spoilage is key,” Afolayan emphasises.

By linking agricultural aggregators with verified processors using temperature-controlled trucks, Haul247 ensures perishable goods reach their destination quickly and in good condition. This minimises losses for farmers and enhances food security by ensuring more produce reaches consumers. 

“What we’ve achieved is minimised losses, which has a direct impact on farmers’ earnings,” Afolayan notes. The result is a more reliable supply chain that supports Nigeria’s agricultural sector, a cornerstone of the economy.

The middle mile, where goods move from warehouses to distributors, is often plagued by fragmentation and poor coordination. Haul247’s platform acts as a unified ecosystem, connecting shippers, drivers, and warehouse operators.

Real-time updates and geofencing ensure clients can track their cargo’s journey, while automatic demand-supply matching reduces idle time. 

“We don’t wait until the truck reaches the offloading point to start matching,” Afolayan explains. “Even before it gets there, you’ve received notifications for the next available cargo.”

This proactive approach has yielded impressive results. Haul247 has reduced truck idleness by over 50%, ensuring vehicles are loaded with new cargo shortly after offloading. For its clients, this means faster delivery times and significant cost savings.

Afolayan cites a striking example: shipping from Agbara to Maiduguri, a distance of several thousand kilometres, used to take two weeks. With Haul247’s regional warehousing and real-time matching, this has been slashed to five days, a 70% reduction in transit time.

How Haul247 is driving tech adoption in a traditional sector

Nigeria’s logistics sector is notoriously resistant to change, with many informal operators sceptical of technology. Haul247 overcomes this by offering incentives like reduced idle time, better revenue assurance, and access to financing. 

“When you create incentives for adopting technology, it drives acceptance,” Afolayan says. The company provides app-based tools that offer real-time visibility into routes, tracking, and performance metrics. Operators can compare their assets’ performance to others in the pool, fostering a sense of competition and accountability.

A key feature is Haul247’s fast payment system. With a 14-day payment cycle, truck owners receive funds promptly, enabling them to maintain their vehicles and stay operational. This reliability builds trust and encourages more operators to join the platform.

Additionally, Haul247’s rigorous vetting process ensures only reliable trucks and drivers are onboarded, reducing delays and enhancing service quality. “We double-vet all trucks,” Afolayan says, ensuring clients can trust the platform to deliver on time.

Haul247’s impact is best illustrated through its work with FMCG giants like Unilever. Previously, clients faced a 72-hour turnaround time to secure a truck, a delay that disrupted supply chains and increased costs. Haul247’s vast pool of trucks has reduced this to 18 hours, enabling businesses to forecast and plan more effectively.

“They are now sure of truck availability within 18 hours,” Afolayan says. This has led to a 30% increase in on-time delivery rates and a 20% reduction in customer support time.

Haul247’s ambitions extend beyond Nigeria. With seed funding fuelling its expansion, the company has established a presence in nearly every state in Nigeria. The capital has also enabled Haul247 to refine its AI and machine learning capabilities, ensuring its technology remains cutting-edge. “The seed funding has allowed us to build a nationwide footprint,” Afolayan says.

Looking ahead, Haul247 plans to enter other African markets with similar logistical challenges. While Afolayan keeps specific countries under wraps, he confirms that the company will launch in one African country by the fourth quarter of 2025, with two more to follow within a year.

The platform’s scalability is a key advantage, allowing it to adapt to diverse markets while addressing common pain points like low asset utilisation and fragmented coordination. “We are ensuring that all these processes are made more efficient, more agile, and lead to cost reduction,” Afolayan says.