Logistics website navigation: services, sectors, quote

Key takeaways

Logistics website navigation should help two groups: buyers comparing providers and customers who need to track or book. Name services as shippers search for them, such as 'Pallet delivery' or 'Warehousing', add sectors you serve and coverage, keep tracking and customer login in the utility area and make 'Get a quote' the header action.

• Services named as shippers search for them.
• Sectors served and coverage maps linked from the menu.
• Tracking and customer login top right.
• 'Get a quote' as the header action.

Who uses a logistics website?

Prospects, often operations or procurement managers, compare capabilities, coverage, sectors and accreditations, sometimes as part of a buying group. Existing customers come to track consignments, book collections or download documents. Navigation must serve both without one crowding out the other.

• How clear website navigation improves user experience
• The customer journey for logistics and transport firms

How should services be organised?

Group by what shippers buy, in their words, and add sector routes for buyers who think by industry.

• Services: pallet delivery, same-day, warehousing, international.
• Sectors: retail, manufacturing, healthcare, construction.
• Coverage: UK map, depots, international lanes.
• Accreditations and case studies under proof.

• The services menu: how to list what you sell
• Audience-based navigation: should menus split by customer?

Where should tracking go?

Tracking is the most common task for existing customers. Put 'Track' and 'Customer login' at the top right of every page, visible on phones. Customers who cannot find tracking call or email, which costs your team time.

• Utility navigation: login, basket and search, out of the way
• Navigation for returning customers: logins and reorders

How should the quote route work?

Make 'Get a quote' the header action, linking to a short form that asks only what is needed for a first price. Link it from every service and sector page. For complex contracts, offer a call with a specialist as an alternative.

• The header CTA button: one action that stands apart
• B2B website lead generation

Where should proof and documents go?

Buyers shortlisting a logistics provider check accreditations, insurance, fleet details and case studies before they ask for a quote. Group these under one menu item, such as 'Why us' or 'About', rather than scattering them across pages. Link the relevant case study from each sector page, so a retail buyer sees retail work.

Existing customers need documents: terms and conditions, rate cards, collection guides and customs paperwork for international work. Put them in a customer area or a clearly labelled documents page linked from the footer and the customer login area. Publish key information as web pages rather than only as PDFs, so it reads properly on a phone in a depot.

• PDFs on a mobile website: why menus and brochures fail

What does this look like in practice?

A pattern we see: a haulier's tracking link sits in the footer, the menu lists 'Solutions', 'Industries' and 'Network', and the quote form is on the contact page. Moving tracking to the header, naming services directly and adding a 'Get a quote' button gives each audience a clear route.

• See client work
• Website Design & Development for UK businesses
• Websites for logistics and transport companies

Logistics navigation checklist

• Services named as shippers search.
• Sector and coverage routes.
• Track and login top right.
• Get a quote in the header.
• Accreditations and case studies linked.

• Manufacturer website navigation: products, specs and quotes
• Logistics website design mistakes that lose contracts

Next step

Ask a customer how they track a delivery on your site, and how many clicks it takes.