Cottrell Trailers, headquartered in Gainesville, Georgia, has been a leader in over-the-road car hauler manufacturing since 1975. With a reputation for innovation, quality, and American craftsmanship, Cottrell sought to modernize its digital presence to reflect its industry stature and support its expanding operations. Recognizing the need for a website that mirrored their commitment to excellence, Cottrell partnered with Monogram to overhaul their marketing site. The goal was to create a platform that not only showcased their advanced trailer manufacturing capabilities but also streamlined user experience for their clients.
Control at your fingertips
To give the Cottrell team full ownership of their site, we implemented DatoCMS, a flexible and intuitive content management system. It empowers content editors to update and create pages effortlessly—no developer required. The structured yet adaptable model ensures that updates remain consistent with brand standards, while DatoCMS’s clean UI makes the process a breeze for non-technical users.
Built for speed (and scale)
Cottrell’s site was developed using Next.js, the modern React framework known for its performance and flexibility. We combined static generation and server-side rendering to create a lightning-fast experience that also adapts to dynamic needs. SEO, instant navigation, and future-proof architecture were all top priorities—Next.js delivered on all fronts. And thanks to its native integration with Vercel, the development pipeline stayed smooth from start to ship.
Styled for success
With Tailwind CSS, we took a utility-first approach to design—ensuring both speed in development and pixel-perfect consistency across the site. Its modular nature allowed us to rapidly prototype and build out responsive, accessible components while maintaining a clean, maintainable codebase. The result: a polished UI that feels cohesive and tailored.
Zero-click deployments
We used Vercel as our deployment platform to streamline performance, previews, and collaboration. Preview Deployments made it easy for stakeholders to see changes in real time, enabling faster feedback cycles and quicker iteration. With continuous integration baked in, every push led to an optimized, production-ready build—no manual steps required.
Sharper assets, smarter delivery
We brought in Raster, an AI-powered digital asset manager, to keep Cottrell’s visuals crisp and on-brand. From automatic tagging to real-time collaboration, Raster made it easier to manage high-quality media across the site. Behind the scenes, it handled responsive formats and performance optimizations—ensuring that images always load fast and look flawless on any device.
Insight-driven and location-aware
To help Cottrell make data-backed decisions and deliver a more interactive experience, we implemented BigQuery—Google’s powerful serverless data warehouse. Beyond tracking user behavior and site performance in real time, BigQuery was also used to store and manage location data, enabling dynamic filtering and integration with Google Maps. This allowed users to explore Cottrell’s network of locations effortlessly, filtering by region or criteria and viewing relevant sites directly on a map. These capabilities not only enhanced the user experience but also empowered the team with deeper operational insights—all from a single, scalable data platform.
The revitalized Cottrell Trailers website now stands as a testament to the company’s dedication to innovation, customer service, and the people who power its success.
