The State of Fleet Management Directly From the Fleets

Why It Matters

The findings highlight critical operational bottlenecks that could erode profitability and slow the industry’s shift toward sustainable, technology‑driven fleets, prompting leaders to prioritize cost control, data automation, and talent development.

Key Takeaways

• Rising costs and regulations top fleet concerns
• Manual data entry still dominates despite maintenance software
• AI adoption limited; trust remains major barrier
• Hybrid maintenance models split between in‑house and third‑party
• EV adoption slow due to infrastructure and skill gaps

Pulse Analysis

The latest Fleetio survey of 600 fleet leaders paints a stark picture of an industry squeezed by rising operating costs and tightening emissions regulations. More than half of respondents flagged cost inflation as their primary headache, while 46 % highlighted compliance mandates as a growing risk. These pressures are forcing managers to scrutinize every dollar spent on parts, labor and downtime, accelerating the search for efficiency‑boosting tools. As fleets expand across multiple locations, the need for coordinated, cost‑effective operations has never been more urgent.

Technology adoption is uneven. Over 70 % of fleets report using dedicated maintenance software, yet more than 30 % still rely on spreadsheets and 17 % on paper forms, driving an average of two to eight hours of manual data entry each week. AI remains a niche, with only 5.6 % of respondents actively using it and trust concerns cited by half of the sample. The hybrid maintenance model—nearly 49 % of fleets combining in‑house and third‑party services—reflects a pragmatic response to technician shortages and parts scarcity.

Electrification is progressing slowly. While 70 % of surveyed fleets own no hybrid or electric vehicles, only 11.6 % operate EVs and 18.3 % run hybrids, with just 7.9 % actively procuring alternative‑fuel models. High charging‑station costs, limited technician expertise and uncertain return‑on‑investment keep many operators in evaluation mode. Nonetheless, 21.1 % are exploring alt‑fuel options to pre‑empt future emissions rules, suggesting a gradual shift as infrastructure and workforce training improve. The survey underscores that the next wave of fleet transformation will hinge on aligning technology, talent and regulatory strategy.