The company’s research shows that more than a third (36%) of fleet managers cited driver safety as their predominant concern, outpacing cost-savings goals and workforce productivity (22% each).

The results signal a shift since last year’s survey when just 23% cited driver safety as their leading concern. At that time, meeting cost-savings goals (26%) was the most pressing issue facing fleet managers.  

However, cost savings is still a leading concern and to help manage costs, fleet managers are using a number of different tactics. A total of 42% cited vehicle purchasing decisions as the greatest opportunity for savings. This was followed by activating telematics and analytics solutions (31%) and managing maintenance expenses (28%).

‘Even as fleet managers remain sharply focused on cost savings, more of them are making safety and well-being of their drivers a top priority,’ said Mark Hayes, chief marketing officer of GE Capital Fleet Services. ‘At GE, we’re committed to maintaining a product and service suite that takes on cost savings and safety challenges side-by-side to help organisations meet their business goals.’

Additional key findings from the survey included:

• Productivity: The two biggest areas of focus for enhancing fleet productivity were refining preventative maintenance strategies (36%) and defining a comprehensive vehicle replacement/cycling plan (28%).
• Alternative Fuels: A total of 61% of fleet managers stated that alternative fuel vehicles were already in their fleet, with an additional 11% planning to incorporate them within the next two years. Just 19% of fleet managers stated they do not have plans to incorporate AFVs into their fleets, down from 30% last year.
• Analytics: When asked how analytics have most helped their fleet, 33% of fleet managers cited improved operational efficiency, with an additional 25% naming cost savings.