The research found that more than a third (35%) of fleet managers identified driver safety as their main concern, outpacing cost-savings goals and workforce productivity (27% and 22%, respectively) as the top concern for the second year in a row.

In addition, 62% of survey respondents said that the main focus of their company’s executive leadership is achieving cost savings. With this goal in mind, fleet managers are using a number of tactics to manage costs. A total of 43% of respondents cited vehicle purchasing decisions as the greatest opportunity for savings, followed by managing maintenance expenses (32%) and activating telematics and analytics solutions (22%).

‘As fleet managers continue to focus first and foremost on driver safety, they must also concentrate on finding ways to take more cost out of fleet operations,’ said Mark Hayes, chief marketing officer for GE Capital Fleet Services.

‘Increasingly, fleets are utilising technology tools that address the dual challenges of cost and safety. These include telematics solutions that alert drivers to potential accidents, intelligent collision alert systems and data analytics that helps predict and manage maintenance costs.’ 

Additional findings from the survey included:

• Enhancing productivity: the two biggest areas of focus for enhancing fleet productivity were defining a comprehensive vehicle replacement/cycling plan (30%) and specifying the appropriate vehicle for the job (27%).
• Analytics Is improving efficiency and saving costs: when asked how analytics have most helped their fleet, 46% of fleet managers cited improved operational efficiency, with an additional 22% citing cost savings through analytics.
• Alternative fuels in use at 32% of fleets: a total of 32% of fleet managers surveyed stated that alternative fuel vehicles were already in their fleet, with an additional 33% planning to incorporate them within the next two years.

‘Fleet managers increasingly are analysing data to make cost savings, safety, and productivity decisions based on fleet performance and operations,’ said Doug Peters, analytics leader at GE Capital Fleet Services.