Creating a Future-Fit Fleet
Watch our expert panel discuss some of the solutions that can support fleet managers in navigating their biggest challenges.
Future-Fit Fleet webinar
To celebrate the launch of our Fleetmasters platform, we partnered with ACT Fleet Forum to host a live webinar, Creating a Future-Fit Fleet.
The webinar explored the US research insights from our latest study, The Future-Fit Fleet. Incorporating insights from more than 1,500 fleet managers, it is one of the largest studies ever conducted into commercial fleet management.
The study was designed to help fleet managers navigate the challenges they experience on multiple fronts: from electrification and digitisation to carbon reduction and efficiency. The webinar reveals how fleet managers can ensure their fleet is prepared for what comes next.
Alongside Byron Kelchner, Senior National Account Manager, Fleets at bp Castrol, the expert panel included Kevin Lindsey, Manager, Technical Services at TravelCenters of America, Isaac Ritter, Senior Project Leader of Sustainability at J.B Hunt Transport and Anup Patil, CEO and Cofounder at Intangles.
Future-Fit Fleet Webinar
Watch our expert panel discuss some of the solutions that can support fleet managers in navigating their biggest challenges.
Is your commercial fleet future-fit?
As highlighted in our webinar, fleet managers are navigating increasingly complex operating environments. From escalating fuel prices and tighter regulations, to workforce shortages and supply chain disruptions, the challenges just keep on coming. But with every challenge comes the opportunity to evolve and improve.
Our panellists agree that to future proof operations, fleet managers must embrace innovation and change, invest in new technologies, closely monitor sustainability regulations, and continuously optimise their operations. Against this backdrop, fleet leaders must also promote a culture that values efficiency, adaptability and proactivity for the best outcomes.One of the key questions that emerged in our webinar was: what does a truly future-ready fleet look like?
Our research shows that Future-Fit Fleets invest more in tech, predictive maintenance and training, and preemptively adapt to pending sustainability legislation. These relate to the four key dimensions that have emerged as critical to building a resilient, high-performing fleet.
First is operational efficiency, which is essential for remaining competitive in a margin-sensitive industry. To excel in this dimension, fleets must prioritise smart strategies, continuous improvement and a people-first approach. Following these steps allows Future-Fit Fleets in the US to get 8.9 miles per gallon of fuel on average, compared to 7.7 miles achieved by their non-future-fit equivalents.
Next is carbon reduction, which is no longer optional. Fleets are under growing pressure to cut emissions, not just to comply with legislation, but to meet the demands of customers and shareholders alike. The transition to EVs and hybrids is part of the solution, but so is data-led driver training and fuel efficiency measures that can deliver results now, as well as in the future.
The third dimension is digitisation, and this is where things really start to accelerate. Telematics, AI, and predictive analytics are transforming fleet management. But adoption is still falling behind in some areas, with cost and integration cited as two of the top blockers. However, the fleets that are getting this right are already seeing big returns: less downtime, improved driver safety and better decision-making. This is why Future-Fit Fleets in the US are investing, on average, $93,000 in fleet technologies every year, whereas their non-future-fit fleet counterparts are only investing, on average, $55,000.
Finally, there’s maintenance; often underestimated, but vital for long-term success. Our research shows that predictive maintenance is one of the most effective levers available to fleet managers, helping to reduce emergency maintenance and extend vehicle life. Yet, many fleets still rely on reactive approaches, which cost more in the long run and impact productivity. Future-Fit Fleets experience reduced vehicle downtime, with nine hours of maintenance per vehicle per month, on average, compared with 13 hours for the rest.
All four dimensions are deeply interconnected. You can’t meaningfully reduce emissions without digitisation. You can’t improve operational efficiency without smarter maintenance. The fleets that will thrive in the years ahead are those that treat these priorities as part of one holistic strategy, not isolated projects.
