If you’re interested in commercial fleet management, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends because they can have a significant impact on your business. Here are some of the key trends that we think are worth watching in 2023.

The trends highlighted below are driven by the primary goals of increasing driver safety and efficiency, complying with local and federal regulations, all while minimising fleet management costs.

1. Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are changing the way fleets operate. Electric vehicles have a lower carbon footprint than internal combustion engines, and they help reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The electricity that powers EVs comes from cleaner sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power plants. As a result of these benefits, many cities and states offer subsidies for electric vehicles to encourage their use.

Electric vehicles also have a lower operating cost than gas-powered vehicles because they don’t require fuel.

In addition to the money saved from reduced energy consumption, fleets can also cut down on maintenance expenses. Fleets with electric vehicles don’t need to worry about spending on the following, just to name a few:

• Oil filters and oil changes

• Engine sludge

• Fuel injector cleaning and fuel filters

• Ignition coils and spark plugs

• Air intake filters, catalytic converter, timing belt, and muffler

2. Autonomous Vehicles

Autonomous vehicles are already here, whether you realise it or not. They’re being used in places like Las Vegas and Boston, but there will be more of them on the road in 2023 than today.

And for good reason: autonomous vehicles (AVs) can drive better than human drivers and they conserve fuel because unlike humans, they don’t need breaks.

That means less time spent at rest stops—which means the cost of transporting goods drops significantly. Plus, AVs can travel close together while driving on motorways; this allows them to take up less space overall because they aren’t using a large buffer between each other.

3. Fleet Management Technology

At a very high level, fleet management refers to all the actions and processes that must occur to keep a fleet running efficiently, on time, and on budget. This process is typically handled by fleet managers, who are increasingly turning to technology to optimise their efforts.

The software and hardware used in this process includes things like GPS tracking, telematics (i.e., using data communication to monitor vehicle performance and driver behaviour), automated reporting solutions, computer-aided dispatch systems, fuel card systems, mobile workforce management solutions (for managing mobile workers like delivery drivers), video surveillance equipment, etc.

Fleet managers use these tools to monitor their fleets’ activity and understand their business better so that they can improve efficiency or safety by targeting specific areas for improvement.

4. Dash Cams

Another trend that has already been implemented and which is here to stay is the use of dash cams. Dash cams, which are also known as dashboard cameras, can be used to provide evidence in court cases where vehicles were involved in an accident.

In addition, dash cams can be used to monitor driver behaviour and ensure that drivers are following all applicable laws on the road. They can also provide evidence of accidents or driving infractions that happen as a result of driver error or reckless driving.

In 2023, it is likely that drivers will increasingly use dash cams for these purposes. Drivers may even be legally required to have dash cams installed in their vehicles if they want to continue operating them on public roads within certain jurisdictions.

5. Fleet Data and Analytics

Data is the new oil, and your fleet is a prime source of information that can be used to improve operations.

Data can also help determine which vehicles are most economical for your business, which routes require additional drivers due to high traffic volume or low speeds, and when maintenance is needed on vehicles before they break down altogether. This will save money while improving safety and efficiency.

The ability to use analytics, machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to glean actionable insights from data is a must-have skill in the transportation sector. This is because having all this data is only useful if you are able to properly analyse it. 

Conclusion

We hope you’ve found this article to be informative and helpful. We love learning about new trends in commercial fleet management, and we love sharing our insights! Keep your eyes peeled for future articles.