2026 Verizon Connect Fleet Technology Trends Report: AI-powered technology improves safety, productivity and data-driven decision-making
What you need to know:
- The Rise of Video AI: Adoption of video telematics has reached 46%, with 74% of users reporting improved driver safety through AI-powered behavior detection and real-time coaching.
- Surge in GPS Adoption: Four out of five fleet professionals (80%) now rely on GPS fleet tracking technology, an 11-percentage-point increase year-over-year.
- Combating Inflation: To offset rising costs, fleet managers are using technology to achieve average decreases of 11-19% in fuel, accident, labor, and maintenance expenses.
- Efficiency is Top Priority: 66% of fleet professionals are focused on increasing efficiency and productivity over the next 12-18 months to navigate shifting economic landscapes.
NEW YORK, NY – Fleet organizations are entering a new era of technology-driven operations, according to Verizon Connect’s 2026 Fleet Technology Trends Report, which finds artificial intelligence, connected data and safety-focused solutions reshaping how fleets operate, manage risk and scale performance.
Now in its sixth year, the annual report draws on insights from almost 900 fleet professionals across government, commercial and enterprise sectors, providing a comprehensive benchmark of technology adoption, outcomes and priorities for the year ahead.
“Fleet management is entering a new chapter, one defined by rapid intelligence, connectivity and action,” said Peter Mitchell, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Verizon Connect. “As this year’s report shows, AI-powered fleet technology is no longer about just collecting data. It’s about turning insight into safer roads, stronger operations and better outcomes for drivers and businesses alike.”
AI Moves From Emerging Capability to Core Fleet Tool
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future concept for fleets, it is already delivering measurable results. Nearly half of fleet professionals (46%) now use video telematics, representing a 10-percentage-point increase in adoption since 2023.
Among fleets using AI-powered video telematics:
- 74% report improved driver safety
- 41% say the technology significantly improves driver coaching
- 48% report reduced accident-related costs
- 64% report better protection from false claims
By combining video intelligence with GPS fleet tracking, fleets gain deeper visibility into driver behavior, enabling proactive coaching, safer driving habits and lower risk exposure.
Fleets Prioritize Smarter, Automated and Real-Time Decision-Making for Safety and Efficiency
As fleet operations grow more complex, technology has become a central enabler of performance and resilience. Over the next 12–18 months, fleet leaders report their top priorities as:
- Increasing efficiency and productivity (66%)
- Reducing operational costs (62%)
- Enhancing driver safety (52%)
- Simplifying and streamlining fleet data (34%)
Operational Efficiency Becomes a Competitive Advantage
Fleet technology is increasingly viewed as a strategic lever for improving utilization, productivity and service delivery.
- 44% of GPS fleet tracking users improved productivity
- 53% of asset tracking users improved asset and equipment utilization
- 55% of field service management users improved operational efficiency
- Nearly half of users across major technologies report ROI in less than one year
These gains allow fleets to complete more work with existing resources while improving reliability and customer experience.
What’s Next: Autonomous Insights and Agentic AI
Looking ahead, fleets expect AI-powered tools to become more intuitive, proactive and autonomous. Emerging capabilities such as AI data assistants, auto-generated insights and agentic AI are expected to help fleets identify trends, surface opportunities and automate operational actions — from predictive maintenance to route optimization — with minimal manual input.
These advancements mark a shift from reactive management to predictive and intelligent fleet operations.