The skills your fleet managers need to stay ahead in 2026
Being a proactive and forward-thinking fleet manager is essential for successfully coordinating and organising a business’s vehicle and driver portfolio.
Being a proactive and forward-thinking fleet manager is essential for successfully coordinating and organising a business’s vehicle and driver portfolio.
Marion Hanson
Marketing Executive
Thinking ten steps ahead helps fleet businesses to maintain legal and safe operations and make cost savings wherever possible.
In this article, we have compiled an effective blend of technical, analytical, and people-centred fleet management skills to stay ahead in 2026.
You can also read our fleet management guide to discover the key aspects of fleet management.
In 2026, it's going to be more important than ever for fleet managers to be able to make decisions using data rather than intuition alone.
Telematics dashboards require fleet managers to be able to make decisions using real-time data to perform tasks such as planning AI-based route optimisations.
Knowing how to properly use all dashboards and software can help you to optimise your operations and alert you to any potential issues before they become a problem.
It's also important to have the IT skills and knowledge needed to keep your company, business, and staff data cyber-safe. Being able to provide confidence in the compliance of your operations is just as important as being able to analyse the data itself.
Discover why good fleet management software is a must-have for 2026 in our article ‘Fleet management software: How it can benefit your business’.
The automotive sector changes rapidly, and staying up to date with regulatory compliance is needed to avoid fines and legal action, while ensuring driver safety and maintaining a positive company reputation.
As a fleet manager, complying with regulations is undoubtedly one of the most important parts of the job, and in 2026, you’ll need to stay alert and sharpen your knowledge on regulatory compliance, environmental regulations, duty of care obligations, services, maintenance and repairs, to name a few.
Find out how Motia can help you with compliance, driver and vehicle safety, emissions reductions and much more.
As a fleet manager, it's important that you can make good judgments on when and how to incorporate new and emerging technology, such as EVs, into the business.
Understanding the challenges that may come with adopting EVs and finding ways to overcome any obstacles will put your fleet in a much better position when internal combustion engine vehicles are retired.
Discover some of the challenges of moving to electric vehicles and how you can manage a mixed fleet in our article ‘What are the implications of accelerating the shift to zero emissions?’.
While driver retention strategies have always been able to reduce turnover costs and improve operational efficiency, it's even more important than ever to attract and retain drivers.
The shortage of HGV drivers in the UK started to pose a major challenge for the industry in 2021 (post-Brexit), and whilst figures are improving, the demand for UK drivers is still unlikely to be met in 2026.
A key factor contributing to this issue is that over 50% of current HGV drivers are aged 50 or older, leaving a significant portion of the workforce at risk of retirement in the near future.
This makes coming up with effective employee recruitment and retention strategies essential for fleet managers in 2026.
Fuel and energy costs typically represent the largest portion of a fleet's overall operating expenses. Which is why it's important for fleet managers to find and implement strategies to reduce these costs. Effective methods include negotiating better fuel prices, optimising route planning, and minimising idle time.
One of the most effective ways to lower fuel expenses is by investing in a discount-based solution that helps decrease fuel prices at the pump.
At Motia, our fuel cards provide this saving mechanism and are an excellent option for any business, regardless of the size of their fleet.
At Motia, we understand the challenges that fleet managers face, which is why we offer a wide range of solutions to make managing a fleet easier, more efficient, and more cost-effective.
From fuel cards and telematics to compliance solutions, we provide everything you need to make sure your business stays ahead in 2026.
Get in touch to discover how we can help move your business forward.
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