In recognition of Brake Safety Week (Aug. 24-30), Linxup conducted a survey of more than 250 fleet managers to uncover the gaps and opportunities in their fleet safety practices. 

According to the report, most fleet managers value safety (90%), but many still take a reactive approach. 

The survey revealed that one-third of respondents do not have a formal safety program in place — an eye-opening gap in fleet risk management, Linxup said in a press release. This lack of formal structure is especially concerning given that 51% of respondents say their business couldn’t survive a serious driver-related lawsuit.

Opportunities for Growth

Service business owners and fleet managers want to be safer, but many don’t have the time, budget, or buy-in for success. According to respondents:

• 49% say driver resistance is a major challenge, with 51% saying driver privacy is a real concern

• 43% say upfront cost is a concern

• 55% say driver feedback is crucial, but only 55% of respondents provide regular performance reports to drivers

• 31% don’t know where to start when it comes to coaching programs

“Our survey shows fleets with safety programs experience fewer accidents, better driver behavior, and notable cost savings — often with less pushback than expected. Seventy-four percent of respondents said driver coaching was easier to launch than they anticipated,” said Joe Marcotte, senior director, product management for Linxup. “A successful safety program requires the right tools, consistent coaching, and top-down buy-in, and Linxup helps turn safety goals into everyday results.”

Telematics Momentum

The survey found that fleets are leveraging telematics data to enhance safety, with respondents most commonly accessing the data in the following ways:

• GPS vehicle fleet tracking (64%)

• Dash cameras (50%)

• AI safety alerts (49%)

• Driver coaching tools (44%)

Notably, only 60% of respondents use telematics tools for purposes beyond accident prevention — highlighting a major underutilization of data and a missed opportunity for greater impact through safety reporting and consistent coaching.