The latest study by the J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights, the research arm of J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. reveals that fleet managers are dealing with ongoing challenges related to staying updated on regulatory changes, improving driver knowledge and skills, and complying with industry standards.

The study, titled "The State of Fleet Management: Insights on Priorities for Today’s Fleet Managers," is based on a survey conducted in February 2024 and is the fourth annual study on this topic by the J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights.

Key findings from the study highlight the following trending concerns from 2021 to 2024:

• Difficulties with hours-of-service (HOS) limits and use exemptions increased by 13% from 2023 to 2024.

• Finding and retaining high-quality drivers remained a top concern from previous years and increased by 12% from 2023.

• Understanding how the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations specifically apply to fleet managers remained a top concern, increasing by 9% year-over-year.

According to Daren Hansen, senior industry advisor at J. J. Keller, despite the widespread use of electronic logs, hours-of-service compliance remains a significant issue, with HOS violations accounting for over 40% of all roadside violations and nearly 1 in 5 violations found during audits in 2023.

Hansen added, "Toss in a variety of exceptions, and it’s no wonder that drivers struggle with HOS compliance."

Digging into the J.J. Keller State of Fleet Management Study Results

Accurate and well-organized recordkeeping continues to be a challenge in FMCSA compliance for two consecutive years. According to a study, 47% of fleet managers consider "Having accurate and well-organized Driver Qualification files" as the most important aspect of FMCSA compliance, marking a 5% increase from 2023.

Respondents highlighted the difficulties of staying updated with changing DOT and OSHA rules, ensuring comprehensive compliance monitoring, and centralized record retention. They also expressed concerns about the constant changes in FMCSA rules, struggling to have all the necessary paperwork and records filed.

The focus on improving the knowledge and skills of drivers remains ongoing, with 65% of survey participants reporting that continuous learning is a significant emphasis within their companies. When it comes to driver training, respondents stress that training should be specific to their drivers' unique needs, operations, vehicles, or industry (47%), and that drivers should apply what they learn in training (45%).

"If you want to be a manager in this industry, either in safety or operations, be prepared. 74% of the respondents rated their jobs as moderately to extremely stressful. On the other end, just 27% said their job was only slightly challenging or not challenging at all. It reminds me of the old firefighter saying, ’Everyone wants to be the chief until you have to do chief things. Then the job gets hard.‘ Having good people around you and leaning on outside resources can make the job much easier,” said Tom Bray, Sr. Industry Advisor, J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

Top training concerns include having accurate and well-organized training records (30%), engaging and interesting training programs (28%), and the ability to demonstrate a driver's understanding of the training content if needed (25%).

It is essential for carriers to proactively build a safe and compliant fleet through training to minimize the impact of litigation. Mark Schedler, senior editor at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc., suggests that leveraging dash cams, electronic logging devices, and telematics data can help carriers find and fix compliance and performance issues to prevent crashes, citations, and unnecessary turnover.

Unfortunately, 35% of respondents stated that they do not receive adequate support from their company for continuous learning.

Driving Thoughts on the State of Fleet Management

The most critical aspect of overall safety that fleet managers prioritize is consistent leadership that demonstrates the importance of safety (51%). Close behind is ensuring that employees feel valued, which is why fleet managers prioritize their safety (46%).

As the risk of "nuclear verdicts" and FMCSA audits continues to rise, fleet managers are expected to keep up with regulatory requirements and enhance driver knowledge and skills. Furthermore, ongoing economic challenges mean that avoiding costly incidents, eliminating inefficiencies, and reducing driver turnover are essential for fleet success.

Susan Baranczyk, head of corporate communications at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. stated, "Driver safety and regulatory compliance were the top trends in both the 2024 data and our findings from previous years of research. Our goal at J. J. Keller is to protect people and the businesses they run. We recognize that ensuring safety for drivers and the public is a significant challenge for fleet managers, and we commend the focus and efforts of our survey respondents to keep their teams and others safe."

The full report is available as a free download.