Artificial intelligence is officially out of the “interesting idea” phase and into daily fleet operations.

That’s one of the big takeaways from Verizon Connect’s 2026 Fleet Technology Trends Report, which looks at how fleets are using technology to improve safety, boost productivity, and make smarter decisions with their data.

Now in its sixth year, the report draws on feedback from nearly 900 fleet professionals across government, commercial, and enterprise operations. The overall theme is clear. Connected data and AI-powered tools are reshaping how fleets manage risk, control costs, and plan ahead.

Video AI Adoption Keeps Climbing

Video telematics continues to gain traction. Adoption has reached 46%, up 10 percentage points since 2023. Among fleets using AI-powered video telematics:

• 74% report improved driver safety

• 41% say it significantly enhances driver coaching

• 48% report reduced accident-related costs

• 64% say it helps protect against false claims

The combination of video intelligence and GPS tracking is giving fleets more visibility into driver behavior. The result is more proactive coaching, fewer surprises, and, ideally, fewer incidents.

GPS Tracking Becomes the Norm

GPS fleet tracking is now mainstream. Four out of five fleet professionals (or 80%) rely on it. That represents an 11-point increase year-over-year.

For many fleets, tracking is no longer a “nice to have.” It is foundational technology that supports everything from routing to utilization to compliance.

Efficiency Leads the Priority List

Over the next 12 to 18 months, fleet leaders say their top focus areas are:

• Increasing efficiency and productivity, 66%

• Reducing operational costs, 62%

• Enhancing driver safety, 52%

• Simplifying and streamlining fleet data, 34%

In other words, fleets are looking for ways to do more with what they already have. Technology is playing a central role in making that happen.

Increased Cost Control through Technology 

To help offset rising costs, fleet managers report average decreases of 11% to 19% in areas such as fuel, accidents, labor, and maintenance when using fleet technology solutions.

Specific tools are also driving measurable results:

• 44% of GPS tracking users report improved productivity

• 53% of asset tracking users report better equipment utilization

• 55% of field service management users report improved operational efficiency

• Nearly half of users across major technologies say they saw ROI in less than a year

That combination of productivity gains and faster payback is helping technology shift from line-item expense to strategic investment.

What Comes Next for AI in Fleets?

Looking ahead, fleets expect AI tools to become more proactive and more autonomous. Emerging capabilities such as AI data assistants, auto-generated insights, and agentic AI are expected to help surface trends and recommend actions with less manual digging through reports.

The shift is subtle but important. Instead of reacting to what already happened, fleets are positioning themselves to anticipate issues, optimize routes, and plan maintenance before problems escalate. If 2025 was about collecting more data, 2026 looks like it will be about putting that data to work.