Artificial intelligence is reshaping the oil and gas industry. Leaders who want to stay ahead can’t rely on the traditional playbook — they need to understand how to apply AI to everyday operations.
While AI is making an impact in upstream, midstream, and downstream activities, some of the most immediate and measurable gains are happening in an area that spans every level of the industry: fleet operations.
AI in the oil and gas industry: 3 fleet operations applications
AI has the power to improve the safety, productivity, and profitability of oil and gas fleet operations. Read on to find out how.
AI enables proactive fleet safety
Oil and gas work is routinely listed among the most dangerous in the country. The fatality rate is seven times higher than the national average, with thousands of severe injuries each year. Crews often deal with hazardous materials and equipment in remote, dangerous locations. Even when it’s just a driver getting to a jobsite, an accident is always possible. Without real-time visibility into worker safety, even a small problem can become a major crisis.
AI is changing that, providing real-time visibility for the oil and gas industry. AI enables a more proactive approach to safety. For example, an AI-powered operations platform can provide a comprehensive, in-the-moment view of oil and gas operations, allowing you to identify and prevent safety issues as they arise.
Modern AI dash cams can notify a fleet manager and driver about unsafe driving behavior in real time. These systems use AI to detect risky actions — like distracted driving or unsafe lane changes — and trigger automatic alerts or coaching responses to drivers. The system can send the clip to the safety manager through a cloud dashboard for review. And in oil and gas hot spots like the Permian Basin, known for its dangerous, congested roads, proactive safety like this could even be life-saving.
With AI, our ability to respond to vehicle incidents is greatly enhanced. With Motive AI Dashcams alone, we cut our incident rate in half in the first six months. Having real-time visibility is critical. As much as you think you know where your safety performance stands, without telematics and AI Dashcams, you really don’t know where safety performance stands or where it’s going.
Automation improves productivity
Operational sprawl in oil and gas is fueling demand for smarter, more consolidated fleet management solutions. For example, 26% of oil and gas leaders lose track of vehicles at least once a month. Fleets could be juggling up to nine different systems. And nearly a third say it’s too many to count.
It’s no surprise then that oil and gas leaders want automation that unifies data, simplifies workflows, and restores control across every asset in the field. Integrated platforms like Motive’s deliver 360° visibility into vehicles, equipment, and performance, all in real time. For example, oil and gas companies can use the Motive AI Omnicam to:
- Quickly resolve oil spill or leak disputes.
- Gain visibility into operations on remote sites, both day and night.
- Verify compliance with special rules around hauling and working with hazardous materials.
Automation is currently leading the charge, but AI is likely to become a long-term productivity driver. AI is predicted to contribute $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030, with $6.6 trillion driven by productivity gains alone.
Oil and gas leaders are as enthusiastic as any, eager to explore what’s next. Motive’s Physical Economy Outlook shows:
- 68% of oil and gas leaders want to use generative AI in their work
- 61% believe AI is crucial for preventing accidents and coaching
- 47% value AI for its ability to eliminate manual processes and automate operations
- 42% want to use AI to predict vehicle and equipment maintenance needs
We’re able to save a considerable amount of time utilizing the Motive Card, AI Dashcams, and the AI Omnicam right in the same platform with the telematics and other driver analytics. It’s all tied together, giving us a better and more reliable source of information so we can make better decisions in every corner of the business.
AI increases fleet profitability
According to a recent EY survey, oil and gas executives have identified “intelligent optimization of operations performance” as a high-priority area where they can gain value from AI and emerging technology.
AI can help companies boost their bottom line by giving them total control over fleet safety, spending, and asset utilization.
Take AI-powered dash cams, for example. They detect risky behavior on the road and help managers coach drivers to be safer. This proactive safety approach isn’t just good for your team; it also helps you manage risk and lower insurance costs.
On the financial side, AI platforms can track spending in real time, catching and even preventing fraudulent transactions.
Ultimately, the biggest win is having all your fleet data — from driver behavior to maintenance records — in one place, so you can make quick, informed decisions that contribute to a stronger bottom line.
Case studies for fleets: Examples of AI in the oil and gas industry
The theoretical benefits of AI sound good, but does AI work? These real-world examples show how impactful AI technology can be for fleets in the oil and gas industry.
All Chemical spurs 30% growth and reduces fuel spend by 3%
All Chemical Transport Corp., a leading provider of chemical transportation services, had separate, disconnected fleet and spend management systems. This meant they had little visibility or control over their vehicles, equipment, and expenses.
The All Chemical team tried to grow its business through this mix of disparate systems and siloed data, but encountered several obstacles.
All Chemical needed an integrated, AI-powered platform that would unify their operations and their data. The investment paid off. Since implementing Motive, they’ve seen:
- 3 million accident- and ticket-free miles with the Motive AI Dashcam, thanks to real-time safety feedback for drivers and better driver coaching.
- 3% fuel cost savings from the Motive Card.
- Complete visibility around every vehicle in their fleet with AI Omnicam. As a result, they’ve been able to exonerate drivers from false claims and avoid costly litigation.
KLX Energy Services digs into fleet safety
KLX Energy Services takes safety seriously. After a significant accident in 2022 — and a 50% spike in insurance costs year-over-year — KLX deployed Motive throughout their fleet of 2,000 vehicles. The company also adopted Motive Card for better spend management.
With Motive, KLX has been able to:
- Sharply reduce at-fault accidents with the help of AI Dashcams.
- Save $15,000 on fuel each month.
- Reduce unidentified drivers by 50%, giving them better control over who’s operating each vehicle.
Duncan Oil lowers operational costs and improves vehicle utilization
Duncan Oil, a family-owned petroleum supplier, needed a simple, reliable solution to manage their 100-vehicle fleet. Vehicle theft, missed deadlines, and vehicle downtime were impeding the company’s ability to grow, scale, and serve customers. So Duncan switched to Motive, quickly seeing how AI could impact their bottom line.
With Motive, Duncan Oil:
- Saved up to $4 million in litigation costs by using AI Dashcams to exonerate drivers from four accident claims.
- Reduced vehicle downtime by 50% with proactive, preventative maintenance scheduling.
- Improved fuel efficiency and lowered their carbon footprint by monitoring fuel and engine data in real time.
How Motive’s AI-powered platform can help oil and gas companies
Motive’s AI-powered platform is a comprehensive, integrated solution that connects every aspect of your fleet’s operations, from vehicles and equipment to drivers and spending.
Here’s how Motive is built to help:
- Integrated operations. Unlike disparate solutions, Motive unifies all your data into a single, automated platform. This gives managers a holistic view of their operations, enabling faster, smarter decisions.
- AI Dashcam. The Motive AI Dashcam proactively detects and corrects risky driving behaviors with industry-leading accuracy, helping you prevent accidents and lower insurance premiums. When an accident does happen, Motive provides high-definition video footage, reviewed by a 400+ person safety team, to protect drivers and reduce liability.
- AI Omnicam. Motive’s AI Omnicam has AI-enabled hardware built for side, rear, passenger, and cargo monitoring. The camera provides up to 360-degree visibility around every vehicle to ensure compliance and offer critical context for incident investigations.
- Connected spend. Motive Card gives you real-time control over fuel and maintenance spend, helping you identify and prevent fraud.
- Simple and scalable. Motive’s solutions are designed for easy, plug-and-play installation, making them accessible to fleets of all sizes, from a handful of pickups to a massive fleet of heavy-duty vehicles and rigs.
In the challenging world of oil and gas, staying ahead requires more than hard work — it requires smart technology. AI is a necessity for any company that wants to improve safety, increase efficiency, and secure a more profitable future.
Want to learn more about how Motive makes AI transformation a reality for the oil and gas industry? Check out our Oil and Gas fleet solutions, and request a demo today.
