Rising costs for labor, fuel, insurance, and equipment are squeezing fleet margins harder than ever. For many operators, the difference between staying competitive and falling behind hinges on how effectively they can use technology to control costs and scale smarter.
In a conversation with FreightWaves analyst Thomas Wasson, Motive Senior VP of Product Abhishek Gupta broke down how telematics and AI are helping fleets of every size meet this moment.
Telematics has become essential infrastructure. Much more than just nice-to-have technology that only the big boys can afford, it has become key to building a successful business.
Where fleets are seeing fast impact
Safety
Accidents remain one of the most devastating cost centers for any fleet. “A single accident for a small fleet can be upwards of $100,000,” Gupta said.
Motive AI Dashcams do more than record accidents; they help prevent them. With real-time coaching and computer vision that identifies risk patterns, fleets have seen accident reductions of 50% to 70% in the first year of deployment alone.
Maintenance
Unexpected breakdowns cost fleets in both dollars and downtime. Predictive maintenance tools, powered by telematics data, help fleets identify issues before they escalate. With the right data in place, fleets can shift from reactive to proactive maintenance, scheduling service before small problems turn into roadside failures.
Fuel efficiency and fraud detection
Fuel costs are inevitable, but waste and misuse don’t have to be. Integrating telematics with fuel cards gives fleets visibility into every fuel transaction and fuel consumption. “Even a 5% reduction in fraud or cost goes directly to your bottom line,” Gupta says.
AI that’s powering safer, smarter fleets
There’s a lot of buzz around AI, but Gupta drew a line between hype and tools that perform:
“You have to focus on AI that works. Things like computer vision, it’s not futuristic. It’s delivering concrete, measurable ROI today, and it’s doing it for fleets of all sizes.”
The Motive Integrated Operations Platform delivers real-time alerts, safety insights, and coaching tools that lead to sustained operational improvements. Customers have reported dramatic reductions in unsafe driving incidents and increased miles between safety events.
Ready to see how telematics and AI are reshaping fleet operations?
Watch the full Freightwaves webinar and put technology to work for your business.
