J. J. Keller Center for Market Insights released its sixth annual State of Fleet Management study, which shows a growing shift toward proactive fleet management strategies. The study found that fleet managers are increasingly focused on prevention, early detection, and real-time visibility as they address safety, compliance, and operational challenges. J. J. Keller said the findings reflect how fleets are balancing regulatory complexity, cost pressure, and day-to-day operational demands. Fleet Managers Focus on Early Intervention According to J. J. Keller, key concerns among fleet managers include preventive maintenance, regulatory changes, driver qualification, compliance visibility, and identifying repair needs before breakdowns or incidents occur. The study identified several priority areas for fleet managers: - Managing preventive maintenance to avoid breakdowns or accidents - Staying current on changing regulations - Ensuring training results in qualified, compliant drivers - Identifying driver noncompliance quickly - Finding repair needs before breakdowns or incidents “Fleets are shifting from reacting to issues to preventing them,” said Daren Hansen, senior compliance expert at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. “With tighter margins and higher risk, there’s a clear focus on catching problems early, whether that’s identifying non-compliant drivers or addressing maintenance needs before they lead to breakdowns or violations.” Compliance Moves Beyond Recordkeeping J. J. Keller said the study also shows compliance shifting beyond documentation toward real-time awareness and action. While accurate recordkeeping remains important, fleet managers are placing more emphasis on visibility into driver performance, regulatory impact, and daily operations. The report also found that the role remains challenging. Two-thirds of fleet managers described their jobs as very or moderately challenging, citing regulatory changes, hiring and retention, documentation, and maintenance as ongoing pressures. “Small gaps in compliance, training, or maintenance can quickly turn into major issues,” Hansen said. “A structured safety and compliance program helps fleets stay