Driver safety is top concern for fleet managers

Driver safety has replaced cost reduction as fleet managers' top concern, according to the latest survey from GE Capital Fleet Services. More than one-third of logistics managers cited driver safety as their top priority.

Cost savings was previously the highest concern in logistics. Fleet managers still ranked cost reduction as a pressing concern, and reported they were using vehicle purchasing decisions as means of achieving cost savings. Other ways to reduce expenses include activating telematics and analytics solutions and managing maintenance fees. Analytics were found to improve operational efficiency and generate additional cost savings.

"Even as fleet managers remain sharply focused on cost savings, more of them are making safety and well-being of their drivers a top priority," said Mark Hayes, chief marketing officer of GE Capital Fleet Services.

After driver safety and cost reduction, logistics managers were highly concerned with productivity. Managers believe preventative maintenance strategies are way to improve productivity, as well as create a comprehensive vehicle replacement strategy. Sixty-one percent of fleet managers said they were already using alternative fuel vehicles, and 11 percent planned to add greener trucks within the next two years. Only 19 percent of logistics managers said they do not plan to add alternative fuel vehicles to their fleets.