Five questions to ask fleet management providers

As you evaluate FMC partners for 2026, here are five revealing questions to ask to help you avoid a lackluster FMC partnership and, instead, find one that will help you exploit technology to take your fleet to the next level.

1. How will you go beyond data collection to actionable data insights?

These days, most vehicles generate a tsunami of information: engine diagnostics, GPS coordinates, driver behavior metrics, fuel consumption patterns, to name a few. But as any experienced fleet manager knows, data without context is just, well, a set of random, useless numbers. In fact, too much unfiltered data can hinder decision-making, obscuring reality rather than illuminating it.

The critical question to ask potential FMC partners is not, "How much data can you collect?" but rather "How do you transform that data into actionable insights?" The best FMCs don't simply hand you raw telematics feeds; they apply their expertise to the data and offer you bespoke counsel.

Consider diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Vehicles can generate dozens of these codes, but not all require the same attention. At my company, OEM-certified technicians feed their wealth of maintenance knowledge into our AI platform. This step helps train the model and makes it smarter. In addition, these smart humans review AI recommendations, providing another layer of quality control to ensure DTC codes are prioritized appropriately by urgency and potential impact.

2. How do you integrate the technology solutions you recommend?

In 2026, your FMC partner should offer more than "bolt-on" technology solutions. The days of logging into five different platforms to monitor vehicle health, maintenance schedules, driver behavior, fuel costs, and licensing are thankfully coming to an end. The question is whether your potential partner and their solutions have kept pace.

Seek out an FMC that has invested in integrated platforms that present everything in a streamlined format. This level of integration should extend to mobile capabilities that help drivers manage their own mileage reporting, registration, and maintenance tasks, all without adding to your administrative burden.

The best fleet tech platforms leverage cloud-based technologies that provide 24/7 access to critical information. They feature intuitive interfaces with quick-view dashboards that let you find exactly what you need when you need it—whether that's vehicle health, driver behavior analytics, billing information, or compliance tracking.

3. How do you go beyond historical data reporting to prioritize predictive capabilities?

Historical data has its place, but fleet management in 2026 and beyond will be all about anticipating problems before they happen, not documenting them after the fact. Predictive analytics represent the difference between a driver stranded on the highway with a blown gasket and that same driver never experiencing such downtime because preventive maintenance occurred at precisely the right time.

The most valuable FMC partners leverage predictive maintenance that relies on usage histories, yes, but also vehicle part life cycles and pattern recognition to identify when specific components will soon be at risk of failure. This capability can also include anomaly detection that flags drivers or vehicles operating outside of pre-established tolerances, helping you resolve issues before they become safety concerns or, worse, accidents.

The positive impact of predictive capabilities is significant: reduced downtime, lower maintenance costs, optimal timing for vehicle cycling, and improved driver safety and satisfaction. In a labor market where recruiting and retaining qualified drivers remain challenging, these factors directly impact your bottom line and help deliver an attractive ROI on your technology investments.

4. How will you protect my data?

When working with an FMC, ask how they plan to safeguard your data. You may think hackers wouldn't be interested in your telematics data, but remember, they don't need much information to launch their evil schemes. Bad actors can leverage basic data points, such as first and last names and addresses, to build more sophisticated phishing scams.

Among the probing questions you'll want to ask the FMCs you're evaluating are:

• Are you encrypting our data to shield us from data breaches?
• Are your systems regularly reviewed for all relevant updates?
• Do you stress-test your systems?
• How are employees trained on data management and security?

Thanks to AI, cyber thieves are only becoming more creative and effective. You want an FMC who will treat your data as if it were their own.

5. How do my specific business objectives impact your data collection and analysis?

Perhaps the most crucial consideration is whether your FMC partner truly grasps that fleet management tech is not an end in itself; it's a means to support your broader business objectives. The best FMC partners will also ask you questions that get to the heart of what you're ultimately trying to accomplish: growing revenue, improving customer satisfaction, managing costs, ensuring safety, or enhancing your brand reputation.

This perspective shift is essential because it changes how your FMC partner approaches data solutions. Instead of optimizing metrics in a vacuum, they should help you understand them considering your company's objectives. So, if your goal is to grow revenue, a sample question to ask is: How can data help us complete two more jobs per week by minimizing vehicle downtime? If your goal is to ensure safety, a sample question to ask is: How can safety data help me recruit and retain qualified employees?

Look for partners who talk about understanding the intricacies of your fleet. At my company, we call this your "Fleet DNA"—the unique combination of your fleet characteristics and business goals that should drive all strategic decisions. Technology platforms are essential, but the human expertise to interpret data through the lens of your specific needs is what transforms good fleet management into business value.

The right questions will lead you to the right FMC

The right FMC partner will help you eliminate guesswork and costly, reactionary decision-making by systematically analyzing the specific information required to get a 360-degree view of your operations. They should be able to demonstrate, with specific data-driven examples, how their approach has helped similar clients achieve measurable improvements.

As you evaluate FMCs, you'll want to look beyond their technology specifications or feature lists. Yes, those are important, but they mean little without the proper human expertise and a commitment to true partnership. Additional questions to ask a prospective FMC include:  How much of my operational burden can you assume? How will you help me transform data into insights? How will you help me achieve your broader business objectives?

Choosing an FMC partner who combines cutting-edge technology with deep expertise and a genuine commitment to your success isn't just smart—it's essential for thriving in 2026 and beyond.