Webfleet predicts breakthrough year for proactive fleet management

Amsterdam, 19 February 2026 – Fleet management across Europe is at a turning point, as rising costs, greater operational complexity and tougher EU regulations reshape how commercial fleets operate, according to Webfleet, Bridgestone’s advanced fleet management solution.

Fleet management is moving into a new phase, said Jan-Maarten de Vries, President Fleet Management Solutions at Bridgestone. Simply collecting data and trusting experience is no longer enough. Fleets need clarity to take proactive action, supported by technology that truly guides decision-making.

Webfleet believes 2026 will be led by fleet businesses that can turn complex information into actionable decisions to help their people work smarter, safer and more efficiently. It points to five major trends that will shape this shift.

Artificial intelligence is set to become an everyday decision-making tool for fleets. As digitalisation accelerates, many fleet managers face data overload and disconnected systems, making integration and a unified operational view a priority.

As these technologies become more automated and intuitive, AI will play a bigger role in daily tasks, turning raw data into clear priorities and next best actions, from routing and compliance to cost control and vehicle-health.

Powered and unpowered assets are also becoming an essential part of fleet management strategies and Webfleet expects fleets to take a more proactive approach to increasingly complicated logistics operations.

Trailers, containers and other assets represent a growing share of investment, with operators needing clearer insight into how those assets are used, where they are and how long they remain idle. Industry forecasts point to sustained double-digit growth in this segment¹.

While vehicles are connected and optimised, assets remain largely invisible, said Jan-Maarten de Vries. This gap creates unnecessary cost, delay and safety risk. That’s why the next frontier in fleet management is the vehicle and everything around it.

Regulation is also expected to act as a catalyst for wider adoption of digital tools.

From July 2026, EU driving and rest-time rules will extend to light commercial vehicles (LCVs) over 2.5 tonnes engaged in cross-border transport. Webfleet expects this to increase the use of digital tachograph management tools beyond traditional heavy goods fleets.

Electrification is continuing to gather pace across Europe’s commercial vehicle sector, as regulatory policy becomes clearer and sustainability targets hone into sharp focus.

Recent ACEA figures² show strong growth across all segments, with electric van registrations nearly doubling year on year, electric trucks increasing significantly and electric buses now accounting for 22.7% of all new EU bus registrations. Fleet operators are increasingly turning to EVs supported by data led transition strategies to make adoption more viable.

Across all these developments, cost pressure remains the dominant concern.

Rising fuel, labour and toll costs are forcing fleets to scrutinise how vehicles are driven and deployed. Webfleet says this is accelerating the move towards integrated and proactive fleet management solutions that help reduce total cost of ownership.

The next era of fleet management, it believes, will be defined by solutions that act as intelligent advisors, enabling operators to anticipate rather than react. This proactive future will be made possible by an open platform and integrated ecosystem that connects people, vehicles and assets more efficiently.

¹Berg Insight, Trailer and Cargo Container Tracking, 12th Edition

²ACEA: New Commercial Vehicle Registrations, European Union, 30 October 2025