How AI will advance fleet telematics: SambaSafety

• Supporting data: 60% of fleets currently use AI.
• Forward look: Anticipated adoption of AI driver risk analysis by 49% of fleets.

AI can bridge the gap between fleet telematics data and action, according to SambaSafety's latest study.
New data from the 2026 Telematics Report found that though 60% of fleets are using AI, only a small percentage have AI deeply embedded across their operations.

The report, which surveyed 740 responses from fleets, insurance brokers and insurance carrier representatives, shows the various ways in which fleets currently use AI; most commonly, 34% of fleets report using AI to analyze driver risk data, 31% interpret video footage with AI and 24% use it to automate admin tasks. AI tools are also used for predictive analytics around driver risk, chatbot or AI-assistant driver support, interpreting incident reports, assigning training modules and in synthesising internal safety knowledge. 

"The challenge I consistently see in the broker space is not access to telematics data but figuring out what to do with it. There's still a perception for brokers that fleet clients won't want to share telematics data, or that telematics is too technical to become part of a meaningful client conversation," said Stephanie Maiden, principal risk advisor of casualty partnerships at SambaSafety, in the report. "But the fact is neither assumption is entirely true. Most clients are willing to share telematics data when they understand why it's being asked for, how it will be used and what value they'll receive in return." 

"What stands out most this year is that fleets are sharing data with their insurers faster than with their brokers, even though brokers are often the risk partner best positioned to advocate on the insured's behalf. That's a disconnect worth paying attention to," said Matt Scheuing, SambaSafety CEO, in the report. "Artificial intelligence may help close that disconnect, but it won't do so on its own. Like every technology before it, AI is only as valuable as the action it inspires."

Enterprise fleets are the most active users of AI, with just over three-quarters reporting AI usage and one in five reporting integrated or agentic AI applications. Workforce readiness and accuracy are the top concerns surrounding AI implementation reported by enterprise fleets.

According to SambaSafety, 43% of fleet leaders expect AI to have a significant or extremely significant impact on safety in the next three years. Almost half of fleets, 49%, expect to use AI to analyze driver risk data in the future, 41% expect AI to automate administrative tasks and 37% anticipate that AI will interpret video footage.

Introductory bullet points created by AI with editorial review.