Some major developments are coming to fleet management. The way we see it, 2024 will be a landmark year on two key themes: safety and decarbonisation.
While you’ve likely prioritised safety and CO2 reductions for quite some time, shifts in legislation and technology will require transformative approaches. Here’s what to look forward to in this article:
- Context—we explain why safety and decarbonisation matter more than ever in 2024
- Guidance—we outline which steps will help you drive significant results in these areas
Fleet trends theme #1: Safety
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), road accidents cause some 1.3 million casualties and 50 million injuries per year. The WHO, in partnership with the United Nations Road Safety Collaboration and other stakeholders, have mapped out a global plan to reduce road deaths and injuries by at least 50% by 2030 (you can download the plan here). In running a fleet, you’re undoubtedly familiar with two of the plan’s recommended actions:
- Set limits for maximum driving time and minimum rest periods for professional drivers
- Make use of vehicle safety features and technologies to support safe behaviours
Evolving regulations will bring new urgency to safety over the next year, especially where tachograph compliance is concerned. Registered vehicles involved in international transport must be equipped with version 2 of the smart tachograph between December 2024 and August 2025 (the required installation date depends on your fleet dynamics; see our post on smart tachograph version 2).
The updated tachograph legislation springs from the EU’s Mobility Package 1, devised in part to ensure that drivers get enough rest and down time, both of which are crucial to road safety.
Three ways to drive fleet safety results in 2024
1. Make driver well-being a cornerstone of your safety goals. Considering that 90% of accidents are caused by human error, with 40% of sleep-related accidents involving commercial vehicles, well-rested drivers are key to improving fleet safety.
2. Install smart tachograph version 2 in your vehicles sooner rather than later. Reliable tachograph data helps prevent safety issues as well as costly infringements. Smart tachograph version 2 includes regular software updates to create consistency across your fleet. A digital tachograph manager can help you meet compliance deadlines and stay productive with remote downloads.
3. Equip your drivers with technology that supports safety. Professional navigation, for instance, helps drivers bypass traffic jams and bad weather. In-cab feedback is another way to encourage safety. Webfleet Video provides just that—it alerts drivers on risky behaviours (eg, tailgating and mobile phone use) so they can immediately adjust their performance.
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Fleet trends theme #2: Decarbonisation
Did you attend any major fleet conferences in 2023? If so, you probably heard quite a few discussions around fleet sustainability. At Fleet Europe 2023, for example, Webfleet’s vice president spoke about the challenges of running a sustainable fleet while maintaining a profitable business.
Managing emissions reporting per the Corporate Sustainable Reporting Directive (CSRD), coming into play in January, will be a challenge. As will meeting increasingly stricter emissions targets. But neither means hampering your business. It’s a matter of developing the right fleet strategy—and using the right tools to carry your strategy out.
As noted by the World Road Transport Organisation (aka the IRU), achieving net-zero emissions may require a mixed-solutions approach since transport and energy systems vary from country to country/region to region. Regardless of where your fleet operates, 2024 could mark the tipping point in transport decarbonisation.
Two ways to drive results in CO2 reductions in 2024
1. Maximise efficiency for petrol-powered vehicles. The more fuel-efficient your fleet operates, the less carbon it emits. Adopting fuel-saving driving techniques like gradual acceleration, cruise control and proper gear shifting helps curb emissions. Keeping up with vehicle maintenance also makes a difference, since vehicle and tyre conditions affect fuel use.
2. Go electric when and where possible. Our data shows that fleets with electric vehicles (EVs) connected to Webfleet save 15 tonnes of CO2 per vehicle, per year on average. While a lack of charging infrastructure may have given many fleets pause, infrastructure concerns will likely fade as the EU plans to start dotting the Trans-European Transport Network with charging stations in 2025. With our EV.connect tool, you can identify which vehicles could be cost-effectively replaced with EVs.
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How to stay informed in 2024
We’ll be watching developments in safety and decarbonisation throughout 2024. In January, for example, we’ll start diving into practicalities around CSRD and CO2 reporting. You can also look forward to relevant fleet success stories and news on industry innovations. Make sure you don’t miss any of it—subscribe to our newsletter via the box below.
