5 Key MetricsEvery Fleet ManagerShould Be Tracking

Most fleet managers already track the basics like fuel consumption and mileage. But the smartest teams are asking a more important question: what metrics help prevent risk, reduce liability, and improve safety outcomes?

To explore that question, we spoke with Ryan Neal, Vice President of Sales for Commercial Motor Vehicles at Safety Vision. Neal’s perspective reflects what’s happening on the ground with fleets of all sizes and how data, especially when enhanced by video, is reshaping operations.

1. Accidents

"It may seem obvious, but it’s not just the big accidents that should be tracked. It’s also side-swipes, backing incidents, and even near miss events and visibility-related issues. Those all add up,” Neal says.

Tracking accident rates is a foundational metric. But more important than the count is understanding why incidents happen. Without video, fleets rely on speed, GPS, or harsh braking data to reconstruct events. With video, they get the full story.

Video-backed reporting not only supports better coaching and risk mitigation, it also leads to quicker exoneration and reduced insurance premiums. “You’re not just reducing the number of accidents. You’re reducing the cost of each one."

2. Driver Safety Scores

Driver safety scores have evolved from simple data points to foundational elements of safety culture. “They blend video and behavior. And when you use those scores for coaching, you're setting the tone for what 'good' looks like inside your organization,” Neal said.

The real value comes when scores are paired with context. A spike in harsh braking isn’t just a number; it’s a signal to dig deeper and understand what is causing drivers to brake harshly. Fleets that follow up often find teachable moments that raise the bar for everyone.

3. AI-Triggered Events

Traditional metrics are reactive. The future lies in proactive alerts and predictive insights. That’s where AI-triggered events like distracted driving and blind spot detection are gaining traction.

“If you’ve got a pedestrian that’s in the blind spot of your vehicle and you can’t see them, but your video does, that could prevent something bad from happening by alerting the driver,” Neal said. “And if something does happen, having that moment captured gives you the full context you’ll need to understand what really occurred.”

More fleets are now tracking what almost went wrong. That shift from incident reporting to near-miss prevention is where AI and video are beginning to redefine risk management.

4. Backing Incidents

Backing incidents are the leading source of provable damage in many fleets, yet they’re rarely tracked as a distinct category.

Small collisions with poles, buildings, or other vehicles happen every day in large fleets. Those rack up costs in equipment damage, downtime, and claims. By isolating and addressing these incidents, some fleets have cut their frequency in half after adding side and rear cameras. The benefits: fewer claims, lower premiums, and safer drivers.

5. Near Misses

One of the most overlooked yet valuable metrics is the near miss.

“Near misses are the warning light on the dashboard that show you where the next incident could come from,” Neal said. “And fleets that take near misses seriously and say, ‘Okay, what can we do about that now?’ — they’re the ones who get ahead of bigger problems.”

That’s starting to change. AI and video are beginning to flag incidents that didn’t result in a collision but easily could have. These systems can detect behaviors like swerving, harsh braking, or near contact with other vehicles or pedestrians. For fleets that take a proactive approach to safety, this kind of foresight marks a new chapter in incident prevention and risk reduction.

Final Thoughts

The best metrics do more than track incidents. They help explain behavior, anticipate risk, and provide actionable insights that lead to better decisions.

Data alone won’t get you there, but when combined with video for context and AI for speed and foresight, it becomes a powerful driver of strategic fleet management.