From Telematics to Psychology: Why the Future of Fleet Safety Is Human-Centered

This article is based on a recent episode of The Fleet Success Show podcast.
Watch the full episode here: 

For decades, fleet managers have poured millions into improving safety: outfitting vehicles with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), installing GPS telematics, running compliance training, and rolling out defensive driving modules. Despite all this, incidents still happen. So where’s the disconnect?

Fleet Hall of Famer Matthew Betz believes the answer lies in what we’ve overlooked the most: human behavior.

“We’re not addressing human behavior—we’re just trying to show that we did something.”

In a recent episode of The Fleet Success Show, Betz sat down with RTA’s Steve Saltzgiver to unpack what’s broken in fleet safety, what’s working, and how leaders can finally move the needle in driver risk reduction—by going straight to the root.

The Safety Myth: More Data = More Control

With modern fleet management systems producing a firehose of driver data—from speeding events to harsh braking to seatbelt compliance—it’s tempting to believe that simply having the data is enough to make fleets safer.

But Betz disagrees.

“We’ve got all this telematics data, but we’re not using it to change anything. We’re just documenting what happened.”

Many fleet maintenance software systems are designed to alert and automate. A driver speeds? They get an email with a training video. Again? They get the same video. And again. And again.

This cycle isn’t correcting behavior. It’s checking boxes.

Fleet managers need a fleet maintenance management system that enables actionable coaching, not just compliance tracking. Systems must empower supervisors—not just automate nudges.

The Real Root Cause of Driver Risk

One of Betz’s most powerful insights is that unsafe behavior (like speeding) isn’t the root cause. It’s the result.

For example, if a pharmaceutical sales rep speeds, it may be because their employer demands 20 site visits per day, and they’re running behind. Or if a utility driver skips a pre-trip inspection, maybe they weren’t trained properly—or feel pressured to rush onto the job site.

To fix this, Betz and his team at ABA Technologies (where he now consults) are focusing on why drivers behave the way they do—then addressing those motivators with scientifically-backed coaching methods.

The next frontier of fleet safety isn’t another software—it’s behavioral science.

Supervisor-as-Coach: A New Fleet Model

What happens when a speeding alert is sent not to the driver, but to their supervisor?

That’s the model Betz is championing. Instead of blasting generic training videos, fleets should train supervisors on how to coach drivers using behavioral insights. That means:

• Understanding emotional motivators behind unsafe actions
  
  
• Holding structured, empathetic conversations about risk
  
  
• Helping drivers create safer habits—not just follow rules
  
  

This model not only drives results—it builds culture.

And it can be supported by your fleet maintenance management software or Fleet Management system, if it integrates human-driven coaching workflows.

EVs, Infrastructure, and Change Resistance: Lessons from DTE

In the podcast, Betz also shared his experience rolling out an EV fleet at DTE Energy—including building out nearly 300 EV chargers across the Detroit metro.

Key challenges included:

• Fleet readiness: Many garages weren’t equipped for EV maintenance
  
  
• Driver skepticism: Technicians questioned EV reliability and safety
  
  
• Infrastructure resistance: Service station managers were reluctant to give up parking spots for chargers
  
  

The solution? Change management. DTE embedded a full-time change specialist into the EV project, guiding communication, reducing friction, and building stakeholder trust.

“By the time it was all done, the vehicles worked, the infrastructure was in, and we had very few complaints. That doesn’t happen by accident—you have to involve everyone.”

The takeaway for government fleets, utilities, and enterprise operators: EV rollout isn’t just about infrastructure. It’s about culture, and a Fleet Management system that plans for long-term evolution, not just short-term implementation.

Data with Purpose: The Right Way to Use Fleet Technology

Betz is a proponent of technology—when used correctly.

He now advises a company pulling OEM telematics data directly from the vehicle cloud and delivering insights that matter. Instead of just saying a driver sped 12 times, the system can notify the fleet manager that Unit 123 has a tire pressure issue, or that an EV requires preconditioning.

This is the evolution of fleet maintenance management systems: tools that offer true operational intelligence, not just noise.

For government fleet management software or small business fleet operators, this approach means better prioritization, smarter alerts, and faster action.

From Fleet to Leadership: Why Visibility Matters

One of Betz’s strongest messages isn’t about software—it’s about leadership access.

Too many fleet professionals isolate themselves. They act as gatekeepers, protecting their domain—but in doing so, they lose visibility. The best fleets, Betz says, are integrated with the C-suite, aligned with enterprise goals, and regularly reporting results at the executive level.

“If the CFO doesn’t know who you are, you’re not going to get a seat at the table when big decisions happen.”

Fleet success isn’t just about vehicles—it’s about value. And that must be communicated.

Final Word: The Future of Fleet Safety is Human

The next decade of fleet management won’t be driven by better cameras or smarter sensors. It will be driven by human insight, behavioral coaching, and fleet maintenance software that enables real change—not just reporting.

As fleets adopt EVs, expand their data footprint, and pursue higher levels of efficiency, the fleets that win will be those that understand their people—and equip their leaders to support them.

Because at the end of the day, fleets don’t crash—drivers do.

And if we want safer fleets, we have to start by understanding the humans behind the wheel.