Q&A: Matthew Betz on Why Fleet Safety Needs a Behavioral Wake-Up Call

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

Fleet Hall of Famer Matthew Betz has seen the fleet world from every angle—sales, strategy, utilities, safety, and now consulting. In this exclusive conversation with The Fleet Success Show host Steve Saltzgiver, Betz opens up about why traditional fleet safety programs fall short, what EV deployment really looks like, and how the future of fleet management hinges on understanding one thing: human behavior.

Q: After 50 years in the fleet industry, what still gets you excited?

Matthew Betz: Helping fleets get smarter about safety. There’s so much potential in using behavioral science to reduce accidents. I’m also passionate about helping companies enter the fleet space faster and more effectively through my firm, Ore Creek Fleet Consulting.

Q: Why do you think traditional driver safety programs are broken?

Betz: Most of them are built to automate, not actually change behavior. Someone speeds, you send them a training video. They speed again? You send the same video. That doesn’t address why they sped in the first place.

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

Until we fix the cause—not just the action—we won’t see real safety gains.

Q: So what’s the better approach?

Betz: Flip the model. Instead of training the driver, train their supervisor. When telematics detects a risk, it should trigger a conversation—not a generic course. Supervisors need to be taught how to coach, motivate, and listen.

This kind of behavioral coaching is what I now focus on with ABA Technologies, where my daughter—Dr. Allison Betz—is a behavioral psychologist. We help fleets rewire how they think about human behavior.

Q: What about all the telematics and fleet maintenance software out there? Isn’t that helping?

Betz: It depends on how you use it. A lot of Fleet Management Software creates more data than anyone knows what to do with. Managers get overwhelmed, so they fall back on automated workflows that don’t change behavior.

The key is turning data into insight. Show me the few things that matter—and give me the tools to act on them.

Q: You led a big EV rollout at DTE. What were the biggest lessons?

Betz: First, change management is everything. We had 300 chargers to install across Detroit. That meant working with service station managers, HR, maintenance teams—you name it. Everyone had questions. Everyone had resistance.

We succeeded because we listened. We hired a full-time change manager who worked with us every step of the way. It wasn’t just a vehicle rollout. It was a cultural shift.

Q: Any funny EV deployment stories?

Betz: Oh yeah. I once took a Chevy Volt on a trip to Indianapolis thinking it had Level 3 fast-charging. It didn’t. We ended up limping into a hotel five hours late—no AC, drafting trucks, radio off—praying we wouldn’t have to push the car.

Lesson learned: always check your EV’s specs before a long trip.

Q: You’ve spoken a lot about aligning fleet with leadership. Why is that important?

Betz: Too often, fleet managers act like gatekeepers. They keep vendors and strategy away from the C-suite. But then they complain they’re not respected.

“If the CFO doesn’t know who you are, you’re not getting a seat at the table.”

The best fleets are those where the Fleet Maintenance Management Software, goals, and metrics are aligned with company leadership. That’s where true fleet success lives.

Q: What advice would you give a new fleet manager just starting out?

Betz: Learn the business beyond fleet. Understand how your fleet supports company goals. Build relationships with leadership. And never stop asking: How can I bring more value?

Also—don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Just make sure you learn from them.

Q: What’s next for you with Ore Creek Consulting?

Betz: I’m helping companies break into the fleet market faster—especially those with emerging technologies like telematics or Vehicle fleet maintenance software. My job is to test if their product really fits fleet needs and introduce them to the right people.

I’m also continuing the work with ABA Technologies on behavior-based safety. We’re rolling out assessments and coaching frameworks that are already helping large fleets reduce crash risk—and improve driver morale at the same time.

Q: Last question—what’s the biggest disruption you’re watching in fleet?

Betz: Behavioral science. Without question. The fleet world is finally realizing that technology alone won’t make us safer.

It’s time to look at the people behind the wheel. Because until we understand why drivers behave the way they do, we’re just treating symptoms—not the disease.