Telematics & video help fleets fight claims & costs

New research from Teletrac Navman says fleet operators are increasingly using telematics and in-vehicle video systems to clear drivers after incidents and to speed up insurance and claims processes.

The company's Mobilizing the Future of Fleets: 2026 Risk and Exoneration Edition report found that 84% of fleets cited driver exoneration as a leading reason for deploying safety technology. It also found that 53% of fleets that reported accidents in the past 12 months said they successfully exonerated a driver using telematics and video data.

The findings come as freight operators face greater regulatory attention and rising costs. In New Zealand, WorkSafe has continued to focus on workplace safety, including road transport activity that falls under health and safety duties for employers and operators.

Claims pressures

Teletrac Navman said a third of fleets, 34%, reported they had been impacted by fraudulent motor claims. The report also found that 77% of respondents agreed increasing litigation and legal costs are a global concern.

In commentary included alongside the research, the company pointed to insurance pricing as a pressure point. It cited Risk Strategies data showing umbrella liability coverage rising from 10% to 30%, and auto liability from 10% to 20%.

The research suggests that more operators want a faster path from an incident to a resolution. Seventy per cent of respondents said combining cameras with telematics significantly reduced the time needed to process accident claims.

Teletrac Navman also linked the adoption of safety technology with efforts to manage insurance premiums. The report found 85% of fleets said the technology helped counter the general rise in premiums. It said 65% recorded premium decreases after implementation.

Technology mix

The report points to broader adoption of multiple tools rather than a single solution. Teletrac Navman said 56% of fleets used five or more technologies as part of their approach to risk management.

It also found that 74% of fleets paired telematics with dashcams. The company described this as a way to assemble different data sources in one place, including location information, performance metrics and video.

Fleet operators have expanded the use of those systems beyond tracking and dispatch. The report frames telematics and video systems as evidence tools used after incidents, and as a source of information for ongoing reviews and training.

"The role of telematics is evolving and taking on a more strategic purpose in fleet organizations, moving solely from a tool used for cost control and improvements, to an extremely powerful, proactive risk prevention and management solution," said Alain Samaha, Chief Executive Officer, Teletrac Navman.

Teletrac Navman operates in a market where fleet operators face scrutiny from regulators, customers and insurers. In that environment, the company said operators increasingly want clear records of what happened in a crash or near-miss, and how the organisation responded.

Samaha also pointed to incidents where the driver was not at fault. "A high percentage of fleet safety incidents are caused by third parties and other external factors, and video telematics is now the most powerful tool to provide irrefutable, contextual evidence that protects people, preserves reputations, and stabilizes margins."

Fleet operations

Teletrac Navman said it manages more than 750,000 vehicles and assets worldwide. The company described itself as a connected mobility platform for industries that manage vehicle and equipment assets.

Its research indicates that fleets want systems that consolidate data used by operations teams, safety managers and insurance contacts. It also suggests that the internal case for technology investment increasingly leans on risk exposure, dispute handling time and the ability to respond to investigations.

The company said the survey results show a shift in how fleet leaders weigh technology spending against other operating costs. "This is a moment for fleet leaders to make a positive, strategic shift," said Samaha. "Treat safety tech as a long‐term asset: invest in platforms that scale, embed evidence into everyday workflows and fraud protection, and use outcomes to renegotiate insurance and drive operational change. Do this, and safety becomes a competitive differentiator - not just a line on a budget, but a foundation for resilience and growth."