You’ve likely heard the saying you can’t manage what you don’t measure.

This is the reason companies with fleets need to benchmark — how do you know how you’re performing so you can better manage your fleet safety program and make improvements unless you’re measuring your program either against internal measurements or against other companies’ performance?

The Network of Employers for Traffic Safety (NETS) conducts a benchmark with its members every year. The benchmark allows companies to see how they compare to other NETS members in terms of crash, injury, and fatality rates, and the percentage of fleet involved in a crash.

The report also allows users to compare their fleet by size, specific sector, vehicle type, or country, which can be used as a justification when asking leadership for support of program changes, or when sharing program updates and performance results.

Gauging Safety Performance with Data

In addition to an analysis of current year metrics and program elements, the benchmark report also provides a longitudinal analysis of participant’s fleet performance — in other words, how did program changes over the years either positively or negatively impact fleet performance.

The report has shown some consistent results over the years. For example, fleets that have fatigue management programs in place, include certain measurements on their road safety scorecard, and have specific safety features required on their fleet vehicles (such as electronic stability control or auto emergency braking) see lower crash rates.

Other factors, such as not managing In-Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS) or having IVMS but in less than 80% of the vehicles, resulted in a higher percentage of a fleet involved in a crash.

Last year’s report (data year 2022), which accounted for over 500,000 vehicles and almost 8 billion miles driven, resulted in just 7.02% of fleet vehicles being involved in a crash.

Traditionally, the industry standard says about 20% of a fleet will be involved in a crash, so NETS member companies are far below that value. Companies that are willing to look at their own crash metrics, compare findings, and share what they’ve learned typically have better fleet safety performance.

Annual Benchmark Conference in Atlanta

While the report itself is available only to NETS members, an overview of this year’s benchmark results will be unveiled at NETS Annual Strength IN Numbers Fleet Safety Benchmark Conference in Atlanta Oct. 8-11, where the benchmark statisticians will share their findings and analysis. The conference is open to all fleet safety professionals.

In addition, Fleet Safety Awards will be given to outstanding NETS members who have demonstrated exceptional performance in advancing road safety for an overall fleet, an international fleet, a small fleet (fewer than 100 vehicles) and new this year, a Women in Fleet award for a female fleet leader.

More information can be found on the NETS website.