Every year at CES, there’s a theme that shows up everywhere you look. Last year, it was AI. This year, it was robotics — humanoid robots, robotaxis, and automation of just about anything you can think of.

From a fleet standpoint, though, there wasn’t a lot on the show floor that felt immediately applicable. There were plenty of electric vehicles, but most were from Chinese manufacturers, and it’s hard to see many of those reaching U.S. fleet buyers anytime soon.

There was also no shortage of talk about software-defined vehicles and new technology platforms. That’s interesting, but as fleets know, this kind of tech usually lands in consumer vehicles first and only later makes its way into work trucks and vans, often at a price point that fleets have to think hard about.

Who Wasn’t There

One thing that stood out was the absence of Ford, GM, and Stellantis. None of them had a presence at CES this year.

Instead, companies like Geely and Great Wall Motor were showing vehicles and concepts. While it was interesting to see what they’re working on, most of it didn’t feel very relevant to North American fleet operations in the near term.

It reinforced the idea that CES today isn’t really about vehicle launches anymore. It’s more about the technology behind the vehicles.

Oshkosh Shows Practical Fleet Tech

One company that did stand out for fleets was Oshkosh.

Oshkosh is already well known in fleet circles, especially in fire, rescue, and other specialty applications, and they had a strong presence at the show. They’re currently building the Next-Generation Delivery Vehicle

(NGDV) for the U.S. Postal Service, and at CES, they highlighted some of the technology that’s built into that platform.

What was interesting is that these weren’t concept ideas; they’re systems already being used or close to it, and they could apply to other commercial fleet vehicles as well.

A Different Approach to Collision Avoidance

One of the more practical technologies I saw was CAMS (Collision Avoidance Mitigation System). Dr. Jeff Heggemeier, vice president of delivery vehicle programs at Oshkosh, walked me through how it works.

CAMS is designed for situations fleet drivers deal with every day — vehicles parked along active roadways, drivers getting in and out in traffic, and people working just feet from moving cars. The system uses radar, AI, and camera technology to monitor approaching traffic and warn the driver if a collision risk is developing.
Inside the cab, there’s also a camera view that lets the driver see whether a car, a bike, or a pedestrian is approaching before opening the door. The system also records video, which can be used later for incident review or insurance purposes.

CAMS received a CES 2026 Innovation Award, and from a fleet perspective, it’s easy to see why, as it’s aimed at a real problem fleets deal with every day.

A Big Electric Vehicle That Actually Makes Sense

The biggest crowd-stopper in the Oshkosh booth was the Striker Electric Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicle.

This is a 93,000-pound airport fire truck, built for heavy, nonstop use. Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport already has five of these vehicles in service, and the one on display at CES is headed there once the show wraps up.

Dan White, fire chief at DFW International Airport, shared that the vehicle reaches incident scenes about 28% faster than their traditional diesel units. The hybrid electric system also allows the truck to operate with zero emissions during station entry, standby, and low-speed operation, helping reduce firefighter exposure to diesel exhaust.

For anyone wondering whether electrification has a place in heavy-duty fleet applications, this was a strong real-world example.

A Note on Data and Fleets

CES also offers a wide range of educational sessions. I participated in a panel called “Data Dollars: Unlocking New In-Vehicle Revenue Streams.”

From a fleet point of view, the idea of using vehicle data isn’t new. While there’s still debate about whether consumers will pay for data-based features, fleets have relied on data for years to manage maintenance, safety, routing, and overall cost.

The Takeaway for Fleets

CES has changed a lot over the years. It feels less like an auto show now and more like a place where companies show the building blocks of future vehicles.

For fleet professionals, that means the most useful takeaways aren’t always obvious. The value is usually in the non-splashy places with technologies that improve safety, reduce downtime, or solve specific operational problems.

CES 2026 didn’t have many answers fleets can use tomorrow, but it did show where some practical solutions are starting to take shape.

And if you look hard enough, you can still find some impressive trucks along the way!