Rising costs hit 82% of trucking organizations with fuel cited as most common cause Geotab survey finds

High fuel prices linked to increased pressure on operating costs over the past 12 months

ATLANTA, Oct. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- More than four out of five respondents (82%) said their organization's operating costs have increased over the past 12 months, according to research conducted by Endeavor Business Intelligence on behalf of Geotab, a global leader in connected operations, video telematics and AI-powered insights. When asked about the cause of the increase, fuel costs were the most frequently cited theme, named in 31% of responses.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported that U.S. on-highway diesel averaged $6.35 per gallon for the week of October 26, 71% higher than a year earlier. Higher per gallon costs are placing pressure on fleets to optimize fuel use and to prevent fraudulent purchases in order to maximize spend and reduce preventable losses. Fuel optimization and fraud prevention require visibility into both vehicle data and transaction data. That information can help them decide where to investigate and what changes fit their operations.

"High fuel prices put pressure on operating budgets, so fleet managers need a clear view of where and how fuel is being used, along with safeguards to help prevent fraudulent purchases," said Steven Berube, Vice President at Geotab. "In the Geotab platform, managers can review fuel consumption, fuel economy and idling, while the Geotab Fleet Card checks transactions against live vehicle data, including location and tank capacity, before they clear. Bringing these capabilities together in one platform gives managers more visibility and control over fuel use and spending."

Fuel and efficiency capabilities

At fleet scale, idling can be a source of fuel use that is difficult to isolate without vehicle data. A Geotab analysis of connected commercial vehicles across North America found that vehicles idled for an average of 1 hour 25 minutes per driving day, using 0.95 gallons of fuel while idling. The highest-idling 10% of vehicles idled for more than three hours and used more than 2 gallons per driving day.

Geotab's Fleet Fuel Management tools show fuel consumption, fuel economy and idling in the Geotab platform, giving managers data to identify patterns and assess where efficiency steps may be appropriate. In-vehicle verbal feedback and buzzer alerts can help drivers address fuel-wasting habits such as idling, speeding and harsh acceleration. Maintenance reminders and inspection checklists can support tire-pressure checks and other routines that affect fuel economy.

On the purchasing side, the Geotab Fleet Card checks transactions against live vehicle data before they clear, including location and tank capacity. This verification can help prevent fraudulent purchases before they clear. Fleet administrators can also set controls by amount, time frame, category, merchant or location. The card also gives fleets access to wholesale discounts at more than 34,000 fueling stations across the United States and through the Geotab Drive app, drivers can see nearby lower-cost fueling locations and compare prices.

Together, fuel data and Geotab Fleet Card give managers a clearer view of fuel use and spending in the Geotab platform, with tools to monitor consumption and verify purchases against vehicle data.

Learn more about Fleet Fuel Management and the Geotab Fleet Card.

Research notes: Endeavor Business Intelligence collected 497 qualified responses from August 20 to October 6, 2026, on behalf of Geotab. Respondents were trucking professionals across multiple markets; the overall margin of error was ±4.4%; subsection results have higher margins of error. The open-ended question about cost increases received 407 responses. Copilot assisted with identifying and quantifying response themes, and percentages are approximate.

About Geotab

Geotab is a global leader in connected operations, video telematics and AI-powered insights. Trusted by more than 100,000 customers — from small and mid-size fleets to Fortune 500 enterprises and public-sector organizations, including the U.S. federal government — Geotab connects approximately 6 million vehicles and assets and processes 100 billion data points daily. With ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC2, FIPS 140-3 and FedRAMP authorizations, Geotab's open platform and partner ecosystem unify safety, compliance and operations in a unified system. Our mission: a safer, more efficient and more sustainable world in motion. Learn more at www.geotab.com and follow us on LinkedIn or visit Geotab News and Views.

GEOTAB and GEOTAB DRIVE are registered trademarks of Geotab Inc. in the United States and other countries.

SOURCE Geotab Inc.