Editor's Note: This article is the second part of a series on the evolution of telematics technology in the trucking industry.Click here to read the previous article。

When a fleet decides to invest in a telematics system, installation is just the beginning. To achieve the expected return on investment, the key lies in actual usage. Although this concept seems obvious, the actual operation is far more complex than imagined.

Released by SambaSafety in October 2025,surveyshows that 66% of fleets rank "interpreting data or taking action based on data" as the top challenge in telematics. Respondents found this challenge even more difficult than aspects such as "associating drivers with data," "privacy concerns," and "data accuracy."

Addressing this pain point is crucial. Evan Ling, Managing Director at consulting firm Aarete, stated that trucking is not a high-margin industry, and actionable insights gained from telematics data have the potential to improve profit margins. Understanding telematics capabilities is not the same as fully unlocking their potential.

"Across industries, we have all this data. For years, it's been 'data, data, data, big data analytics, massive data,'" Ling said. "But how do we use this data? How do we use data to drive better decisions that enhance profitability?"

Challenge Escalates: Device Fragmentation Becomes a Major Obstacle

According to SambaSafety, the main reason fleets struggle to interpret and utilize data is "device fragmentation"—where multiple telematics devices generate multiple data streams that often differ in format and other aspects.

Tools such as cameras, black boxes, electronic logging devices (ELDs), applications, and OEM sensors can collect large amounts of data requiring different types of analysis. The survey shows that 70% of fleets use two or more devices to manage fleet safety, and 39% expect to add more devices within the next 12 months.

"This makes it difficult for safety or risk leaders to determine where priorities should lie," said Ashley Newbill, Vice President of Product Marketing at SambaSafety, in an email. Newbill added that while this issue is not new, it has become more prevalent as telematics adoption rises and fleets add more devices.

Ling noted that some telematics solutions on the market can provide a unified platform for multiple tools, but not all fleets have the resources to invest in such aggregation platforms. Furthermore, aggregation platforms do not eliminate what Ling calls "analysis paralysis"—a situation that can occur when fleets face massive amounts of data.

However, for larger fleets with ample resources, the remedy for data overload is integrating data into their own operations.

"I've heard a saying: these fleets are essentially not transportation companies, but 'data companies' that own trucks," Ling said.

Leveraging Technical Teams: ABF Freight's Practice

Matt Godfrey, President of ABF Freight, stated that the company has over 500 in-house programmers, developers, and other technical leaders. The company has a long history of telematics integration, having had a comprehensive technical team since its inception. This helps alleviate issues related to device fragmentation and signal-to-noise ratio.

"This allows us to understand what data is coming in and what we need to do with it to form business cases and use it in daily operations," Godfrey said.

He acknowledged that not all fleets have such conditions. Smaller companies may have smaller technical teams, or none at all.

In such cases, fleets may choose to work with third parties, such as consulting firms, to develop solutions. Ling said some fleets may request evaluations of their processes to identify opportunities for improving efficiency. Those that have not yet reached that stage can still use consultants to discover new tools in the market.

Other fleets may abandon technology altogether. In SambaSafety's survey, 6% of fleets reported not using any devices to manage fleet safety. But as more fleets of varying sizes overcome telematics challenges and achieve return on investment, its business value will continue to grow.

"That's the ultimate goal: having all this data, achieving real-time information and decision-making—that's the path to improving efficiency," Ling said.