HOLLYWOOD, Florida—Fleet businesses can't base decisions on election cycles, but those cycles — and the changes that come with them — make decision-making harder. Especially as of late. 

"These big swings hit harder than they used to," Peter Nogalo, industry relations manager at Holman, said. "How do businesses manage that big swing? And how do they know where to invest?" 

Nogalo posed this question to a panel at Holman's customer conference, Holman Drive26. But before the question can be answered, it's best to understand what the industry is grappling with. 

Panelist Trey McKenzie, VP of government affairs with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, summarized what the election results could mean for fleet businesses moving into 2027 and beyond. 

A divided government 

Now that Democrats control the U.S. House and Senate, we can expect some changes, McKenzie said, but with a divided government, the extent of those changes is uncertain. 

The division of government is even more pronounced with the 120th Congress—to be sworn in on January 3—in particular, as Democrats have already pledged to investigate corruption during the Trump administration.  

"Will [Congress] be able to both investigate the president as well as negotiate with him to try to work on things together?" McKenzie asked. 

After all, Donald Trump is a seasoned negotiator—a "deal maker," as McKenzie said, recalling Trump's days on "The Apprentice."  

"Will he pivot and try to put up some quick bipartisan wins with Congress, or will he continue to utilize his executive authority?" McKenzie asked. 

Serious transportation considerations for the 120th Congress 

One of the first orders of business is the Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill, or the BUILD America 250 Act. This bill authorizes funding for infrastructure projects across the country, including the rail system.  

Infrastructure projects directly impact the fleet industry, notably construction companies that employ fleet vehicles to complete these projects. It also directly impacts maintenance and wear and tear on non-construction fleets, as these vehicles travel the country's roads each day. 

After that, McKenzie said Congress will shift focus to funding advancement in aviation through the Federal Aviation Administration.  

Between funding approvals, don't be surprised if Democrats introduce "investigations and oversight" in the Department of Transportation, especially regarding regulations and grant funding, McKenzie said. 

Finally, McKenzie cautioned everyone to keep an eye on artificial intelligence regulations and standards. 

"A lot of the focus has been on how do you regulate the AI developers and the systems themselves," McKenzie said. "But what [the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is] really focusing on is the AI regulation as it relates to the deployers of this technology." 

For the transportation industry, how individual states regulate AI use could have a major impact on operations, especially for companies that operate across state lines. 

"If we have 50 different states adopting different standards on how you can use this technology, it's going to significantly pivot the adoption of it," McKenzie said. 

Another factor that heavily impacts the transportation industry is tariffs, which largely defined the first year of Trump's second term in office. While the initial shock of those tariffs has subsided and many have been modified, they still impact businesses across the U.S. Will midterm election results bring about tariff policy changes? McKenzie said that is "up in the air," although he admits that repealing Canadian tariffs has garnered bipartisan support. 

How can fleets prepare for what's coming? 

The past several years of political "whiplash," as Nogalo called it, has given industry leaders reason to prepare for a storm of regulatory implementation, execution, or reversal. Will the incoming 120th Congress push electric vehicles (EVs) again? Will tariffs increase or decrease? Will the Iran conflict wind down so we can see relief at the pump? 

Even the most researched and best-educated economists and industry players don't know the answers. So how can a fleet owner prepare for what they aren't sure is coming? 

One answer is just as complicated as one might have guessed. But McKenzie summed it up in one word: Diversify. 

"The businesses that we represent that are successful, they're the ones that pursue all of those options and are ready to activate whenever the time is ready," he said, referencing fleet businesses that have created plans or tested multiple powertrain options, from EVs to natural gas and even hydrogen. 

Another strategy fleets can take—and one that could be considered low-hanging fruit—is to use the tools and technology currently available to increase profits and optimize operations, Kevin Tynan, director of research at the Presidio Group, said. This is a way for companies to "take the net profit or the operating profit lines into your own hands," Tynan said. 

While experts in their field, even McKenzie and Tynan don't have all the answers. The best thing fleets can do to weather the political storms ahead is act on the certainties and plan for the uncertainties.