LONG BEACH, California—Nothing will get a public fleet manager’s attention quicker than hearing from a peer how he managed to get his budget doubled after decades of departmental stagnation. And that’s exactly what captured the crowd here at NAFA I&E 2025 when Brandon Boring took the stage to pass along his “Tips for Making Analytics Work for You.”
The presentation highlighted a compelling success story where data-driven insights secured a budget increase from $13 million to $26.5 million by presenting a comprehensive analysis of maintenance costs, vehicle age, and operational challenges.
“Every single one of us in this room has a budget that we have to maintain, budget proposals we have to put together—that’s where a lot of this data comes in,” Boring said. “I like to share my data and a lot of my KPIs with the staff that work under me. Visualizing your data, building user-friendly dashboards—a lot of our fleet management software will do that for us.”
Boring became fleet director for the Pennsylvania State Police in 2020, after working his way up from vo-tech graduate to shop technician, then to supervisory and management roles at a transit agency and trucking company.
“I saw mileages, engine hours that were so excessive I wouldn't feel comfortable pursuing somebody in some of these vehicles,” he said. “Also, we live in the Salt Belt—so a lot of them were starting to rot out.”
He’d soon had enough of making do at the department and began to make his case, but it wasn’t easy: The systems collected all sorts of data, but it hadn’t been organized.
“Our fleet management software wasn't really being utilized, so I really had a lot of raw data when I started,” Boring said. “A lot of you are going to run into that as well.”
With the data sorted, Boring put together a presentation detailing maintenance costs, both scheduled PMs and breakdowns—as well as the costs for the many accidents police vehicles tend to be involved in. He also had projections for the cost of new replacement vehicles and even a refurbishment plan. All told, he spent two weeks collecting and organizing the data.
“I presented it to my executive staff, to the governor’s staff—and we hit it out of the park,” Boring said.
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The data is there
For his NAFA presentation, Boring demonstrated the transformative power of data analytics to optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. He also revealed critical strategies for leveraging technology and information to drive organizational success.
The journey begins with comprehensive data collection. Modern fleet management goes far beyond simple tracking, incorporating telematics, fleet management software, and advanced analytics to provide unprecedented visibility into vehicle performance, driver behavior, and operational costs.
Key data points include maintenance records, fuel consumption, driver behavior, route optimization, and vehicle utilization. By systematically collecting and analyzing these metrics, organizations can make informed decisions that directly impact their bottom line, as he explained.
Telematics emerges as a game-changing technology, offering insights well beyond simple GPS tracking. Fleet managers can now monitor engine hours, oil life, driver performance, and potential maintenance issues in real time. This proactive approach allows for predictive maintenance, potentially reducing unexpected breakdowns and extending vehicle lifespans.
Performance monitoring becomes more sophisticated through key performance indicators (KPIs). Successful fleet managers track metrics such as:
- Fleet utilization rates
- Maintenance costs
- Fuel efficiency
- Accident frequency
- Preventive maintenance compliance
New approach, new challenges
However, as Boring outlined, implementing a data-driven approach isn't without challenges.
Organizations must overcome several hurdles:
- Integrating multiple data systems
- Ensuring data quality
- Overcoming technological resistance
- Developing user-friendly dashboards
Boring recommended starting small, focusing on high-impact pilot projects, and gradually expanding data utilization. Involving staff in the process and making data visualization intuitive are crucial for successful implementation.
Areas of opportunity
Compliance and risk management represent another critical area where data plays a pivotal role. Fleet managers can now track driver certifications, vehicle inspections, and regulatory requirements with unprecedented precision.
The future of fleet management lies in predictive analytics and artificial intelligence. Some companies are already exploring AI-driven solutions to anticipate maintenance needs and optimize fleet performance.
But until AI takes over, there is an alternative: a shop team that begins to understand the data, and anticipates issues themselves.
“If your technicians are starting to point to problems before you start seeing some of the trends, that’s a great success,” he said.
Key takeaways for fleet managers include:
- Invest in robust telematics and fleet management software.
- Develop standardized data collection processes.
- Create user-friendly dashboards.
- Involve staff in data-driven decision-making.
- Continuously benchmark performance against industry standards.
As transportation technologies evolve, data will become increasingly central to strategic fleet management. Organizations that embrace these technologies and develop sophisticated data analysis capabilities will gain significant competitive advantages.
Boring’s message is clear: In modern fleet management, information is not just power—it's the foundation of operational excellence.
