Business Fleet

Your small business is growing. You've added a few vehicles, hired more drivers, and maybe even expanded to another location. That's good news, but are your fleet management processes keeping up? The systems that worked when you had three trucks might not work quite as well when you have 10 or 15. Add changing weather conditions, workplace safety risks, and new vehicle decisions, and managing a small fleet can get complicated fast.

When you're running a small business, getting a company vehicle serviced isn't always as simple as scheduling an appointment. Someone has to drop it off, arrange a ride back, and figure out how to get the day's work done without that vehicle. And if you're the person managing the business, you're probably the person figuring all of that out, too.

The 2027 Toyota Corolla Cross is returning with gas and hybrid powertrains, giving small business fleets a compact crossover option with available all-wheel drive and up to an estimated 42 mpg combined. For 2027, Toyota has simplified the Corolla Cross Hybrid lineup by eliminating the S grade. The hybrid is now available in SE and XSE grades, while the rest of the Corolla Cross lineup largely carries over from the previous model year.

The 2027 Toyota Grand Highlander offers gas, hybrid, and Hybrid MAX powertrains, up to 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space, and towing capacity up to 5,000 pounds. The 2027 Toyota Grand Highlander offers a choice between gas, hybrid, and Hybrid MAX powertrains. It provides up to 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space for versatile storage options. The vehicle has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds, making it suitable for various transportation needs.

Telematics may be standard equipment for much of the fleet industry, but the picture looks different for the smallest operations. Nearly 90% of fleets surveyed for SambaSafety’s 2026 Telematics Report use telematics. Yet fleets with 10 or fewer vehicles monitor only about 25% of their vehicles on average, according to the report. By comparison, fleets with 11 to 99 vehicles monitor about 90% of their operations.

Five vehicles can be surprisingly easy to manage. You know who drives each one, which van needs tires, which truck was just in the shop, and which registration renewal is coming up next. Some of it may be written down, some may live in an inbox, and some is probably sitting in the head of the person who has always handled the vehicles. Then five vehicles become 12. Twelve become 20.

Will your next work vehicle cost less to buy but more to fuel? NHTSA's new fuel economy rule puts both numbers in play. NHTSA has finalized a rule that adjusts fuel economy standards, impacting vehicle purchase and fuel costs. Small fleet operators should expect potential changes in the economic trade-offs between initial vehicle costs and ongoing fuel expenses. The new rule may affect budget planning for businesses relying on fuel efficiency and operational cost management.

Back-to-school traffic does not always mean more crashes. New Empiric Earth data shows why fleets should focus on when and where risk changes. Back-to-school traffic is not necessarily linked to an increase in crashes, contrary to common belief. Recent data from Empiric Earth highlights the importance of focusing on specific times and locations where risk levels vary. Fleets can optimize safety strategies by understanding and targeting these shifting risk patterns.

For small fleets, one crash can trigger far more than vehicle damage. Here’s how stronger driver safety policies, training, maintenance, and technology can help reduce workers’ comp exposure. by Peter Young, Brownyard Group September 23, 2026 For employees in businesses like pest control and security, the company vehicle is an extension of the workplace, and if employees don’t feel safe while driving, they may seek opportunities elsewhere.

The 2027 Nissan Rogue Hybrid brings e-POWER technology to the U.S. with standard AWD, up to 38 mpg combined, and a starting MSRP of $35,490. Nissan introduces the 2027 Rogue Hybrid with e-POWER technology in the U.S., featuring a gasoline engine that acts as a generator for the electric motors. The Rogue Hybrid achieves an estimated combined fuel economy of 38 mpg with its 1.5-liter turbocharged engine and delivers 225 horsepower.