The commercial vehicle manufacturer Ford Pro commissioned surveys of 3,000 van drivers and 150 fleet managers in Europe and the United States on the use of vehicle data, and found that more than one-third of drivers and a quarter of fleet managers do not view the data from their connected vehicles on a daily basis. This left large potentials untapped.
"Data is also regarded as digital gold in the commercial vehicle industry. The increasing collection and use of vehicle data is transforming the entire sector and at the same time driving it forward," the manufacturer outlines the problem.
In Europe today there are more than 29.5 million vans. By 2028, most of them are expected to be equipped with modems, according to the forecast. However, companies would not harness the optimization potential enabled by data usage to nearly the same extent. This wastes time and money, says the manufacturer. According to the study “Knowledge Gap in Fleet Data: Much Potential for Productivity” insufficient knowledge—especially in smaller companies—as well as concerns about data protection prevent efficient use of the data from connected commercial vehicles or fleets. The study provides indications to understand customers' attitude toward data usage and their associated reticence. In the survey, deficits emerged mainly in three areas:
- Value creation: Almost half of van drivers (46%) and a quarter of fleet managers (25%) do not tap the potential of vehicle condition data in daily operations. They do not use it, for example, to plan upcoming maintenance – even though the respondents attach high priority to the good technical condition of their vehicles.
- Knowledge: Worldwide,
- less than a third (32%) of van drivers and a little more than half of fleet managers (57%) know "a lot" about how they can use telematics to save time and money. Among drivers of small businesses (1 to 10 vehicles) the share drops to a tenth of respondents.
- Data protection: 94 percent of van drivers and 97 percent of fleet managers express concerns about data protection and data security.
Information on Maintenance Needs
By daily evaluating the data that a vehicle with a modem can capture, fleet operators can be informed about potential maintenance or repair needs, the manufacturer notes. An additional benefit: The contracted workshop could order all necessary parts in advance based on the vehicle data. This should minimize downtime for workshop visits and enable better planning. In addition, fleet managers can, with the help of Ford Pro services, track the trips of their vans to optimise route planning, receive real-time safety warnings, and conduct driver training. According to the provider's estimates, companies can reduce planned and unplanned downtime of vans through smarter vehicle maintenance and monitoring by 60 percent.
"The data from connected corporate vehicles are the key to managing fleets more efficiently. They essentially serve as a fitness tracker for the fleet and help optimise the efficiency of vehicles and drivers. After all, they provide both real-time updates and cumulative data for deeper analyses and broader operational insights," says Hans Schep, General Manager Ford Pro Europe.
The new study shows, in his view, a gap between the most experienced users who leverage the opportunities of connected data and those who
still rely exclusively on traditional management tools and do not tap the potential of the data for time- and cost-savings. "As an industry we must close this gap – and fast," urges Schep.
Connectivity Is Driving Change
Connected vehicle data are driving a rapid transformation across the entire commercial-vehicle sector in 2025. Berg Insight forecasts a strong growth in active fleet management systems in Europe, from 16.3 million units in 2023 to an expected 27.6 million in 2028. Ford Pro already provides software, charging, maintenance, and financing solutions for commercial vehicles, through which customers can optimise their fleet productivity. The commercial-vehicle specialist is continuously expanding its offering and its customer base. In the second quarter of 2025 the manufacturer increased the number of paying subscribers to almost 757,000, representing a 24 percent rise compared with the prior-year period.
Privacy Concerns
Globally, 94 percent of van drivers and 97 percent of fleet managers express concerns about the privacy and security of their data. At the same time, however, the survey found that connected commercial vehicles enjoy the greatest trust relative to other data-collection software—more than mobile phones, laptops, passenger cars and household devices. The provider had obtained ISO 27001 certification in 2025, internationally recognized as a standard for information security. This confirms that the company protects its customers' data effectively and processes it securely. As a whole company, they do not sell customer data to third parties. Furthermore, it is the only manufacturer whose vehicles display an icon on the screen indicating when a driver shares data.
"The automotive industry must better explain the true value
of connected vehicle data," says Jeremy Gould, Director Ford Pro Intelligence Europe.
The study clearly shows that the described "gaps" exist particularly in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This finding is also a cause for concern because a previous Ford Pro study, published in collaboration with the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr), had already found that SMEs account for around 99 percent of all businesses in Europe. With their vans, they contributed around one trillion euros to GDP across Europe in 2023.
"We give fleet operators all the tools they need to fully exploit the possibilities of connected data for their businesses," summarizes Hans Schep.
So the "Ford Pro Intelligence Platform" is expected to provide a comprehensive overview of fleet operations, based on data collected from vehicle components, sensors, dashcams and charging devices for electric vehicles, Schep further outlines.
Case Study: How Lloyds British Benefits from Ford Pro Mobile Service
How companies can benefit is demonstrated by a practical example: The inspection and certification service provider Lloyds British operates a fleet of 70 Transit Custom in the United Kingdom. The company maintains the productivity of its fleet through "Ford Pro Telematics Essentials" and ensures maximum uptime of the vehicles. Its fleet managers securely log into the vehicle system and can, based on real-time data, see which fleet vehicles need service or repairs. For most maintenance or repairs they can then use the provider's mobile service teams—and at a time and place that suits their drivers best. In this way, Lloyds British's fleet can save or avoid up to 60 days of downtime.
(Source:
