Microlise annual report: technology is helping drivers feel safer

New industry research from technology provider Microlise suggests that advances in fleet and driver management systems have helped drivers feel safer than they did five years ago.

The research was conducted for the company’s second annual report, Navigating UK Transport and Logistics in 2026 and Beyond, which explores the trends shaping current fleet operations, including how companies are improving safety, efficiency and performance while navigating complex commercial and regulatory demands.

Nine in 10 transport and logistics managers reported that their drivers feel safer according to the research, which gauged responses from 250 professionals across the UK.

More than half of respondents said that technologies like in-cab cameras had boosted the performance of drivers by up to 50 per cent; and 83 per cent reported that camera systems had helped prevent a serious accident involving one of their drivers.

87 per cent of respondents agreed technology was essential to driver safety, and 59 per cent said digital systems remove much of the complexity and administrative burden of compliance management. However, 64 per cent believed that there were still important areas of fleet management that technology providers do not fully understand.

Microlise also points to the research’s suggestion that fleets are increasingly confident in the deployment of emerging technologies, with more than eight in 10 transport and logistics managers surveyed now using AI tools to support fleet and supply chain operations. Meanwhile, 88 per cent said they believed their organisations were well equipped to maximise the technology’s potential in the future.

Compared to 2025’s report, fewer respondents – 34 per cent, down from 40 per cent – reported that they felt overwhelmed by the volume of information available to them, which the report suggests signals “a growing ability to cut through the noise and focus on the insights that matter most”.

Sustainability was another area highlighted: six in 10 now describe environmental impact as a top priority, compared with 36 per cent in last year’s report. 24 per cent of those surveyed said they did not know how they would achieve net zero targets across their operations, although this figure was down on the 34 per cent cited in the 2025 report.

While 60 per cent of respondents reported savings of up to £100,000 through the use of transport management systems, Microlise identified significant scope to improve efficiency across the sector. It said managers were spending an average of 2.3 hours per day manually processing proof of delivery documentation – up from 1.7 hours last year. The average daily cost of this process had also increased.

Workforce pressures were a further area of concern. More than half of respondents said they enjoyed working in transport and logistics but would consider taking up a different career within the next five years – a statistic Microlise says underlines the importance of attracting and retaining talent.

Cybersecurity was identified as moving higher up the agenda, but findings were encouraging: four in five respondents felt either fully or adequately prepared for a cyberattack, suggesting operators were placing a growing focus on resilience. Only three per cent did not feel prepared at all.

Commenting on the report, Nadeem Raza, CEO of Microlise, said: “Transport and logistics operators are working in an increasingly demanding environment, balancing customer expectations, regulatory requirements, sustainability goals and commercial pressures.

“We wanted to examine what had changed in the 12 months since the publication of our first industry report as well as predicting what might happen in the coming year too.

“Our latest report provides valuable insight into how priorities are evolving across the sector and where organisations are seeing the greatest opportunities to improve performance.

“The findings demonstrate the positive impact technology is having across safety, sustainability and operational efficiency, while also highlighting areas where challenges remain and further progress can be made.

“As the pace of change continues to accelerate, understanding these trends will be critical in helping operators make informed decisions, improve resilience and build future-ready businesses.”