What Fleets Will Expect from Technology in 2026

As we head into 2026, fleets are entering the year with clearer expectations for the technology they rely on. They want systems that work together, data they can trust, and equipment that earns its place in the operation every day. After a period of uncertainty across the industry, what we’re seeing now is a renewed focus on making tractors, trailers and other assets work harder, smarter and more reliably.

Here are the shifts we believe will matter most in the year ahead.

Smart trailers will move to the center of the connected conversation.

More fleets are recognizing that the tractor only tells part of the story. The next wave of operational gains is coming from the trailer. Health, readiness, and cargo intel are becoming critical inputs for planning and dispatch, not just added visibility. At the same time, this shift is raising expectations for the physical systems that support intelligence. Data is only useful if the hardware delivering it is dependable. Power, connectors, and core trailer components have to perform day in and day out. When that foundation is strong, trailer intelligence becomes something fleets can trust and act on.

Utilization will matter more than expansion.

For many fleets, buying more equipment won’t be the first answer. With costs still high and freight patterns continuing to evolve, the focus is shifting to getting more value from the assets already in service.

We’re seeing leaders define utilization more clearly, track readiness more consistently, and build routines that turn insights into better forecasting and smarter decisions. When teams understand which trailers are available, which are ready, and which need attention, they can operate with greater precision and less waste. That discipline is becoming a real differentiator.

Trailer intelligence will reach the people doing the work.

Fleets don’t need more dashboards! They need information to show up where work actually happens. In 2026, the advantage will come from getting trailer intelligence into the systems and workflows teams already use to plan, dispatch, maintain and manage equipment.

The solutions that succeed will meet fleets where they are, delivering the right information to the right people at the right time. When that happens intelligence stops being something you check and starts being something you use.

Autonomous trucks will move from headlines to homework.

Autonomous trucking will continue to advance, but the real work in 2026 will be foundational. Preparing for automation means building connected vehicles from front to back, with real-time insight into everything that affects safety, uptime and cargo integrity.

That includes the often-overlooked physical connections between tractor and trailer. Standards matter. Reliability matters. Hardware has to support modern power and data demands without becoming a point of failure. As the industry raises expectations for performance and durability, these fundamentals will play a critical role in supporting what comes next, not just what works today.

Autonomy becomes practical when the tractor and trailer can surface what needs attention without slowing operations down.

The advantage will come from context, not more data.

Most fleets already have data. What they’re asking for now is clarity. In the year ahead, the advantage will come from knowing which trailers are available, which are ready to roll, and how much usable space remains. That kind of visibility helps teams prioritize work, respond faster, and keep operations moving without unnecessary friction.

Fleets are ready for a year where technology pulls its weight, hardware and software work together, and every trailer plays a meaningful role in the operation.After a period of disruption and adjustment, there is real opportunity ahead.

Over the past several years, more fleets across North America have chosen to rely on data and insights from Phillips Connect to help run their operations. We see that growth as a direct result of consistent execution, strong service, and solutions that continue to prove their value over time.

The companies that focus on reliability, integration, and execution will help set a new standard for performance in 2026 and beyond. We’re energized by the work still to come.