New skills fleet teams need in 2026
WORDS BY ANBY ALCOMENDAS
Fleet management has moved well beyond vehicle ordering and maintenance scheduling. In 2026, fleet professionals are operating at the intersection of energy markets, digital systems, regulatory frameworks, and corporate sustainability commitments. Vehicles are more connected, policy settings are influencing supply behaviour, and executive teams expect sharper cost and emissions reporting.
With this shift in mind, here are some of the new skills fleet teams need in 2026 and beyond.
Emissions Literacy and Regulatory Awareness
A solid understanding of emissions policy is now essential. With the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard( NVES) in its first full performance year, emissions performance is influencing vehicle supply and model availability across the Australian market.
Although fleets are not directly regulated under the NVES, procurement decisions are being shaped by how manufacturers manage compliance. Fleet professionals need to understand how emissions benchmarks operate, how they affect OEM behaviour and how fleet purchasing supports broader corporate sustainability targets. Regulatory literacy is becoming part of core fleet competency.
Electrification Planning and Infrastructure Coordination
Electrification has moved beyond trial programs. For many organisations, 2026 is about scaling electric vehicles across the fleet.
Fleet teams must assess suitability based on duty cycles, payload, range requirements and operating environments. They also need to plan for charging infrastructure across depots, workplaces and employee homes, while considering energy demand and operational downtime.
34 ISSUE 57 FEBRUARY 2026 / WWW. AFMA. ORG. AU