After a volatile 2025, fleet strategy in 2026 is shifting away from expansion and toward discipline, utilization, and resilience. In a recent Fleet Equipment Magazine feature, Jeff Nieman, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Merchants Fleet, shares why idle assets now represent one of the biggest sources of cost and risk for fleets. He explains how data-driven utilization, flexible sourcing, and cleaner data foundations are reshaping decisions around right-sizing, outsourcing, AI adoption, and supplier optionality. Nieman’s perspective underscores a growing industry focus on adaptability—helping fleets stay prepared as costs fluctuate, supply tightens, and operational complexity increases.
Read the full article here and watch the interview below: