May 14, 2026

Episode 228: Fleet Management Is 25 Years Behind, But AI May Change Everything

43 minutes

Fleet management may be entering its biggest transformation in decades.

According to NAFA CEO Bill Schankel, AI is about to dramatically accelerate the fleet industry, and the leaders who adapt first will have a massive advantage.

In this episode of The Fleet Success Show, Marc Canton, VP of Fleet Strategy at RTA Fleet, and Bill Schankel break down why fleet management is changing faster than ever before, including:

✅ Why AI could “leapfrog” the fleet industry

✅ Why annual training models may already be obsolete

✅ The real risk of falling behind on technology adoption

✅ Why technician shortages are forcing operational change

✅ The surprising growth of NAFA and this year’s record-breaking I&E event

✅ The future of fleet leadership, safety, and industry collaboration

Marc also shares his perspective that fleet management has historically lagged behind other industries technologically, but that AI may rapidly close that gap over the next few years.

This conversation is packed with insights for:

Fleet managers

Public works leaders

Government fleets

Transportation directors

Maintenance leaders

Fleet technicians

Operations executives

Anyone responsible for keeping essential services running

If you work in fleet, this episode will challenge how you think about the future of the industry.

👇 COMMENT BELOW:

Do you think AI will improve fleet management, or create even bigger challenges?

🚛 Learn more about RTA Fleet: https://rtafleet.com

🎓 Learn more about NAFA: https://nafa.org

Bill Schankel

CEO, NAFA Fleet Management Association

Bill Schankel is the Chief Executive Officer of NAFA Fleet Management Association, the world’s largest professional organization for fleet managers. NAFA serves more than 3,500 members across North America, representing government fleets, corporate fleets, and supplier partners across a wide range of industries including public safety, utilities, transit, delivery, and more.

Under Bill’s leadership, NAFA has expanded its focus on fleet education, certification programs, industry advocacy, and professional development, helping fleet leaders build stronger operations and advance the fleet profession.

Marc Canton

Vice President of Fleet Strategy, RTA Fleet

Marc Canton is the Vice President of Fleet Strategy at RTA Fleet, where he works with fleet leaders across North America to improve operations, implement modern fleet management systems, and develop high-performing fleet teams.

Marc brings decades of experience in fleet operations, consulting, and leadership development. Through his work with RTA and The Fleet Success Show, he helps fleet professionals build safer, more reliable fleets while strengthening the profession as a whole.

#FleetManagement #AI #NAFA #FleetTechnology #PublicFleet #GovernmentFleet #FleetLeadership #MaintenanceManagement #Transportation #FleetSuccess

Looking to take the next step to fleet success? Start by requesting your free copy of The Fleet Success Playbook. Written by fleet professionals for fleet professionals, the Playbook breaks down the four key pillars of fleet success, and gives you the tools you need to build a truly great fleet.

Request your free (yes, really, free!) copy here: https://rtafleet.com/resources/fleet-success-playbook?utm_source=simplecast&utm_medium=footer_notes&utm_campaign=episode_213

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By RTA, Josh Turley

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