As New Zealand’s trucking industry faces heightened scrutiny and growing expectations around workplace safety, new research from Teletrac Navman shows fleets are increasingly turning to telematics technology and AI-enabled safety systems to exonerate drivers and provide clear evidence after incidents. 

 Released amid rising insurance costs and operational pressures, the Mobilizing the Future of Fleets: 2026 Risk and Exoneration Edition report highlights how integrated telematics and video technology allows fleets to resolve incidents quickly and fairly while protecting both drivers and the business. 

 The research reveals that: 

• 84% of fleets deploy safety technology primarily to exonerate drivers 
• 53% of fleets involved in accidents successfully exonerated drivers, using telematics and video data 
• 70% of fleets say combining cameras with telematics significantly reduced the time needed to process accident claims 
• 85% of fleets report safety technology helped counter rising insurance premiums, with many achieving reductions  

In a regulatory environment where WorkSafe investigations can have operational and reputational consequences, the findings suggest telematics technology is helping NZ fleets exonerate drivers, reduce dispute time, and demonstrate compliance with workplace safety expectations.