The finalists in the 2026 Fleet News Group Fleet Technology Award demonstrate three very different ways technology can improve fleet performance.
Blacktown City Council, the City of Port Phillip and Connect Ability Australia have each used technology to solve a specific operational problem, while also improving areas such as utilisation, safety, administration, compliance and service delivery.
Rather than focusing on technology for its own sake, the finalists have demonstrated how fleet data, systems integration, telematics and electrification can deliver measurable improvements across their organisations.
City of Port Phillip
The City of Port Phillip has developed an integrated vehicle booking and key-management solution by linking the Iklas electronic key cabinet system with its existing OneCouncil platform.
The project replaced an unreliable third-party system that relied on separate user accounts, rented cabinets and a large amount of manual administration. Employees can now book pool vehicles through the same enterprise platform they already use for other Council functions, then securely collect and return vehicle keys through the electronic cabinet.
The new process has reduced the number of steps required to collect a key from around 20 to approximately five, removed the need to manually create separate fleet-system accounts and provided greater visibility over bookings, vehicle use and overdue key returns.
Remote access also means fleet staff can resolve some key-management problems without physically travelling to the cabinet location.
The project has improved user experience, governance and fleet administration while creating an integration that could potentially be adopted by other councils using OneCouncil.
Connect Ability Australia
Connect Ability Australia has implemented Geotab telematics and digital forms to reduce fleet administration while improving passenger and driver safety.
The disability support organisation originally wanted to solve a transport billing problem. Drivers were recording participant names, journeys and kilometres manually, with the billing process taking six to eight weeks and consuming the equivalent of approximately 0.8 of a full-time position.
The new system digitally links journeys, drivers and participants, allowing transport information to be collected consistently and used for billing at month end.
However, the technology has delivered benefits well beyond invoicing.
Connect Ability Australia now uses telematics to monitor speeding, harsh braking, acceleration, vehicle impacts and other higher-risk driving behaviour. This information supports targeted driver training and provides greater visibility over journeys involving vulnerable passengers.
Digital vehicle inspections and incident reporting have also been introduced using QR codes and online forms, while automated reports provide managers with monthly information on safety, utilisation, emissions and vehicle performance.
Blacktown City Council
Blacktown City Council has combined telematics, electrification and engineering design to completely rethink how several operational vehicles are used.
Fleet data revealed that three diesel trucks carrying mowing equipment were travelling relatively short distances before spending much of the day parked and idling at worksites. Instead of replacing the three trucks like-for-like, Council redesigned the operation around a single electric truck fitted with a custom in-house designed beavertail body capable of carrying two machines at a time.
The vehicle uses a separate auxiliary battery, supported by solar panels, to power its hydraulic ramps without drawing energy from the truck’s traction battery. A portable DC charger also provides flexibility across Council sites.
By using telematics to understand actual utilisation, Blacktown City Council has replaced three ageing diesel trucks with one highly utilised electric asset, while reducing idling, maintenance, registration and operating costs.
Technology delivering practical fleet outcomes
The three finalists show that there is no single definition of fleet technology.
For Blacktown City Council, technology has combined telematics, engineering and electrification to reduce the number of vehicles required to complete the work.
For the City of Port Phillip, systems integration has made shared vehicles easier to book, access and manage.
For Connect Ability Australia, telematics and digital workflows have reduced administration while providing greater visibility of vehicle use and passenger safety.
The Fleet Technology Award recognises organisations that use technology to improve how fleets are managed, rather than simply adopting the latest product or platform.
Industry voting will give fleet professionals the opportunity to recognise the finalist they believe has made the strongest use of technology to deliver better fleet outcomes.
