Ensuring driver safety is the top priority for fleet managers, according to a survey conducted by GE Capital Fleet Services.

With more than a third (35%) of fleet managers identifying it as their main concern, driver safety outpaced cost-savings goals and workforce productivity (27% and 22%, respectively) as the top concern for the second year in a row.

However, 62% said that the main focus of their company’s top executive leadership is achieving cost savings. With this goal in mind, 43% of the fleet managers cited vehicle purchasing decisions as the greatest opportunity for savings, followed by managing maintenance expenses (32%) and telematics and analytics solutions (22%).

“As fleet managers continue to focus first and foremost on driver safety, they must also concentrate on finding ways to take more cost out of fleet operations,” said Mark Hayes, chief marketing officer for GE Capital Fleet Services.

“Increasingly, fleets are utilizing technology tools that address the dual challenges of cost and safety. These include telematics solutions that alert drivers to potential accidents, intelligent collision alert systems and data analytics that helps predict and manage maintenance costs.”

The biggest areas for enhancing fleet productivity, the managers said, were defining a comprehensive vehicle replacement/cycling plan (30%) and specifying the appropriate vehicle for the job (27%).

Asked how analytics have most helped their fleet, 46% of fleet managers cited improved operational efficiency, with an additional 22% citing cost savings through analytics.

In addition, 32% of the managers surveyed said their fleets included alternative fuel vehicles, and another 33% plan to incorporate them within the next two years.