With over 20 years in the transportation industry, Jim Angel brings a refreshingly direct perspective to telematics consulting and fleet safety.
As SambaSafety's
newest Telematics Safety Advisor, Jim provides expert telematics consulting services, helping fleets transform complex data into measurable safety improvements and risk reduction strategies.
We sat down with Jim to get his insights on the current state of telematics adoption, the challenges fleets face in leveraging their telematics data effectively and his practical approach to turning technology into tangible safety results.
Q: Tell us about your background and how you became a telematics consultant.
Angel: I have over 20 years of experience in the trucking and technology space. I am a different voice (some might even say disruptive) on how to reduce risk, improve driver behavior and align operations with safety goals that actually save lives, offering a simplified, common-sense approach.
I have a deep respect for the backbone of the industry: the drivers. I also have a growing frustration with how much data is being generated in the name of safety but not effectively used.
My focus has always been on operational efficiency by targeting the top 10 to 20% of high-risk drivers, the ones that will have the largest impact on reducing overall exposure to risk for the fleet. To do this, you have to have high quality data to coach, correct and protect.
I have had a ton of real-world conversations, data reviews and I believe that safety has to be a focus, or it will not be successful.
Q: What is your role as a telematics consultant at SambaSafety?
Angel: I am a voice of safety for telematics and the benefits it has for insurance and fleets to take action in a way that's practical, scalable and measurable.
I'll also be presenting at upcoming industry events and stirring the pot on LinkedIn.
My message is pretty consistent: speed is the clearest, most actionable indicator of risk, and the most overlooked opportunity to drive safer and less risky operations.
Q: What's the most significant shift you've seen in how fleets approach safety and risk management?
Angel: Fleets now have real-time visibility into behavior.
Insurance costs are forcing fleets to demonstrate risk controls, not just coverage. Auto insurance has risen 11.1% year-over-year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Lawsuits and nuclear verdicts are at an all-time high, with plaintiff attorneys using fleets' own data against them when they don't act on it. According to Travelers, the average top verdict in commercial vehicle cases soared from $64 million to $214 million between 2015 and 2019.
Because of all of these, I think fleets are trying to move from being reactive to more proactive.
Q: Where do you see the intersection of telematics and insurance heading in the next five years?
Angel: Well, that's the million dollar question, isn't it. On one hand you have an industry that does not trust anything except a claims run, and another industry that does not trust the folks that run the claims. I think there are a few things that have to change for both parties to reap the real benefits. Things like:
Insurers trying to move away from relying only on historical loss data for underwriting.
With telematics, they can evaluate risk in near real time. The ability to build underwriting models that factor in live behavior: speeding trends, time of day driving, risky roads, high litigation jurisdictions and driving geography. Those are already available, but will the fleets share? The ones that do share clean, structured data should get better terms and potentially, ongoing rate adjustments tied to actual performance. But will that actually happen?
SambaSafety’s 2025 Telematics Report states that 70% of fleets do not share telematics data with insurers. 78% of those who don't share have never been asked.
Insurance companies investing in digital platforms that allow fleets to see how their behavior is impacting their risk and premiums.
This can provide information that fleets can act on to improve safety and lower risk. Things like monthly risk dashboards, proactive coaching alerts and incentive-based safety programs that are built into the policy itself. I think these are a long way off for some organizations, but shouldn't be.
Data quality becoming a pricing lever.
Not all data is created equal. Insurers will require and possibly reward fleets that use verified, high-quality data sources, especially for speed limit accuracy, location context and vehicle class. Fleets that rely on poor quality or black box data won't get the same underwriting flexibility. Those check-the-box solutions may not be good enough without data aggregators that standardize and normalize the data to meet quality standards.
According to SambaSafety’s 2025 Telematics Report, 41% of fleets report lower premiums due to telematics.
I think we will also see more claims processed using automated telematics input. Things like location, impact severity, video footage and speed at the time of the incident. Fleets that can instantly prove what happened will resolve claims faster, avoid unnecessary litigation and reduce claims costs.
Insurance won't just be about paying for losses; they will try and help prevent them.
This is the big one. Carriers and brokers will offer more embedded safety services, predictive analytics and coaching tools as part of the policy. Fleets that act on this data will become safer, more insurable and more profitable. All true, but why has it not already happened?
Bottom line: In five years, the line between a telematics provider and an insurance partner could be a blur. Winners on both sides will be those who use data not just to monitor risk, but to reduce it in measurable, proactive ways.
Q: Having worked with companies like Trimble, SpeedGauge and Lytx, what patterns do you see in how different fleets adopt new safety technologies?
Angel: The most successful fleets don't just "install tech." They use it. When ownership or executive leadership truly believes in using technology to improve safety and the managers and safety staff actually care about the drivers, it works. In contrast, when adoption is reactive or discipline driven, it rarely sticks.
According to SambaSafety’s 2025 Telematics Report, 64% of fleets cite interpreting or acting on telematics data as a challenge.
The most successful fleets start by targeting one or two key risk areas like speeding or harsh braking and use the data to drive change with a manageable group of drivers. They don't try to eat the whole cow. Over time, and measured improvement, they layer in more behaviors and tighten goals.
Installing cameras or tracking speed is one thing, but what you do with that data is what matters. Fleets that consistently coach drivers, use accurate data to tell a story and focus on improving rather than punishing tend to see more success and stronger driver buy in. This can actually assist with driver retention.
A huge problem I see across all platforms is fleets relying on inaccurate or inconsistent data, especially around speed limits. Telematics have quickly become commoditized; price now seems to be the number one driver vs value. If you're using a check-the-box solution that provides mediocre data, you quickly lose credibility with drivers and can't trust the analytics. Fleets that invest in quality data (and use it fairly) earn more trust and make smarter decisions.
Fleets that connect safety to broader business goals, like reduced claims, lower insurance costs, fewer violations, etc., build stronger internal alignment. Safety extends beyond avoiding crashes to running a safer, more sustainable operation.
Q: What's a common mistake you see fleets making when implementing telematics solutions?
Angel: The most common mistake is thinking telematics is a tool you install rather than a strategy you manage. Technology is only as good as the process and people behind it. Several things to remember to be successful. Too often, fleets treat telematics like a check-the-box solution. They get the devices installed, turn on alerts and assume that safety or efficiency magically happens. Technology alone doesn't solve problems.
Here's what can go wrong:
They collect data, but don't use it.
Fleets drown in dashboards, alerts and reports, but rarely take action. They don't have a clear process for reviewing data, identifying patterns or holding drivers accountable. Data without accountability becomes noise, and drivers learn to ignore it.
They don't set clear goals.
Implementing telematics without a specific purpose, like reducing speeding violations, improving MPG or lowering incident claims, leads to wasted effort. Fleets that succeed define clear metrics up front and measure consistently.
They don’t get driver buy in.
Deploying telematics without explaining the why to drivers creates resistance and distrust. Fleets that include drivers in the conversation and emphasize coaching, fairness and safety get far better engagement and long-term behavior change.
The data quality is poor.
This one's critical. Many fleets assume all telematics data is accurate. But if your speed limits are wrong, or event thresholds are inconsistent, you're basing decisions (and coaching) on flawed information, which kills driver confidence and undermines your entire program.
They try to eat the whole cow.
Some fleets turn on every alert, track every behavior and quickly get overwhelmed. The best approach is phased: start with one or two high impact behaviors, like speeding or harsh braking, measure progress, then expand.
Q: For a fleet manager reading this, what's one actionable step they could take today to better protect their operations?
Angel: Identify the top 10 to 20% of drivers with the highest frequency of speeding violations and start coaching them.
These drivers typically account for 60 to 65% of your risk. Speeding is the strongest predictor of collisions and other risky behaviors like harsh braking, tailgating and rollovers. Focusing on the riskiest drivers first delivers the fastest, biggest return.
Run a report from your telematics platform showing drivers with the most speeding events (preferably over the posted limit, not threshold based). Compared to their history, is this a repetitive issue or a one-time occurrence? Pick five to 10 drivers and start a short, consistent coaching conversation. Make it about bringing them home safe, not MPG or anything else operational.
Even a single conversation, when tied to accurate data, can work to start changing behavior and reducing your exposure.
Need Expert Telematics Consulting Services for Your Fleet?
Contact SambaSafety to learn how Jim Angel's telematics consulting expertise can help transform your driver data into measurable safety improvements and risk reduction strategies.
