Canadian Fleets Encouraged to Join 100 Best Fleets Program
Fleet professionals from across Canada and the U.S. gathered in Toronto for the 2026 100 Best Fleets event. Credit: Jack Kazmierski
100 Best Fleets judge Michael Brennan (L) with NAFA CEO Bill Schankel. Credit: Jack Kazmierski
Toronto event encourages Canadian fleets to enter the prestigious program and learn from North America’s top-performing operations.
The 2026 NAFA Midwest 100 Best Roundtable & Networking Event brought the 100 Best Fleets program to Canada for the first time on Sept. 1 in Toronto, drawing fleet professionals and industry representatives from across Canada and the United States. The event was co-sponsored by NAFA and the City of Toronto.
NAFA CEO Bill Schankel opened the event by noting that Canadian fleets have historically been underrepresented in the 100 Best Fleets competition. He encouraged more Canadian organizations to enter the annual program.
Michael Brennan of CDMB Consultants, a 100 Best Fleets judge, reinforced that message while providing an overview of the program and its application process. He urged fleets to begin preparing early, noting that the application period will open in November this year.
The 100 Best Fleets program evaluates more than just what fleets are doing; applicants need to demonstrate how effectively they are doing it, Brennan explained.
That means collecting and monitoring the right performance data. Among the key benchmarks identified at the event were technician productivity, technician hours, fleet availability, preventive maintenance compliance, average turn time, parts fill rates, rework rates, training hours, technician ratios and vacancy rates, fuel management, customer satisfaction, vehicle lifecycle and scheduled work.
Data and technology drive performance
Technology was another recurring theme. Examples from high-performing fleets included telematics and connected-vehicle data, GPS and camera systems, virtual-reality training, 3D printing, robotics, artificial intelligence and drones. One fleet is using 3D printing to manufacture small components used to mount equipment, while parts-vending machines are being used to provide technicians with everything from replacement parts to rags and batteries.
Brennan also emphasized that technology should support, not replace, the people operating a fleet. Succession planning, technician recruitment, continuing education and leadership development were identified as important elements of a successful fleet strategy.
Some fleets are also introducing initiatives designed to improve employee wellbeing and retention, including psychological safety zones where employees can step away and decompress, “stay interviews” and employee wellness programs.
The message was clear: Successful fleets need to devote as much attention to their people as they do to their vehicles.
Sustainability was discussed as a broader concept than electrification alone. Fleets are examining how they manage all of their resources, including energy, facilities and space. One example involved replacing office space with trucks equipped to serve as mobile workspaces, reducing the need for a building despite adding vehicles.
Preparing for the competition
For fleets considering entering the 100 Best Fleets competition, Brennan recommended starting early, involving people throughout the organization and being detailed but concise. Public and commercial fleets use separate application guides, and supporting documentation can be submitted to help break ties.
The application asks fleets to demonstrate current or ongoing initiatives, with emphasis on improvements made from 2025 onward and plans for the future. Public fleets, for example, are asked to address technology, collaboration, energy management, employee recognition, financial management, employee empowerment, root-cause analysis, turnaround times, pricing, staff development and resource stewardship.
The program also recognizes individual achievements through Technician of the Year, Fleet Professional of the Year and the Tom Johnson Award for career accomplishments.
For Canadian fleets, the Toronto event served as both an introduction to the program and an invitation to participate. The message from NAFA and the 100 Best Fleets team was straightforward: Canadian fleets have an opportunity to make a bigger mark, and preparation should begin now.
