Rethinking fleet for a changing emergency services landscape

Conversations about fleet have moved far beyond the vehicle itself. Today, fleet sits at the centre of a much wider system, shaped by technology, environmental responsibility, estates strategy, operational demand and the skills required of a modern emergency services workforce. Decisions made about fleet now reflect how services plan, adapt and prepare for an increasingly complex and fast-changing world.

Across the emergency services, fleets are being reshaped by rising demand, decarbonisation targets, ageing infrastructure and rapid advances in digital capability. Ambulances, fire appliances and specialist vehicles must remain operationally resilient while also supporting staff wellbeing, data-driven decision-making and long-term sustainability. 

At The Emergency Services Show 2026, taking place 16–17 September at the NEC in Birmingham, Fleet of the future will be a core theme, exploring how emergency service fleets are adapting to remain fit for purpose in a shifting operating environment. 

For ambulance services, modernising fleets means balancing ambition with frontline reality. Bernadette Rhodes, Fleet Delivery and Transformation Manager at East of England Ambulance Service, says the challenge is delivering change without compromising day-to-day response. 

“The biggest challenge we’re working to solve is how to modernise the EEAST ambulance fleet in a way that is genuinely sustainable, operationally resilient and fit for future models of care. That means balancing the transition to lower-emission vehicles with the realities of frontline demand, infrastructure readiness, vehicle availability and whole-life cost, while still ensuring crews have reliable, safe and clinically appropriate vehicles every day.”

Fleet of the future will explore these challenges through a programme focused on fleet innovation, decarbonisation and sustainability, reflecting the full lifecycle of emergency service vehicles, centred around a new fleet-focused arena on the show floor.

Content will span vehicle supply and conversion, telematics and asset management, workshop transformation and the infrastructure required to support electric and alternative fuel fleets. 

“The Emergency Services Show provides a rare opportunity for ambulance services to engage openly with suppliers and partners about future challenges, emerging technologies and practical solutions for fleet.” 

Bernadette Rhodes, Fleet Delivery and Transformation Manager, EEAST.

Digitalisation and connectivity are also reshaping how fleets are managed. Ijaz Bashir, Head of Asset Management at Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, highlights the growing role of data and insight. 

“Fleet of the future isn’t sci-fi – it’s fleet asset data, AVLS telematics and ESN-grade connectivity turning every mile into insight and every workshop into a digital hub. The Emergency Services Show is where we see AI-assisted maintenance, driver coaching and pragmatic decarbonisation move from slide to station.”

Fire and rescue services face additional pressures as they adapt vehicle design to support firefighter health and wellbeing, while also navigating the uncertainty surrounding the transition to zero-emission vehicles. 

Glynn Richardson, Head of Fleet at West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service and NFCC Fleet and Equipment Lead, said innovation must be both purposeful and pragmatic. 

“Getting out to The Emergency Services Show is a great way for us to meet suppliers, see what new technologies are coming through and helps to kick-start a lot of useful conversations,” he said.

Fleet of the future is aimed at fleet managers and transport leads across fire, police and ambulance services, procurement and estates managers, workshop engineers and technicians, and commercial fleet buyers exploring electric vehicles, telematics and alternative models. 

The theme will be supported by engagement with key national bodies and networks including the NPCC Estate and Fleet Group and AACE, creating a forum for collaboration, shared learning and practical problem-solving. The Emergency Services Show 2026 will also host the Ambulance Transport Officers Group meeting, bringing senior fleet leaders together.

By focusing on the ecosystem around emergency service fleets, Fleet of the future will examine how vehicles, infrastructure, technology and people must evolve together to deliver resilient, sustainable response for the years ahead. If your organisation is looking to contribute to the conversation, contact our team here.

Further details on content and exhibitors will be announced soon.

Click here to register your interest for The Emergency Services Show 2026.