New research from ground transport specialist CMAC Group suggests that 67% of corporate ground travel is currently untracked by travel managers.

The study, conducted by Censuswide and surveying some 500 business travellers, highlights a gap between corporate policy and booking behaviour. CMAC suggests the results show firms are exposed to financial risk and potentially additional safety issues.

The findings show that while 83% of travel managers mandate the use of approved providers, only about a third of bookings at ground transport level are made through compliant channels. For instance, about 50% of business taxi journeys are organised independently.

The shift toward independent booking comes at the same time as changes in payment methods. CMAC’s survey data shows 60% of travellers now use personal cards or cash for taxi journeys, an increase from 49% in 2023, while mobile payments are up to 36%.

The report also details safety concerns related to unmanaged travel.

Some 17% of respondents stated they do not feel safety is a priority for their organisation. Reported incidents include road accidents (13%), physical assault (10%), and theft (7%).

Ashley Seed, CCO at CMAC Group, said: “Many organisations assume that having a travel policy in place means that ground transport is controlled. The research shows most activity is not captured within approved channels. When only one in three bookings sits within policy, businesses lack clear oversight of spend and weaken duty of care protections. 

“Ground transport journeys may often be short, but the financial and safety implications remain significant. A managed programme for business brings this activity back into view, helping businesses protect their people, enforce standards and make more informed decisions on spend.”

While the adoption of managed programs has increased from 15% in 2023 to 33% in 2025, the majority of ground transport activity continues to take place outside of compliant systems. 

The findings were published in ‘Where’s Your Traveller? Exposing the Visibility Crisis in Business Travel’.