Samsara Beyond event highlights AI's impact on fleet safety, efficiency

Yahoo

a day ago

SAN DIEGO – Key takeaways from the Samsara Beyond event after customer interviews, press conferences and facility tours is the growing use of artificial intelligence in physical operations to improve safety and efficiency.
Safety and security was a chief concern for Samsara customers, who in a recent panel ranged from agriculture, chemical distribution and food service. Each had various types of fleets paired with a complex multi layered internal supply chain, requiring telematics and machine learning to improve efficiency.
At a press conference following Samsara's keynote, industry leaders from Nutrien Ag Solutions, Univar Solutions and Sysco discussed how Samsara's AI-powered platform has transformed their transportation operations. A common theme was customers using real-time data, geofencing and driver coaching to reduce accidents and improve efficiency.
Univar Solutions talked about how safety is a cornerstone of their operations. The company operates in environments where noise and hazardous materials pose constant risks, including handling hazardous materials or high-value cargo.
Rob McRae, vice president of transportation at Univar Solutions, highlighted the stakes, telling journalists, 'Our operations can involve a dangerous environment — 150 feet away, you can't hear over the noise, yet it's critical to stay safe. We're dealing with hazardous materials, and accidents can happen. Safety is our top priority, adding layers of protection to ensure our employees get home safely.'
Nutrien Ag Solutions, using Samsara's technology, saw a major reduction in incidents since adopting the platform three years ago. Springs said, 'We're seeing consistent increases in safety metrics.' The improvement also extends to community safety and transparency. 'Samsara's platform helps us meet that obligation through technology and proactive safety measures,' Springs added.
Beyond safety, customers spoke of how Samsara's platform streamlines operations through real-time data and automation.
For Nutrien Ag Solutions, the adoption of Level Monitoring, which provides visibility into gas, solid, and liquid levels across a range of tank types, brought about added benefits. Springs described the labor-intensive process of manually checking tank levels: 'Historically, checking tank levels required manual effort — climbing ladders, using side gauges, or other methods to determine product levels. This was time-consuming, especially for tanks spread across a 100-mile radius.'
Samsara's solution eliminates these inefficiencies. 'We can get notifications when tanks reach a certain level, allowing us to dispatch efficiently without unnecessary trips,' Springs said, noting that this saves hours and provides better transparency into levels, which can help them better serve their customers while giving them a competitive advantage.
Univar Solutions, which manages a private fleet of 1,000 vehicles, also talked about the benefits of dispatch and maintenance tools. McRae described some features: 'Samsara's dispatch tool integrates driver hours, vehicle maintenance, and operational data into a single platform, providing high-level dashboards for executives and tactical tools for dispatchers.'
Faster dispatching allows Univar Solutions to handle last-minute loads more efficiently. McRae praised the maintenance tool, saying, 'It provides intuitive data to validate repair costs — say, a $700 air brake replacement — against market rates, ensuring cost efficiency.'
Sysco was another example of using technology to boost safety and efficiency. Sysco used the Samsara platform to put tech driven safety as part of its cultural framework. Kevin Thomas, vice president of global EHSS and asset protection, told the audience, 'From a culture standpoint, safety is central to our identity. Two years ago, we engaged our more than 70,000 employees to create our safety tagline, 'Safety is Our Main Ingredient,' and introduced our safety mascot, 'Shellbert,' an egg symbolizing care…Samsara's platform helps us show employees that leadership prioritizes their safety, fostering a culture where everyone goes home safe,' Thomas said.
This focus has an added benefit to driver retention. Thomas noted, 'Key indicators for us are reducing safety incidents and the financial impact of claims. While we always aim to improve these metrics, it's not just about numbers — it's about caring for our people.' Thomas also noted a significant reduction in incident rates after partnering with Samsara.
Univar Solutions' McRae echoed the cultural impact, he talked about how Samsara AI Dash Cams capture positive driver behaviors for recognition on their internal platform, 'The Hub.' 'These videos are the most-clicked content on The Hub, driving engagement and creating a flywheel effect for safety,' McRae said. Branch locations that used to have inconsistent safety records now show extended periods without incidents following the driver coaching deployment.
To showcase the tech in action, Samsara held a closed event open to the press at a Mex-Cal Truckline terminal. For San Diego-based Mex-Cal Truckline, geofencing and asset tracking are critical for managing their fleet.
Javier Rogel, chief innovation officer at Mex-Cal Truckline explained, 'Our geofences are essential for managing 700 trailers with just two people. Alerts notify us if a trailer overstays at a customer's yard — after three days, we charge $25 per day.' This system ensures prompt equipment recovery and supports Mex-Cal's leasing operations. 'We've tried other GPS solutions, but they're costly and less reliable. Samsara is high quality and recognized in the market, giving us an edge when leasing trailers,' Rogel added.
Mex-Cal Truckline's operations also highlight the complexities of cross-border logistics with cargo security. Yvette Guillen, chief customer officer, spoke of one example telematics is helping, the company's Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) certification: 'This certification and Samsara's technology are critical investments for our cross-border operations.'
The company faces additional challenges, including keeping cargo safe from theft as it moves between various facilities between the border. Samsara's geofencing mitigates risks like cargo theft, prevalent in high-risk areas like Tijuana.
'Cargo theft is a major concern at the border. If a truck stops for more than 30 seconds, Samsara sends an alert,' Rogel explained. 'We review camera footage for suspicious activity and may request U.S. Customs to x-ray the truck.' This added layer of security, supported by dual-facing AI dash cams and asset gateways, ensures compliance with clients like large North American automakers, who mandate CTPAT standards for carriers wishing to haul their shipments.
Mex-Cal Truckline has also leveraged Samsara AI Dash Cams to address driver safety. Guillen reported a significant reduction in accidents following adoption. Often, the biggest low hanging fruit is driver distraction from cell phone use.
Guillen talked about how in 2023 the company saw a spike in accidents, but by 2024 they reduced their DOT accident rating from features like real-time alerts that warn drivers to put down their phones.
After identifying the behavior, the next step was helping drivers break the habit. Guillen added, 'The alerts prompt drivers to correct behaviors on their own, reducing the need for office coaching. Drivers want to stay on the road, so they adapt quickly to avoid violations.'
Based on conversations with customers and tech providers while at the event, expect to see continued improvement in fleet safety and efficiency as AI adoption rates increase.
Samsara leaders noted that for AI itself, the sky is the limit. They noted AI solves practical problems, whether customer notifications of delayed deliveries, automatic tracking links or coaching drivers based on event analysis. AI is also expanding into maintenance, processing invoices and optimizing labor, freeing up customer capacity.
Samsara remains focused on giving customers leverage without rushing automation. The company notes that AI is about enabling better outcomes, not replacing people. Customers have seen a measurable impact on their safety and operations.
'The details matter—our customers' real-world results show the impact of our technology. We encourage everyone to try our products and see the difference. We're excited about the future, from AI to partnerships, and we're committed to solving problems for our customers in a practical, impactful way,' said Sanjit Biswas, co-founder and CEO of Samsara.
To learn more, visit www.samsara.com
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