Recognizing excellence in the Public Sector: 2026 Samsara Connected Operations Award winners

Every year, the Samsara Connected Operations Awards shine a light on the organizations that prove what's possible when technology, people, and purpose align. These awards celebrate customers who don't just adopt connected operations solutions; they use them to drive meaningful change for the communities they serve.

This year, we're proud to spotlight two organizations that represent the best of what public sector operations can achieve: safer roads, more accountable fleets, smarter resource use, and better outcomes for the people who depend on them. From one of the world's busiest airports to a rural school district in Kansas, their stories are a testament to what innovative, dedicated teams can accomplish.

Join us in celebrating the 2026 Connected Operations Award winners for Excellence in Performance in the Public Sector.

Excellence in Performance – Government: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

The Connected Operations Award for Excellence in Performance – Government recognizes public sector organizations that use technology to provide top-notch services to states, cities, and local communities. This year's winner stands out for transforming one of the most complex ground fleets in the country from reactive to proactive while meeting the rigorous governance and accountability standards of a public agency.

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is the second-largest airport in the U.S. by land size—spanning 27 square miles—and the fourth-busiest by passenger volume. With a fleet of 400+ vehicles and 1100+ drivers across airfield maintenance, public safety, passenger buses, and emergency services, DFW needed real-time visibility into daily operations. Without a unified platform, leadership couldn't reliably identify vehicle locations, driver assignments, or maintenance status.

DFW rolled out Dual-Facing AI Dash Cams and Fleet Telematics, as well as integrated key solutions, including AssetWorks. Coaching was built around video footage review rather than punitive measures, and the fleet team uses Samsara to build monthly telematics scorecards to give leadership visibility across every workgroup.

The results were significant. The fleet saw a reduction in a variety of risky driving behaviors, including an 87% drop in no-seatbelt events, a 91% reduction in harsh braking, and a 30% drop in drowsiness events. Fleet damage costs were also cut by nearly 50%, from $202,102 to $101,971, a savings of over $100K year-over-year. In addition, Samsara enabled DFW to reduce vehicle idling, optimize asset utilization, and produce audit-ready data to meet public accountability requirements.

Finalists: The Iowa Department of Transportation

Excellence in Performance – Education: Garden City Public Schools

The Connected Operations Award for Excellence in Performance – Education recognizes organizations that demonstrate technology gains to improve service delivery for students and their communities. This year's winner stands out for transforming student transportation safety while driving meaningful operational and financial improvements across a sprawling rural district.

Garden City Public Schools operates one of the largest student transportation fleets in Kansas, transporting nearly 2,000 students daily across 900+ square miles on 36 route buses. Unlike many districts, Garden City owns and maintains its entire fleet, placing full responsibility on its transportation team to manage safety and operations at scale. Legacy DVR cameras frequently failed to capture critical footage, leaving administrators without evidence during serious safety investigations, and the district had no real-time visibility into driver behavior. Moreover, paper-based inspections consumed hours of administrative time every week, and maintenance moved slowly through phone calls and paperwork.

To address these challenges, Garden City deployed a variety of Samsara solutions, including AI Dash Cams, AI Multicam, Fleet Telematics, Connected Maintenance, and Weather Intelligence, all through a unified platform.

The results have been transformative. Accidents dropped 87% in just 18 months—falling from an average of 15 annually to just two—and the district achieved eight driver exonerations in a single year. Risky driving behaviors decreased by more than 40%, stop-arm violations fell 80%, and thanks to instant access to video, investigation time dropped by more than 80%. On the operations side, vehicle uptime improved 20%, repair costs dropped 66%, and the district now sees more than $150,000 in annual savings.

Finalist: Houston Independent School District

The power of connected operations in the public sector

The achievements of DFW and Garden City Public Schools speak for themselves, but behind every data point is a team of dedicated public servants committed to doing more with less, improving safety, and delivering better outcomes for their communities.

At Samsara, we are proud to support the work of public sector organizations across the country, and we are honored to recognize these two outstanding winners. Their success is a powerful reminder that connected technology, in the right hands, doesn't just improve operations, it can transform lives. Congratulations to both teams, and to all organizations working to raise the bar for public sector excellence.