New AI-powered Weather Intelligence enhancements to improve safety for any season

Weather is one of the most significant risks drivers face on the road. In fact, rain increases the risk of a crash by 34%, and the risk more than doubles in heavy precipitation. Overall, approximately 20% of fatal crashes each year are weather-related.

The biggest challenge? Weather can change in seconds, at any time of year, and disconnected manual tools can’t keep your team or drivers safe in real time.

New AI-powered weather safety features, built into Samsara’s Weather Intelligence  

To keep up with fast-changing weather, fleets need more than just data, they need automation and actionable insights. Introduced last year, Samsara Weather Intelligence provides advanced AI tools that instantly visualize hazardous conditions, deliver alerts, and shape driver behavior as weather changes.

Today, we’re introducing two new advanced AI-powered weather features to warn drivers about harsh weather and encourage a change in driving behavior without requiring manual intervention:

• Weather-Based Safety Settings: This AI-powered feature automatically adjusts following distance and speeding thresholds based on real-time weather conditions. It detects severe weather and adapts your safety settings on the fly, prompting drivers with real-time in-cab alerts to slow down or increase following distance.

• Automated Weather Alerting: This feature instantly notifies drivers as soon as they encounter inclement weather conditions. Automated alerts are sent via in-cab audio to warn drivers the moment the weather changes, keeping your fleet safe without tying up resources with manual weather monitoring and notifications. Customers can customize these settings based on their specific needs and policies.

Top fleets use Weather Intelligence to proactively respond to harsh conditions

Fleets are already using Weather Intelligence to proactively respond to weather events. 

In fact, during a massive winter storm that recently impacted large parts of the U.S., we saw a 77% increase in usage of our Weather Intelligence platform. These include Live Weather Overlay and Public Alerts—which embed real-time radar and forecast data, including alerts from the National Weather Service (in the U.S.), directly into the Fleet Overview map—and StreetSense, which provides real-time, anonymized on-the-ground dash cam images from connected vehicles. 

Moreover, weather-related driver behaviors and events feed into the rest of the platform, impacting tools like Safety Scores. Weather is also one of the 45+ risk factors that Samsara prioritizes for manager review by our Automated Coaching solution. Integrating weather-related data across Samsara gives fleets a complete 360° view of risk for a comprehensive, context-rich understanding of safety in all conditions. 

How Weather Intelligence impacts day-to-day operations

Werner Enterprises, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is a truckload transportation and logistics company operating across North America. Collectively, the company's 8,000+ drivers travel three million miles every day, which means they encounter every road challenge imaginable, including rapidly changing weather. "Our drivers can experience a wide range of weather on a single run—especially our teams. A trip can start in sunny California and end in snowy Colorado," said Adam Cassidy, the company's Director of Safety.

To keep their drivers, and the motoring public at large, safe on the road, Werner uses several Samsara solutions, including Weather Intelligence. "Because weather changes can happen fast, automatically delivering up-to-date weather information is critical. It saves time by removing the need for manual messages and, more importantly, gets better information to drivers faster—helping reduce both accident frequency and severity."

Navigating weather challenges in any season 

Different seasons bring different weather conditions, and fleets need to be prepared for the unique challenges that each time of year brings. Samsara's advanced AI can detect distinct risks—including wet roads, snowy roads, rain, active snowing, and fog—to ensure your fleet is protected year-round.

• Winter: Severe hazards from active snowing, icy roads, and sudden winter storms that require immediate speed reductions and heightened awareness.

• Spring: Seasonal shifts bring heavy precipitation and flood watches, as well as the chance of late snow or frost. With crash risks increasing significantly in the rain, detecting wet roads is critical to preventing accidents.

• Summer: Weather fronts can cause intense thunderstorms and tornadoes, while hurricane season begins to pick up. Heatwaves can also spark wildfires and poor visibility.

• Autumn: Hurricanes may continue to form, while changing temperatures can introduce visibility issues, such as foggy conditions, where maintaining a safe following distance becomes more critical than ever.

Learn more about Weather Intelligence 

To learn more about how Weather Intelligence can protect your fleet and reduce operational disruption, visit our website.