For Canadian fleet managers, autumn brings a familiar challenge: a sharp rise in animal activity along the roads. While collisions with wildlife occur year-round, October and November are particularly hazardous as deer, moose, and elk enter migration and mating season, increasing sudden crossings.

For drivers, this means more unexpected encounters. For managers, this can mean costly repairs and operational setbacks, with a single front-end collision averaging around $13,300 per truck, before factoring in downtime, rentals, or insurance impacts. And with wildlife-vehicle collisions happening every 38 minutes in Canada—totalling over 13,000 annually—prevention is essential. 

Foundational habits like slowing down, scanning ahead, and using high beams remain undeniably important. But when reinforced with data-driven technology, these practices evolve into a powerful safety strategy—amplifying protection, reducing risks, and helping fleets manage the costly ripple effects of collisions.

1. Increase driver awareness with AI-powered dash cams

When wildlife enters the roadway, every second counts. Samsara’s AI Dash Cams help turn these moments into prevention with real-time AI detection and HD video capture. 

Dual-facing cameras provide double the protection for drivers, detecting critical safety events on the road ahead—such as forward collision warnings, harsh braking, and lane departures—while also identifying risky behaviours like drowsiness and mobile phone use. This support is especially valuable when fatigue, low light, or tight schedules make it harder to stay focused. With AI-powered in-cab alerts, drivers can then quickly self-correct before a risky situation escalates. 

If an incident does occur, footage and event data upload seamlessly to the Safety Inbox, providing safety teams with clear insight into what happened, where, and when—so they can act quickly and coach drivers with confidence.

Proven impact in the field

For Calgary-based CES Energy Solutions, a leading provider of consumable chemical solutions for the oil and natural gas sector, AI Dash Cams have become invaluable.

"Using the dual-facing cameras, we’ve learned a lot about how our drivers drive and have made a lot of improvements. They help when we do have an incident—like hitting a deer—because they take the guesswork out of the investigation and really make our jobs easier.”

— Ray Caddy, Director, Heath, Safety & Environment

Winnipeg-based carrier TEAMS Transport also views dash cams as both prevention and protection. Real-time alerts—from harsh braking to distracted driving and rolling stops—enable targeted one-on-one coaching before risky behaviours escalate into incidents. Reviewing footage from their own trips gives drivers a powerful perspective on their actions.

“When drivers see themselves on video, it hits home.”

— Michelle Lamboo, Driver Services Manager

Together, these tools shift fleet safety from reactive investigation to proactive prevention—transforming near-misses and risky behaviours into teachable moments that build safer habits on every route.

2. Build safer habits with coaching and recognition

AI Dash Cams do more than record incidents—they power a feedback loop that helps drivers learn from real-world situations, turning reactive moments into lasting habits. By pairing video context with event data, safety leaders can deliver timely, targeted coaching based on real-world scenarios, making feedback more relevant and actionable, especially during peak wildlife activity. 

Samsara’s Recognition feature transforms safe driving into meaningful milestones, without adding extra administrative work. Positive behaviours like Safe Speed and Focused Driving—both critical in reducing wildlife collisions—are automatically identified in real time. Streaks and milestones make it easier for managers to spotlight positive trends as they develop, while personalized kudos from coaches make feedback feel timely, specific, and meaningful. 

By celebrating safe habits consistently, and adding the motivator of visible milestones, fleets not only strengthen accountability, but also build a culture where positive behaviour becomes second nature.

Proven impact in the field

With Samsara, Alberta-based Caron Transportation Systems has shifted from reactive oversight to a proactive, data-driven safety strategy. Terminal managers now identify risks earlier and address behaviours before they escalate.

“Managers can send a video that the driver has to watch, and it saves a ton of time.”

— Perry Boudreau, Safety Manager

This self-coaching approach—reinforced by digital checklists—helps personalize the driver experience. New drivers establish safe habits from day one, while experienced operators receive timely, credible feedback tied directly to the conditions they face. The result is a scalable safety program built on targeted insights and consistent reinforcement, keeping drivers more alert and prepared for sudden wildlife encounters on high-risk routes.

3. Draw digital boundaries around wildlife hotspots

Geofencing enables fleets to define digital boundaries in areas historically prone to wildlife collisions—such as highways, rural roads, or wooded corridors. While publicly available data can be limited, some provinces offer useful resources: New Brunswick, for example, publishes moose collision hotspot maps, and British Columbia highlights high-risk deer collision corridors in the southern interior, particularly along Highways 1, 3, 16, and 97.

With Samsara, managers can map these risk zones based on provincial data or their own on-the-ground experience. Vehicle Gateways stream real-time location data, and the platform issues instant entry and exit alerts as vehicles approach. Drivers are notified via the Samsara Driver App, while managers stay informed through SMS, email, or in-app alerts. Within a geofence, speed-based rules can promote safer driving by triggering alerts when thresholds are exceeded—effectively creating low-speed safety zones. Every alert is then logged, providing a clear audit trail and actionable analytics. 

Over time, these analytics help managers refine geofence boundaries, adjust alert timing, and strengthen compliance. This results in fewer collisions, safer driving habits, and reduced costs from wear, downtime, and insurance claims. By turning risk reduction into measurable savings, geofencing helps fleets extend asset life and boost productivity—delivering a clear return on investment.

Staying ahead of risks

As autumn approaches, wildlife collisions become more likely—putting pressure on your fleet’s time, organizational costs, and driver safety. With real-time data and connected technology, managers can stay ahead of these challenges. Samsara’s solutions help spot risks, support drivers, and prevent incidents before they happen—keeping people and operations safer.

Ready to help your team stay safer this season? Schedule a demo to see how connected operations can drive real impact—or log in to unlock more value from your existing Samsara platform.