Transportation & Logistics
C Blackburn reduces wait for safety data from days to seconds after switching from Netradyne and Geotab
C Blackburn replaced Netradyne and Geotab with Samsara, unifying their operations technology and empowering their small team to manage their fleet more safely and efficiently.
C Blackburn
140 DRIVERS
130 TRACTORS & STRAIGHT TRUCKS
125 TRAILERS
The Challenge
Unifying operations to close visibility gaps and eliminate data overload
C Blackburn Inc. is a family-run contractor that has been hauling mail for the United States Postal Service (USPS) for over 50 years. Based in Elizaville, New York, the company provides quality, on-time service and has been awarded the prestigious Eagle Spirit Award—the USPS's highest recognition for mail transportation contractors—multiple times.
With deep roots in the region, C Blackburn prioritizes keeping their drivers and the larger community safe. However, according to Fleet Manager Mike Porter, the company’s use of two fleet technology solutions—Geotab and Netradyne—was inefficient and created gaps in visibility. "We were working in two different platforms with two different sets of equipment and support," said Porter. "This meant we had to constantly monitor both systems to make sure they were working together."
Moreover, C Blackburn's small safety team had difficulty managing the sheer volume of data their systems generated without the ability to adjust the sensitivity to meet their needs. "We have one to two people overseeing 140 drivers, and the Netradyne cameras were producing hundreds of videos with no IDs on them," said Porter. "It was impossible to review all of the footage and accurately identify which drivers needed coaching."
Samsara devices are easy to install and manage on your own. If a camera breaks, I don't take it to a technician to fix it. I put it on the vehicle, plug it in, and it just works.
MIKE PORTER
Fleet Manager
Solution
C Blackburn consolidates three systems into one and gains complete visibility
Prior to Netradyne and Geotab, C Blackburn was using Samsara, but Porter regretted leaving the platform. When Porter decided the company needed a new solution, Samsara was once again the clear choice. "Samsara offers advanced, top-tier technology, but it's very easy to use," he said. "If you can use a web browser, you’ll be able to use Samsara."
C Blackburn also values Samsara for its unified platform, allowing the company to replace three technology providers with one. Now, C Blackburn uses Samsara AI Dash Cams and AI Multicam for complete visibility inside the cab and around the vehicle, as well as fleet telematics and Asset Tag to track their trucks and trailers to help ensure mail is delivered accurately and on time.
Samsara cameras and video have been particularly important for managing drivers. Reflecting on their prior experience with other vendors, Porter noted: "With Netradyne, we had one driver who set his phone on the steering wheel and was watching a movie, which the system failed to flag. Samsara's AI detections tell us who's not paying attention, which is critical because we can address those behaviors before they turn into accidents."
Results
Eliminating the wait time for critical video and proactively managing safety
With Samsara, C Blackburn has seen a number of improvements across their operations, including significant time savings as a result of more efficient driver identification. Prior to unifying their systems, C Blackburn faced internal operational delays. As Porter explained, "Before Samsara, when we had to ID a driver who was operating a truck at a specific time, we had to request the video from Netradyne and wait hours, sometimes until the next day, for the footage," said Porter. "Now, with Samsara, we click on the trip history and we can figure it out in seconds."
The ability to use Samsara AI Dash Cams to reliably identify drivers has also allowed C Blackburn to coach drivers more effectively. "With Samsara's facial recognition, we can have a much more targeted approach to safety," said Porter. "We can weed out risky behaviors and drivers with video footage, rather than waiting for an accident to happen."
Moreover, with Samsara's AI Multicam, Porter and his team are safeguarding the company against false claims. "Almost 70% of our insurance claims over the past year were from lane changes and side swipes," Porter said. "With AI Multicam, we have visibility around our trucks and trailers. Avoiding liability from even one false claim makes the investment worthwhile."
The C Blackburn team has also gained peace of mind by using Asset Tag to track their trailers and see one view of their equipment. "People often send mail that's valuable or has sentimental value," Porter said. "Now that we use Asset Tag and can see data on one map, we can spot trailers that are out of place much faster. Losing mail is unacceptable, and with Asset Tag we can keep track of deliveries at all times."