K-12

Caddo Parish Public Schools reduces their annual budget by $2M with Samsara

The Louisiana school district mitigates theft, prevents costly engine failures, and improves safety with Samsara. Real-time visibility has transformed their operations, enabling the recovery of three buses worth $420,000 while improving parent communication.

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Meet Caddo Parish Public Schools

14,000 STUDENTS TRANSPORTED DAILY

400 EMPLOYEES

325 SCHOOL BUSES

The Challenge

Legacy GPS tracking and unreliable dash cams hindered fleet visibility and safety

Caddo Parish Public Schools’ transportation department manages a complex operation spanning both rural and inner-city environments across a large parish in Louisiana. With routes extending as far as the Arkansas state line and buses running from 5:00 AM until 10:00 PM daily, maintaining visibility across their fleet is critical for student safety.

Before Samsara, the department faced challenges due to limited fleet visibility and legacy systems. Their previous GPS tracking system updated at 15-minute intervals and occasionally went hours without updates on long routes, making it difficult to provide accurate bus location information to parents and administrators. The district’s dash cams were also unreliable, frequently failing in the region's extreme heat and humidity. Without dependable video evidence, protecting drivers from false claims and documenting incidents was a challenge. Additionally, the department had a reactive approach to maintenance which meant issues were identified after damage occurred—with engine replacements costing $25,000 and the price of new buses up by 43%, the department needed a solution to improve fleet management and reduce costs.

Samsara is the best decision we’ve made—it delivers benefits we couldn’t achieve with other systems. We’ve cut costs by improving safety and efficiency while building trust with parents and administrators.

ANTHONY MCCLAIN

Transportation Supervisor

The Solution

Phased implementation delivers immediate ROI and secures buy-in

In early 2020, the district began implementing Samsara through a strategic, phased approach that prioritized effective change management strategies. Phase one focused on enabling real-time GPS tracking by installing Vehicle Gateways across their 325 buses. Phase two targeted safety by deploying AI Dash Cams for incident documentation and driver protection. Finally, phase three introduced preventative maintenance alerts to reduce costly repairs and improve vehicle health.

Recognizing that employees have various comfort levels with technology, the district took a thoughtful approach to change management by avoiding technical jargon and highlighting the platform’s benefits. The implementation of Samsara not only transformed fleet management but also elevated the district’s reputation, delivering significant financial benefits—they now operate $2 million under previous annual budgets, reducing costs from $7.5 million to $5.5 million.

Fleet Telematics

Real-time GPS tracking recovers three stolen buses worth $420,000

With Samsara, Caddo Parish Schools transformed fleet management to reduce parent inquiries by 35%, instantly verify bus locations, and prevent theft. Fleet Telematics’ real-time visibility enabled the same-day recovery of three stolen buses, saving $420,000 in replacement costs, while temperature alerts help prevent engine damage, saving up to $100,000 annually in repair costs.

Cameras and Video

AI Dash Cams enable fast incident resolution and eliminate major incidents

Samsara AI Dash Cams have greatly improved safety and incident resolution for Caddo Parish Schools. HD video evidence helps protect drivers from false claims and provides clear documentation of incidents, reducing liability and improving safety outcomes. Targeting risky behavior with in-cab alerts, the district reduced distracted driving by 26%, harsh events by 15%, and speeding by 13%—ultimately resulting in a 100% decrease in major incidents.