Food & Beverage

Produce distributor projects to save $45K annually with Samsara Vehicle Gateways

After switching from Motive to Samsara, a produce distributor restored compliance, streamlined fleet operations, and plans to reduce fuel costs by $45,000 each year.

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cargo sensor temperature monitoring

The Challenge

A produce distributor faced a serious compliance risk due to an unresponsive ELD provider

Operating across Idaho, Montana, and Washington, this produce distributor relies on their fleet management tools to maintain product quality and service while competing with major broadliners. They faced challenges with Motive, their previous ELD provider, including a five-minute GPS lag that slowed dispatch and made it difficult to guide drivers or coordinate emergencies in real time. The situation escalated when Motive abruptly discontinued service, leaving their fleet without compliance tools or tracking capabilities. “We had purchased several new trucks that all needed ELDs installed. We never received the devices, and when we finally got a hold of someone to ask about it, they claimed there was an issue with our account and shut off service to our entire fleet,” said the transportation manager. Despite repeated outreach, the company was unable to receive a response or restore service from Motive.

We called Samsara the same day that Motive shut off service. Five days later, we had already received our hardware and could begin installation.

TRANSPORTATION MANAGER

The Solution

Rapid Vehicle Gateway implementation restores compliance and transforms operations

To restore compliance quickly, the company decided it would be faster to onboard a new fleet management system with Samsara than to wait for support from Motive. “We called Samsara the same day that Motive shut us down. Five days later, we had already received our hardware and could begin installation,” said the transportation manager. Vehicle Gateways were deployed across the fleet in under a week, with an easy-to-use installation process that allowed teams to configure devices directly from mobile phones. The team even completed a road trip to install devices across all operating locations in Idaho, Montana, and Washington. “Installation was extremely easy because you can set everything up from your phone. It’s truly plug and play,” the transportation manager added.

Beyond compliance, the company adopted Samsara’s suite of solutions for maintenance management, fuel tracking, IFTA reporting, document management, and temperature monitoring to centralize their operations on a single platform.

The Results

Improving operational visibility and setting ambitious goals

With Samsara, real-time GPS tracking gave dispatchers the ability to see exact vehicle locations and provide live turn-by-turn guidance, particularly valuable for new drivers learning the nuances of their routes. “For example, if I have a new driver who is unfamiliar with a route, I can see his location and give him directions right then and there,” said the transportation manager. The team also began using live location sharing links during breakdowns, giving service providers exact coordinates and nearby addresses, which reduced downtime and sped up emergency response.

Samsara’s fuel tracking and idling reports helped identify patterns of unproductive idle time. The produce distributor has ambitious goals to reduce fuel costs with Samsara. They are targeting a 50% reduction in fuel idling hours, and project an annual fuel savings of $45,000. The company plans to reinvest these savings directly into their workforce. “The money we save on fuel will go back into the company and the employees—we can increase pay for our drivers,” said the transportation manager.

With Samsara’s temperature monitoring, the company continuously tracks their refrigerated trailers to ensure produce arrives in peak condition. To compete against major broadliners, they must deliver both quality and service at scale. Samsara’s platform gives them the visibility and efficiency to do exactly that, creating the foundation for growth that lasts.

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