Grouptyre Wholesale Ltd reduced fuel waste by 40% and and inspired driver excellence with Samsara

"The trust in the information going between departments has increased, and that means they're working a lot closer together to ensure we're delivering to our customers in a more timely and more accurate manner."  John Kingman, Chief Technology Officer, Grouptyre Wholesale Ltd

Standout Benefits

• £1,805 saved annually through 40% reduction in fuel waste from idling

• 3 hours saved daily on vehicle inspections

• 70% reduction in customer service calls

• £12,000 saved in avoided warranty claims

• 2.6% increase in MPG efficiency despite 7% increase in overall mileage

Manual burdens and operational oversight

Grouptyre Wholesale Ltd, an independent tyre wholesaler serving the UK market since 2010, faced the complex challenge of scaling operations while maintaining service quality. With 46 vehicles delivering nearly 2,000 tyres daily across Southeast England, the company recognised that their paper-based systems and legacy telematics were limiting growth potential.

The company's leadership identified several operational inefficiencies: manual vehicle inspection processes consuming valuable time, spreadsheet-based maintenance tracking leading to oversight risks, and limited visibility into delivery operations affecting customer service. Additionally, with vehicles serving as mobile brand ambassadors, ensuring consistent professional standards across the fleet had become increasingly important.

"We knew we needed to modernise our operations to support our growth," said John Kingman, Chief Technology Officer. "Having cameras and telematics under one roof without having to go elsewhere—a single pane of glass—was one of the key driving forces in our decision."

Building an integrated digital ecosystem

Grouptyre implemented Samsara as an integrated solution to address multiple operational challenges simultaneously. The platform unified previously disparate systems—vehicle tracking, maintenance logs, driver monitoring, and customer service—into a single ecosystem.

Digital vehicle inspections replaced time-consuming paper processes, with the Driver App streamlining daily walkarounds. Real-time maintenance alerts prevented costly oversights, while API integration with internal systems transformed customer communication.

Management teams received training on the full platform capabilities, while drivers were introduced to Samsara as a tool for protection and support rather than surveillance.

From resistance to advocacy

Video-based safety was treated with initial skepticism, as drivers viewed the technology as "big brother watching." Management took a hands-on approach, accompanying resistant drivers on routes to demonstrate the system's benefits through practical experience.

The ride-along revealed significant opportunities for coaching. Using Samsara data, managers could show drivers their behaviours and work collaboratively on improvement plans. The approach shifted from subjective criticism to data-driven development. "Samsara allows us to do real-time coaching and action,” said Karen Cutbush, Operations Manager at Grouptyre Wholesale.  “It's no longer a case of relying on hindsight."

The Driver App was a key feature, providing drivers with their own accountability dashboard. Real-time safety alerts meant issues could be addressed immediately upon return to the warehouse, with footage reviewed to ensure any coaching was justified. The thumbs up/thumbs down feature allowed drivers to provide feedback on alerts, creating a two-way dialogue about safety.

A specific turning point came when drivers experienced Samsara's protective benefits firsthand. In one instance, a driver successfully contested a speeding fine using dash cam footage that proved his innocence. This driver's experience transformed him from skeptic to champion, demonstrating how the technology protected rather than policed.

Creating a culture of continuous improvement

Beyond evidence-based coaching, the safety score league tables also became a catalyst for positive behavioural change. Rather than comparing against industry standards that might not apply to their specific operations, drivers could benchmark against peers facing identical day-to-days.

"Drivers often come and tell us they are the best," said Cutbush. "They do it because they care, but also because that function promotes healthy competition in a safe manner. It's not about the number of deliveries, but doing so in a safe manner."

The visual, data-driven approach removed subjectivity from performance conversations. Green arrows showing improvement and red arrows indicating areas for attention created clear, objective feedback that drivers couldn't dispute.

Transforming maintenance from reactive to proactive

The impact extended beyond driver behaviour to vehicle maintenance. Previously, Grouptyre Wholesale relied on manual spreadsheets and paper-based systems that led to critical oversights. One missed service alone can cost the company £12,000 in warranty claims.

"We just thought after a conversation, how can we do maintenance better," said Kingman. "The department was doing these processes manually, and we've now been able to take that away."

By transitioning to Samsara's maintenance logs, the company achieved complete visibility into vehicle health. Comparing maintenance costs across different van manufacturers revealed that some required five brake services in eight months while others needed only three. This insight informed fleet replacement decisions, leading to a strategic shift from a 3-year/150,000-mile replacement cycle to 5 years/250,000 miles with more reliable vehicles.

Optimising efficiency across operations

The financial and operational benefits have been substantial. In particular, fuel efficiency improved dramatically through targeted coaching on idling behaviour. Grouptyre Wholesale were able to achieve a 40% reduction in idling, translating to £1,805 in annual fuel savings.  And despite a 7% increase in overall mileage, fuel efficiency improved by 2.6% through smoother driving techniques.

Route optimisation using Samsara's coverage maps and proximity features also helped to minimise fuel waste. Two routes serving the Slough area were unknowingly overlapping around the M25. By redesigning territories—one handling inside the M25, the other outside—the company reduced mileage while improving service reliability.

Efficiency gains didn’t stop there: the digital transformation of vehicle inspections delivered immediate time savings across the fleet. Paper-based walkarounds that took significant administrative follow-up were replaced with digital checks that take just 2-7 minutes. With 44 drivers completing daily inspections, this saved 220 minutes every day while improving issue resolution speed.

Making customer service seamless

One of the most transformative aspects of Grouptyre Wholesale’s Samsara implementation was the API integration with internal systems. 

"Integrating Samsara's telematics data with our systems has been a game-changer," said Kingman. "It's reduced the amount of phone calls chasing deliveries by around 70%. This integration is not just about tracking; it's fundamentally changing how we interact with our customers and manage our operations."

The company can now provide accurate 30-minute delivery windows to keep customers in the know and meet expectations. Sales and operations teams collaborate using real-time data rather than estimates, building trust between departments and with customers.

The integration has enabled proactive customer communication as a result. When customers request morning or afternoon delivery slots, Grouptyre can confidently commit and deliver on promises. 

Looking ahead: technology as teammate

Today, Samsara isn't viewed as a tool at Grouptyre Wholesale—it's considered part of the team. "Teamwork is just not with the people," said Cutbush. "It's with the systems and the functions that we use as a team through Samsara that make our business a success."

The company is currently exploring new capabilities to build on their success. Namely, Grouptyre Wholesale are evaluating Connected Forms to digitise additional paperwork and streamline documentation processes across the business. This next phase of digital transformation would eliminate remaining manual processes and create even greater operational efficiency.

"We're always looking at new ways to use the platform,” said Cutbush “The support in the background makes it easy to continue growing and improving."