How Petit Forestier connects its fleet with Samsara

“By using Samsara, we are able to certify the temperature and ensure that the safety problems we may face during transport do not occur.” Hugo Wackenheim, Connected Fleet Programme Manager chez Petit Forestier

Standout Benefits

• High value-added services offering for the clients

• Improved fleet availability

• Lower maintenance budget

Towards a 100% connected fleet 

Petit Forestier is the leader in sustainable refrigerated rental. The company relies on a fleet of 83,000 refrigerated vehicles and a network of 350 local agencies to serve its customers in over 24 countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the United States.

In order to respond ever more effectively to the needs of its 15,000 customers by guaranteeing the same high standards of quality and service excellence everywhere, Petit Forestier has created Smart Connect. This package of solutions and services has been designed to help customers optimise fleet management and boost productivity, thanks to connected tools that make it easy to monitor deliveries, control the cold chain, consume more responsibly and reduce the carbon footprint. 

“Our main challenge is to be able to collect information from each vehicle in order to improve the maintenance of our assets and, for our customers, to be able to optimise their operations and monitor the cold chain. Our Smart Connect offer therefore had to be based on a state-of-the-art telematics platform, enabling us to connect our vehicles, communicate between their various components and transmit data in real time, regardless of their position” said Hugo Wackenheim, Connected Fleet Programme Manager at Petit Forestier.

Comprehensive telematics solution

Petit Forestier selected Samsara technology, in particular because of its ability to adapt the platform to its specific needs and develop the functionalities required for cold chain management. 

“Samsara enables us to offer our customers connected services in four key areas: optimising deliveries, controlling the cold chain, reducing fuel consumption and the carbon footprint, and preventive vehicle maintenance,” said Wackenheim. 

Thanks to the vehicles gateways and other Samsara connected solutions (thermometer-hygrometers, door opening detectors, etc.) fitted to its refrigerated vehicles, Petit Forestier gives its customers very easy access, via its unique Smart Connect interface, to a range of information enabling them to optimise their operations.

Accompanying customers towards ever greater performance

The Samsara platform enables Petit Forestier's customers to locate their fleet in real time throughout Europe and to geolocate any vehicle with traffic and weather conditions. Real-time data feedback and usage reports enable them to optimise their productivity and operating costs (optimising routes, maximising vehicle availability, recording incidents, etc.), while at the same time being able to keep their customers informed at all times. 

Ensuring compliance with the cold chain and quality standards is also essential for Petit Forestier and its customers. Connected to the Environmental Monitors and Door Monitors fitted to the vehicles, the Samsara platform makes it possible to monitor the temperature of the boxes and products transported in real time, and to be alerted in the event of an abnormal situation. 

“Samsara enables us to provide our customers and their customers with proof that temperature monitoring is being respected and that the goods can be consumed by their own customers. By using Samsara, we are able to certify the temperature and ensure that any safety issues we may face during transport do not occur,” said Wackenheim.

The fuel consumption and mileage reports provided by Samsara through Smart Connect also enable Petit Forestier's customers to control and reduce their carbon footprint, while promoting eco-driving among their drivers. 

Finally, the Samsara platform makes it possible to significantly improve the utilisation rate and availability of vehicles, via predictive maintenance. The data linked to the condition of vehicles and the functionalities provided by Samsara—in particular the automated alert systems—make it possible to improve the maintenance of assets through better anticipation of breakdowns and more efficient management of spare parts stocks. “Automatic alerts allow us to avoid having to shut down a refrigeration unit or immobilise a vehicle for several days to resolve a breakdown,” said Wackenheim.

Accelerating energy transition for the group and its customers

Making the environment a central priority of its corporate strategy, Petit Forestier is committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 25% per euro of sales, across our entire scope, by 2030. To support this approach, the group is working to provide ever cleaner services and enable its customers to operate sustainably. Having set itself the goal of being the leader in terms of fleet electrification and energy transition, with the aim of becoming the leader in fleet electrification and energy transition. 

“The Samsara platform natively integrates the management and control of electric vehicle data. For us and our customers, it facilitates and accelerates the energy transition and the adoption of more environmentally-friendly solutions,” said Wackenheim.