Samsara: Dash cams, telematics, help recruit and retain workers

In the ongoing fight to keep transportation workers happy and safe, whether they’re drivers or technicians, technology is here to help, according to a new report by Samsara. The IoT company produces hardware and software solutions to increase efficiency and safety, from dash cams and reporting to vehicle telematics. Now, it has released its latest State of Connected Operations Report, “Building for the Next Generation: Workforce Trends in Physical Operations,” which states that various industry leaders are focusing on technology to increase their retention and safety, especially for the next generation of workers.

The survey polled over 1,550 leaders across 21 industries, the company said, including those in construction, field services, logistics, transportation, and the public sector, to name a few. Additionally, respondents had to be leaders at their organizations with a minimum seniority of director with at least 500 or more employees. Additionally, respondents had to work for an organization with 150 or more owned or leased vehicles, powered assets, and/or unpowered assets.

For leaders in this segment, Samsara noted in the report that it was critical to stay ahead of the workforce trends they discussed to keep “a competitive edge and [build] stronger, more resilient organizations.”

But in Samsara’s Chief Marketing Officer Meagen Eisenberg’s words, the survey is especially meant to help organizations keep their workers when many are experiencing increased labor demand, as is the case with repair technicians.

“It’s no secret, the labor market can be tough in industries like transportation, construction, and field services but we’re seeing technology make a real difference in how younger talent views their career opportunities,” Eisenberg said. “Our research shows that technology is not only making these industries more attractive, but also helping retain workers for the long term.”

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Technology adds safety, security

For the commercial repair segment, the technology that could pay off the most includes those that focus on safety and increase worker protection. For instance, the report found that 71% of leaders had heard from their workers that they wanted more investment in safety and security, with 41% saying their employees wanted enhanced personal protective equipment.

In general, almost half of leaders said they were using GPS tracking for vehicles and equipment to help meet this need, and 40% were using AI algorithms to predict potential risks and provide recommendations.

For transportation and maintenance, these practices could be particularly helpful in developing predictive maintenance practices.

As an example, one fleet using Uptake's platform said they reduced engine breakdowns by up to 50% year over year with predictive maintenance. Uptake is one of many Samsara integration partners offering predicitive insights.

The report also noted the specific technologies it found organizations were employing to increase their safety and efficiency. Just over half of respondents said they were already using cameras in or on vehicles for added safety, while 49% said they used telematics systems for equipment data collection. More granularly, 40% said they were using mobile apps for real-time safety reporting and communication, while 44% noted they were using vehicle cameras, such as dash cams and backup cams.

“The buy-in [on dash cams] from our operators has been a huge win,” said Rusty McClain, asst. general superintendent, Road Commission of Kalamazoo County in the report. “What was once looked at as ‘big brother’ is long gone. Employees are regularly giving feedback and asking for certain dates and times to be reviewed.”

This sentiment has been echoed in transportation, too, particularly as a “exoneration tool,” according to Jeff Mendenhall, director of fleet data management at Foundation Building Materials. Samsara provides inward and outward-facing dash cams (such as the CM32 dual-facing dash cam), and after using one of the company’s inward-facing cameras, Mendenhall said the fleet detected 800 different safety events that decreased to zero within three days after meeting with the drivers.

Plus, using more technology has another side benefit, Samsara's study found: attracting younger workers.

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“This reflects the next generation's comfort with technology and their expectation for it to be part of daily life, both on and off the job,” the survey noted, with 85% of leaders saying that their industry was becoming more desirable to young workers, especially for those that embraced new technology.

“Recruiting and retaining drivers—and keeping them safe as they do their runs—are critical to the industry's future. By building trust, championing safety, and celebrating excellence, we can create an environment where drivers don’t just work, they thrive,” said Tracy Rushing, executive director of Safety & Recruiting, R.E. Garrison Trucking, to conclude Samsara’s report.