How one company in Iowa is using AI to help move product while improving safety
16 SOURCE | Fall 2022
Keeping Things Moving
How one company in Iowa is using AI to help move product while improving safety
Chris Grogan , GROWMARK Publications and Media Relations Manager cgrogan @ growmark . com
When Hurricane Ida slammed into the Gulf Coast in August 2021 , it cut off fuel supply for many people in the affected areas , including those helping out in the recovery effort . Two fuel drivers from AGRILAND FS were among those who helped haul fuel to the region in the immediate aftermath . The company had just started installing the Samsara fleet tracking platform on its trucks and that decision would prove quite timely in light of the events .
“ It really helped one of our drivers where there was no cell coverage due to the towers being out so he couldn ’ t bring up directions on where he needed to go ,” says Trenton Cheers , Safety and Regulatory Coordinator for AGRILAND FS . “ We were able to pinpoint his location and help him get to where he needed to be using the Samsara software . It ’ s just critical during natural disaster events .”
Since then , AGRILAND FS has installed the hardware on approximately 150 trucks , which uses cameras to track not only what ’ s going on outside on the roads , but inside the cab of the truck as well . Cheers says along with being able to locate a driver in a potential emergency situation , the platform tracks maintenance of the vehicles , helps improve efficiency , and improves driver safety .
“ We wanted a better way to see the metrics of the maintenance schedule and how long of a life a truck has with us , efficiency within the vehicles , and improving CSA ( Compliance , Safety , and Accountability ) scores because as we do more work with data centers , it ’ s becoming more important that we have good ratings with federal regulators ,” adds Cheers .
AGRILAND FS says it was also impressed with Samsara ’ s use of artificial intelligence in the platform .
“ Between Samsara ’ s people and our team analyzing potential incidents , we can continue to improve the system , and that ultimately improves efficiency ,” says Cheers .
Incidents that might get an alert include using a phone while driving or not using a seatbelt . Cheers says his team is focused on being safety conscious rather than punitive if the system gives off a safety alert .
“ Originally we were concerned that some drivers might leave , but that hasn ’ t been an issue ,” adds Cheers . “ For the first six months , we just put it in and let them get used to it , rather than sitting at a computer and tracking . And it doesn ’ t just show the negatives , it shows that some drivers are significantly better than we even knew . It has also assisted in some crashes to prove that we weren ’ t
at fault , and that really helps boost the overall morale of everyone .”
For its part , Samsara says it is adding driver workflows into the platform in the coming months which can help guide drivers and field operators through the most mission-critical parts of their day . In addition , the platform will help dispatch and operations teams more reliably predict arrival times , leading to more timely service .
“ As it is now , if a customer calls and says we didn ’ t get this delivered , we can pull up a date and time stamp and tell them exactly when that delivery occurred ,” says Cheers . “ With the AI getting better and better every day , we are confident that technology like this is making our team safer and helping get product where it needs to be , especially during those critical times of the year .”