“Connected vehicles will be the backbone of the digital supply chain.” 

Persio Lisboa, former CEO of Navistar Inc., predicted this in 2017. He knew that trucks generate millions of data points daily, and this trend would continue. Back then, it was obvious that fleets would gain new ways of harnessing vehicle telematics data to improve their operations. What was not so clear was how data coming from “behind the desk” would be equally important for drivers and assets to make the most of every hour and mile.

The need for integrating over-the-road and inside-the-office data has never been more important than now. Carriers using connected transportation management systems (TMS) and telematics platforms have a distinct advantage over those who continue to operate them separately or disjointedly. With transparency and shared information, fleets can drive smarter decision-making, improve cost management, and create higher operating efficiencies. 

For example, fleets across North America that use the Magnus TMS with the Samsara Connected Operations™ Cloud are seeing dramatic performance improvements by accessing, analyzing, and acting upon real-time data.

The collaboration has unlocked a holistic view of fleet operations. When fleets see more, they can do more. While the Magnus TMS and Samsara integration possibilities are countless, the following eight examples show where the fastest ROI will come to fleets that capitalize on this relationship. 

1. Load Planning – Pen-and-paper planning or manually assigning loads quickly becomes guesswork. Research shows the human mind can only process seven pieces of information simultaneously for about 20 seconds. The Magnus TMS load planning functionality analyzes hundreds of data points in a fraction of a second to advise the best drivers and equipment to match with loads. The Samsara integration introduces GPS location, hours of service data, truck speed, and mileage to inform the power-load recommendation. The Magnus TMS also includes data science capabilities that enable the system to learn from previous decisions for constant improvement over time.
   
   
2. Real-Time Tracking – Check calls and in-cab tracking messages significantly decrease dispatcher and driver productivity. Some dispatchers report that managing tracking calls can take up to 75% of their day. Samsara brings live location tracking into the Magnus TMS and over to the customer without the manual work. Dispatchers and customer service representatives can see the truck's location within the TMS. Hours of service countdown clocks and alerts help drivers plan their day. The integration generates links sent automatically to the customer with accurate ETAs for every load. Samsara’s smart map overlays provide live information on weather and traffic to keep drivers on schedule while helping ops teams spot potential issues before they become service failures.
   
   
3. Mobile Driver App – The Magnus TMS comes with a driver app offering customized workflows, which can also integrate with the Samsara Driver App Ops. Teams benefit by knowing where the truck is and what the driver is doing. Samsara’s equipment inspection checklist can be part of the workflow on every load. The digital process through any smartphone or tablet expedites the inspection without compromising quality. Dispatch and maintenance teams receive alerts on issues automatically to ensure that equipment stays in top condition and drivers can pass roadside inspections. Integrated workflows can track when drivers have completed a task, such as “departing a delivery,” to advance the workflow to prompt the driver to submit paperwork directly through the app.
   
   
4. Geofencing – Managing what happens over the road is only part of the equation. Time spent at a shipper’s location can make or break a load financially. Samsara transmits geofencing data to the Magnus TMS. Staff receive instant alerts regarding arrivals, departures, or abnormal activity at a ship site. The geofencing provides critical accessorial data regarding detention, trailer misuse, layovers, and unused truck orders. Research indicates up to 60% of accessorial charges in trucking go unbilled. Magnus TMS and Samsara provide the information needed to help carriers identify, invoice, and collect this valuable revenue.
   
   
5. Pay Calculations – Increasingly, fleets want more flexibility in how they pay drivers. The Magnus TMS and Samsara collaboration makes analyzing real-time pay data possible. The old “one way to pay” mentality evolves into net pay calculations using miles, revenue, number of stops, hours, or any other factor fleets want to use to generate driver pay.
   
   
6. Inefficiency Detection – When a TMS and telematics system operate separately, spotting small inefficiencies that add to big problems is a major challenge. The Magnus TMS and Samsara integration can spot improvement opportunities by load or driver. For example, feeding the telematics data to the TMS can help identify trends with customers. A fleet may notice that it has experienced consistent failures on a three-stop load. By analyzing the data, they might find shipper delays at the first stop warranting customer conversation. Another fleet may want to help novice drivers be more productive with their clocks. The company may find that newer drivers are resting and fueling at separate locations by viewing reports that utilize data from their TMS and telematics systems.
   
   
7. Driver Scorecards – Coaching drivers can reduce turnover, fuel consumption, and maintenance costs. Magnus TMS and Samsara make generating driver scorecards simple by providing a comprehensive list of performance factors like idling, speed, coasting, torque, hard braking, on-time service, and hours-of-service violations. Data backs every score, providing drivers with real occurrences and improvement strategies.
   
   
8. Business Intelligence – Magnus TMS has an integrated business intelligence platform to help fleets track key performance indicators, create data dashboards, and spot trends. Attaching Samsara’s over-the-road data adds valuable information for data-driven decisions from the C-suite to the frontline dispatcher. Fleets can use the connected platforms to track key metrics like revenue, utilization, fuel, and compliance to inform necessary financial improvements.  

These are just a few possibilities created by the Magnus TMS and Samsara integration. Consider the biggest opportunities for your fleet. How could sharing better data between your TMS and ELD telematics platform help? Whether the issue is to increase revenue, retain more of your best drivers, improve utilization, or many other countless issues, having real-time synchronized data from two systems can make a remarkable difference. 

Integration Innovation

Contact us to learn more about the Samsara integration or demo the Magnus TMS, the most mature and scalable enterprise-grade TMS solution for truckload operations. Experience the power of unlimited integration, expansion possibilities, and a solid foundation of best-in-class cloud computing technologies and services. Whether you dispatch 50 or 5,000 trucks, the Magnus SaaS-based TMS has a full suite of features and connectivity to streamline your order-to-cash cycle to maximize business performance and growth.