Work Truck Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Samsara Brings Pre-Installed Telematics to New Trucks

Samsara’s new Pre-Delivery Installation program puts telematics and cameras in trucks before delivery, cutting downtime and boosting fleet readiness.

August 26, 2025
Samsara pre-installed telematics and camera devices displayed with mobile and desktop fleet management screens.

Samsara’s Pre-Delivery Installation program provides fleets with telematics and camera hardware pre-installed before vehicles hit the road.

Photo: Samsara | Work Truck 

2 min to read


Samsara announced a new Pre-Delivery Installation program that enables its devices to be installed prior to delivery through Daimler Truck North America LLC or the aftermarket upfitter Fontaine Modification. With this program, fleet customers can receive new trucks with telematics and cameras pre-installed and ready to use from day one.

Ad Loading...

“At Southeastern Freight Lines, we constantly seek ways to get vehicles on the road faster and more efficiently,” said Robbie McLain at Southeastern Freight Lines. “Through an early trial of Samsara’s Pre-Delivery Installation program, we received new trucks with Samsara hardware pre-installed via Fontaine Modification, which helped us to integrate the vehicles into operations immediately upon delivery, saving time and money.”

Ad Loading...

Program Benefits for Fleets

  • Faster, turnkey vehicle delivery: Enterprise fleets average 20% fleet turnover annually, creating added time for equipment installs. Vehicles delivered through the program arrive with Samsara’s Vehicle Gateways (VGs), AI Dash Cams, and AI Multicam already installed.

  • Automated subscription activation: Subscriptions activate when vehicles ship to the customer, bringing hardware online before delivery and accelerating readiness.

  • Reduced administrative overhead: Select OEMs and upfitters can order Samsara hardware directly, streamlining procurement and installation as part of the build.

“Samsara’s new Pre-Delivery Installation program comes built-in as a standard feature,” said Jeff Faulkner, SVP Operations at Samsara. “By preloading Samsara’s hardware into vehicles before delivery, fleet managers eliminate installation delays and get vehicles on the road faster. Our collaboration with Daimler Truck and Fontaine Modification is essential to delivering this efficiency to customers, while also creating strong growth opportunities for both Samsara and our partners.”

OEM and Upfitter Partnerships

Daimler Truck North America provides OEM-integrated Samsara hardware on Freightliner and Western Star trucks through its in-house upfitter, Custom Truck Services (CTS).

“Installing Samsara’s telematics at our manufacturing plants ensures customers receive trucks with OEM-validated connectivity that’s consistent and ready to perform from day one,” said Michael O’Hearn, director of customer application engineering and Custom Truck Services at Daimler Truck North America. “By streamlining installation at the factory, we simplify delivery for customers and maximize uptime.”

Fontaine Modification, a leader in aftermarket truck modification, will install Samsara devices at its modification centers across the U.S.

Ad Loading...

“At Fontaine, our mission is to deliver ‘turnkey’ vehicles,” said Jamil Young, President at Fontaine Modification. “Working with Samsara allows us to upfit trucks with the advanced telematics technology that fleets demand – installed and ready to go. Through this program, we’re proud to help customers immediately start using their Samsara-powered vehicles to improve efficiency and real-time visibility.”

Samsara plans to expand the Pre-Delivery Installation program to additional vehicle manufacturers and upfit partners, with the goal of making integrated, pre-delivery telematics a standard industry offering.

More Technology & AI

Interior view of a Kenworth commercial truck cab featuring a multifunction steering wheel, digital instrument cluster, touchscreen infotainment system, dashboard controls, and PACCAR Connect branding in the lower right corner.
Technology & AI•by News/Media Release•October 19, 2026

Paccar Launches Paccar Connect for Peterbilt and Kenworth Trucks

The new Paccar Connect offers touchscreen displays, telematics capabilities, and an expanding app ecosystem to boost productivity and streamline driver workflows.

Read More →
White ISEE autonomous yard truck parked in a shipping yard surrounded by freight trailers and containers.
Technology & AI•by News/Media Release•October 12, 2026

Holman and ISEE Partner to Expand Autonomous Yard Truck Operations

The partnership combines Holman's fleet management and upfitting capabilities with ISEE's autonomous driving technology to help businesses deploy and manage driverless yard trucks.

Read More →
White Rivian R1S SUV customized as the Ghostbusters Ecto-R1, featuring the Ghostbusters logo, red accents, roof-mounted equipment, and emergency-style lights.
Technology & AI•October 12, 2026

Who You Gonna Call? Rivian Turns Electric Vehicles Into Ghostbusters Rides

Rivian teams up with Sony Pictures for a Ghostbusters-inspired Halloween software update, complete with custom sounds, lighting effects, and a special Ecto-R1.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic reading “Taking Second Trips?” over a blue map with a route line and location pin.
Technology & AI•October 8, 2026

The Second Trip and What Missing Tools Really Cost a Service Business

For service fleets, missing tools and equipment can lead to second trips, lost technician time, higher operating costs, and delayed jobs. Equipment tracking can help HVAC, plumbing, electrical, landscaping, and other service businesses improve visibility and reduce downtime.

Read More →
Illustrated map showing a blue circular geofence boundary around a defined geographic area.
Technology & AI•by Staff•October 6, 2026

GeoFencing Adds to Your Truck Security Arsenal

Geofencing is a familiar fleet tool today, but its early adoption marked a major shift in vehicle tracking, route monitoring, and the debate over employee privacy.

Read More →
Supply chain graphic showing a cargo port, container ship, warehouse, and semi-trucks beneath a global logistics network map with the words “State of the Supply Chain.”
Technology & AI•by Lauren Fletcher•September 22, 2026

Geotab Data Shows Regional Trucking Growing Faster as Last Mile Routes Get Denser

Geotab's first U.S. supply chain report finds stable long-haul activity, stronger regional freight movement, tighter hub-and-spoke utilization, and more last-mile trips on shorter routes.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Truck Chat - Fleet Tech: Innovation or Shiny Object
Technology & AI•by Lauren Fletcher•September 21, 2026

When Fleet Technology Helps and When It Just Adds Complexity

New technology can help fleets work smarter, but only if it solves the right problem. Lauren Fletcher talks with AP Fleet’s Alex Coveney about innovation, AI, data, and knowing when a new solution is actually worth adopting.

Read More →
Volvo semi-truck with a white box trailer parked beneath highway overpasses, viewed from a loading area with a silhouetted person in the foreground.
Technology & AI•by News/Media Release•September 15, 2026

Volvo Trucks’ 'Lock and Leave' Software Updates Go Live Across North America

Unattended over-the-air software updates are now available in Volvo trucks across the U.S. and Canada. The new capability lets trucks stay current with the latest software without interrupting operations or requiring a dealership visit.

Read More →
Driver inside a Chevrolet Silverado using the center touchscreen to view underbody camera images while parked on rocky terrain.
Vehicle Insights•by Staff and News Reports•September 15, 2026

GM Brings New Truck Focused Interface to 2027 Silverado and Sierra

GM's new pickup interface puts trailering data, camera views, vehicle controls, and smartphone integration closer to the driver in the 2027 Silverado and Sierra.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic showing Samsara Driver Perks on a smartphone beside a roadway, with the Work Truck callout “Perks Built for the People Behind the Wheel.”
Technology & AI•by Lauren Fletcher•September 10, 2026

Samsara Driver Perks Expands Rewards Beyond the Long Haul Driver

Samsara’s new driver rewards program was built with a broader professional driver in mind, including employees who split their day between driving, job sites, service calls, and other work.

Read More →