Together for Safer Roads and Samsara Launch U.S. Fleet Safety Program for Community Food Banks
Food banks gain FOCUS on Fleet Safety training and Samsara technology to strengthen driver safety, fleet operations, and community resilience
NEW YORK (October 26, 2026) — Together for Safer Roads (TSR), a global non-governmental organization dedicated to strengthening fleet safety, today announced the launch of a new FOCUS on Fleet Safety Food Bank Cohort, funded by TSR member Samsara Inc. (“Samsara”) (NYSE: IOT). The program will help food banks across the country improve fleet safety through training, peer support, and Samsara technology.
FOCUS on Fleet Safety is TSR’s signature workforce development program for fleets. Grounded in industry best practices and peer mentorship, FOCUS provides practical resources, benchmarking tools and peer learning to help organizations strengthen safety cultures and operations.
Through the FOCUS Food Bank Cohort, participants will learn from one another, identify shared challenges, and work together to build practical, scalable approaches to driver and fleet safety. The program will look beyond individual training to the systems, practices and safety culture surrounding the people who drive on behalf of these organizations.
“Food banks sustain communities, and their fleets make that mission possible,” said Peter Goldwasser, Executive Director at Together for Safer Roads. “The people behind the wheel are carrying out essential work every day, often across complex routes and under demanding conditions. Through this cohort, we can help protect the people carrying out that mission and everyone with whom they share the road.”
The program reflects the important role food banks play when communities face emergencies and other periods of increased need. Safer, more reliable fleet operations can help food banks protect drivers and vehicles, maintaining their ability to support communities.
“Transportation is an indispensable, and often less visible, part of the hunger-relief system,” said Eric Danko, Head of Global Public Policy and Government Affairs at Samsara. “The drivers doing this work provide millions of meals to people in need, and they deserve top safety programs and technology. We’re proud to support them.”
Through the FOCUS initiative, participating food banks will have the opportunity to access specific Samsara technology, tools and resources, including:
- Real-time insights with Samsara Vehicle Gateways: Vehicle Gateways track vehicle location and engine health, so organizations know where vehicles are and what condition they’re in. This visibility can also improve routing and vehicle utilization.
- Advanced safety technology with Samsara AI Dash Cams: AI Dash Cams warn drivers of hazards on the road, detect risky behaviors such as distracted driving, and help drivers react in the moment through in-cab alerts. Footage also enables managers to coach drivers from real events, helping them continue to improve for the long term.
The inaugural cohort spans organizations serving major metropolitan areas and rural regions across four states:
- Houston Food Bank (Houston, Texas)
- San Antonio Food Bank (San Antonio, Texas)
- Central California Food Bank (Fresno, California)
- Food Bank for the Heartland (Omaha, Nebraska)
- Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan (Taylor, Michigan)
Insights from partner and participating organizations:
- “Through our work with TSR implementing FOCUS, we’ve seen that lasting improvements in fleet safety come from giving organizations not only information, but the tools, training and support to put that knowledge into practice,” said Jesse Whitaker, Co-Founder / Chief Learning Strategist at Qworky. “We’re excited to bring that experience to this cohort and work with these food banks to strengthen the systems, skills and safety culture that support their drivers every day.”
- “Our fleet connects the work happening inside our facilities with communities across a large and diverse region,” said Samantha Andrews, Sr. Director of Operations at the Houston Food Bank. “That responsibility becomes even more important when a hurricane or other emergency disrupts everyday life and families need help quickly. Participating in this cohort gives us an opportunity to learn alongside other food banks and strengthen the safety practices that protect our drivers, our communities and our ability to respond when people need us most.”
- “Transportation is fundamental to our ability to meet people where they are, whether we are serving families every day or responding when a community is facing an emergency,” Manuel Lopez , Transportation Manager at San Antonio Food Bank. “Safe fleet operations protect our team and help ensure that food and essential resources can continue moving where they are needed. We look forward to sharing what we have learned and learning from the other food banks participating in this cohort.”
- “Serving Central California means reaching neighbors across urban neighborhoods, small towns and rural agricultural communities throughout our 5-county service area, and transportation is critical to making that possible,” said Clinton Shimoi, Director of Operations at Central California Food Bank. “The cohort gives us an opportunity to strengthen the systems that keep our drivers safe, our fleet moving and nutritious food reaching the communities we serve, while learning alongside other organizations facing many of the same challenges. Ultimately, safer operations help us take better care of our team members and better serve our neighbors.”
- “When you serve communities across 93 counties, safe and dependable transportation is essential to fulfilling your mission,” said Anthony Spindler, Transportation Manager at Food Bank for the Heartland. “Our drivers and vehicles help bridge enormous distances so food can reach neighbors who may otherwise have limited access to resources. This cohort gives us a valuable opportunity to work with peers on practical approaches that support our drivers, strengthen our operations and help us continue serving communities across the Heartland safely and reliably.”
- “Safety and compliance are at the heart of everything we do in transportation. At Gleaners, our fleet is a critical part of making sure nutritious food gets where it needs to go safely and reliably,” said Stan Wise, Transportation Manager at Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan. “This cohort is a great opportunity to learn from other food banks, share what we’ve learned through our own operations, and find practical ways to make our fleets safer and more efficient. What we learn together can have an impact well beyond our individual organizations.”
Find out More about the FOCUS on Fleet Safety Program at TSR’s website.
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About Together for Safer Roads
Together for Safer Roads (TSR) is a leading international NGO focused on building cross-sector partnerships to enhance fleet safety. TSR leverages the technology, data, and expertise of the private sector to create innovative programs aimed at preventing traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities around the world. TSR members include some of the largest and most influential fleets globally, as well as best-in-class road safety technology companies. Learn more at togetherforsaferroads.org.
About Samsara
Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, which is an open platform that connects the people, devices, and systems of some of the world’s most complex operations, allowing them to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. With tens of thousands of customers across North America and Europe, Samsara is a proud technology partner to the people who keep our global economy running, including the world’s leading organizations across industries in transportation, construction, wholesale and retail trade, field services, logistics, manufacturing, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, food and beverage, and others. The company’s mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy.
Samsara is a registered trademark of Samsara Inc. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Media Contacts
Together for Safer Roads
Judy Klym
Judy@AgletStrategies.com
Samsara Communications
media@samsara.com