J. Polep Distribution Ensures Food Safety with Samsara’s Temperature Monitoring for Fleets
Customer Company Size
Large Corporate
Region
- America
Country
- United States
Product
- Samsara AG15 Trailer-Tracking Gateways
- EM11 Wireless Temperature Sensors
Tech Stack
- Real-time Temperature Monitoring
- Geofencing
- Automated Reporting and Alerts
Implementation Scale
- Enterprise-wide Deployment
Impact Metrics
- Customer Satisfaction
- Productivity Improvements
- Waste Reduction
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
- Networks & Connectivity - Gateways
- Sensors - Temperature Sensors
Applicable Industries
- Food & Beverage
Applicable Functions
- Logistics & Transportation
- Warehouse & Inventory Management
Use Cases
- Fleet Management
- Geofencing
- Predictive Maintenance
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- System Integration
About The Customer
The Polep family has been in the distribution business for over a century. Originally known as Polep Tobacco Company, it was founded by Charles Polep in 1898 in Salem, Massachusetts. Over five generations, J. Polep has acquired companies, expanded product lines, and added programs to service the convenience store industry. Jeff Polep, President and owner, attributes the success of his company to a dedicated staff, a loyal customer base, and superior customer service.
The Challenge
Jon Lasko, Director of Transportation, identified a significant opportunity for improvement in J. Polep's cold chain procedures. The loading dock staff was using temperature guns combined with a 2G trailer tracking application to read temperatures of their multi-temp trailers before loading food shipments. The inaccuracy of the guns and the trailer tracking solution with long-delayed reporting and off-hours alerts disturbing staff while at home were major issues. Lasko knew there had to be a better way to ensure food safety and quality.
The Solution
Lasko decided to try Samsara after hearing about it through a distributor. His team installed Samsara AG15 Trailer-Tracking Gateways on each reefer trailer and placed EM11 wireless temperature sensors in each compartment—frozen and cooler. Deployment was simple, with each sensor installed in minutes due to the lack of wiring. Instead of using temperature guns, the loading dock staff now checks Samsara to ensure that each compartment is at the correct temperature before loading. The temperature readings are continuously recorded and visible in real-time, eliminating the need for manual measurements and recordkeeping. If a door is left open for too long and the temperature rises, Samsara's alerts instantly notify the J. Polep team via email and SMS, allowing them to correct the issue and save potentially thousands of dollars of food from spoiling. The alerts are set up to notify the specific person working that shift, ensuring that employees are not disturbed during off-hours.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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