Samsara Integration

Samsara provides GPS hardware and route-tracking software so dispatchers can see exact truck and driver locations in real time. 

Topics in this article include

• Initial Setup in Elite

• Creating an API Token in Samsara

  • Elite Configuration Options

• Mapping Store Location IDs

• Assigning GPS Units to Trucks

• Day-to-Day Use in Dispatch

Initial Setup in Elite

1. Open Browser Configurations › API Configuration.
   

2. Enter the following values:

   • API URL: https://api.samsara.com/

   • API Key: your Samsara token (see the next section, Creating an API Token in Samsara)

     • The Samsara API Key is pulled from the user’s Samsara account. You must have admin-level access to generate/edit a token. One token is recommended per organization.

3. Save.

Creating an API Token in Samsara

1. In Samsara, go to Settings › API Tokens and click Add an API Token.
   
   
   
2. Give the token a descriptive name (e.g. “Elite Integration”).
   
   
3. Click Select All at the top to enable the following minimum permissions:
   • Address (R/W)
   • Assets (R/W)
   • Assignments (R/W)
   • Drivers (R/W)
   • Driver Workflows (R/W)
   • Equipment (Read)
   • Setup & Administer (Read)
   • Trailers (Read)
   • Vehicles (Read)
      
4. Click Generate, then Copy to Clipboard.
    
5. Paste the token into the API Key field in Elite (Section 2, step 2).
   
   
   
6. Press save and continue to the next section.

Elite Configuration Options

Configure the remaining options. They are grouped under Browser Configurations › API Configuration. They were relocated from Dispatch Parameters - GPS Tab for Samsara users so the setup could be done in one place. They are still available for non-Samsara users in Dispatch Parameters and function the same way.

Move to the next section when done.

Mapping Store Location IDs

Each store in Elite must reference its matching Samsara Geofence ID. The ID is pulled from the Addresses/Geofences area located in the settings of the user’s Samsara account (See second screenshot). This can be accessed by clicking on the settings gear icon at the bottom of Samsara's left-hand menu.

The Location ID needs to be populated for each store in Elite..  

1. In Elite, open Configurations › System Configurations › Parameters › Store Info.
   
    

2. Enter the Location ID copied from Samsara › Settings › Addresses / Geofences.
   
   

3. Press OK to save.   

Assigning GPS Units to Trucks

GPS Units need to be assigned to individual trucks. 

1. In Dispatch Center, right-click a truck and choose Truck Details › View GPS.
   
   
2. Enter the Samsara Device Gateway Serial Number. You can find serials in Samsara › Settings › Devices.
3. 
    
   
   1. An alternate method is to view the device in Samsara and copy/paste the numeric ID from the url (either value will work):
      
       
4. 
    
     
5. Press Okay to save.

Day-to-Day Use in Dispatch

Once Samsara is configured, routes can be organized and confirmed by the dispatcher in the dispatch center.  

1. Build & confirm routes in Dispatch Center.

2. Once the route is confirmed, Elite pushes the route (plus any new job sites/venues) to Samsara.
   

   • New job sites are created in Samsara, and the unique Samsara ID is written back to Elite (read-only).

   • If the address is an ad hoc address with no associated job site/venue, nothing will be sent back to Elite.

   • The next time the job site/venue is sent to Samsara with a route, Samsara will create a new job site and send a new unique ID back to the record in Elite. 

3. As drivers progress, Samsara feeds status updates (arrived, departed, late, completed) back to Elite.
   
   

4. If a dispatcher edits a route directly in Samsara, Elite flags it with “!” next to Transmitted to Unit. Reconfirm the route in Elite to resume syncing.