Samsara recently named Darrin J. Lonsdale, an Action Resources driver with 4.7 million accident- and ticket-free miles, its 2026 U.S. Driver of the Year. The award is part of the transportation technology provider’s global Connected Operations Awards, which recognize individuals who exemplify professionalism and safety in high-stakes environments.

“The winners of Samsara’s Connected Operations Awards are proof that AI represents a fundamental shift in how work gets done—one that’s already saving lives and cutting costs,” Robert Stobaugh, Samsara’s chief operating officer, said in a news release. “The submissions told stories of safer workers, more efficient operations, and real impact for communities.

“What unites every winner is a team that refuses to settle, and we’re proud to work alongside them.”

Lonsdale, a second-generation chemical hauler with a son who is now entering the profession, mentors up to 40 regional drivers and collaborates with refinery customers to redesign loading setups to better prevent hazardous spills. He credits Samsara’s real-time alerts for enhancing his situational awareness on the road. “Samsara gave me the awareness that I had something coming up in front of me I wouldn't have known about otherwise, and I was able to react appropriately,” Lonsdale said in a Samsara case study, recalling an instance where the system alerted him to a stalled vehicle when his CB radio was silent.

A proactive shift in safety culture

The recognition for Lonsdale comes as Birmingham, Alabama-based Action Resources—which operates 400 tractors and 800 tank trailers across 14 terminals—continues a major digital transformation. Before partnering with Samsara, the company relied on legacy telematics that offered limited visibility, making coaching reactive rather than proactive.

“We did not want to start using Samsara in a negative way with our drivers,” explained Roger Howard, Action Resources director of safety. “We wanted to coach drivers, using real dashcam footage, and help them see for themselves how simple it is for them to correct these behaviors.” This approach has been critical in protecting drivers’ livelihoods, advocates agree. In 2025, AI dashcam footage exonerated a driver by proving a third-party claim of a collision was false, allowing the driver to keep his CDL and stay on the road.

Operations and asset management

The transition to a unified platform has also streamlined operations for the bulk hauler. Previously, tracking 800-plus trailers involved manual spreadsheets and playing “phone tag” with dispatchers. Now, the team has a live view of every asset. “With Samsara, I can see every asset and every person associated with it, no phone tag needed,” said Danelle Feuerbacher, Action Resources operations manager.

Key operational highlights include:

• Smart trailers: Load planners can now instantly filter by trailer type—such as chemical tankers, vac trailers, or end dumps—to optimize backhauls and equipment recovery.
• Digital permits: Lonsdale described the new Samsara Qualifications Management system as a “lifesaver” for hazmat haulers. “You just press a button, and it lists the permits that are about to expire. You have access to everything right there instead of flipping through a permit book,” he noted.
• Asset protection: The company recently used Samsara Asset Tags to lead law enforcement directly to a stolen $20,000 piece of equipment, resulting in a full recovery.
• Maintenance efficiency: By integrating live mileage data with Fleetrock, Action Resources saw a 36% increase in efficiency for on-time preventative maintenance.

To gain buy-in from skeptical owner-operators, the safety team used fleet data to prove that reducing speed directly increased fuel savings, Howard added. “Once you start talking about money in your pocket, getting drivers to get on board to reduce their speed is pretty simple,” he concluded.

Award-winning, AI-powered operations

Samsara’s Connected Operations Awards annually honors organizations and individuals across North America and EMEA who demonstrate the clear benefits of AI-powered operations.

The full list of 2026 global award winners includes:

U.S. and Canada

• Safest Operator: Utility Supply & Construction Company
• Innovation in Sustainable Operations: Massey Services
• Digital Transformation of the Year: Enercare
• Most Innovative Workforce: Tyson Foods
• Technology Leader of the Year: David Perez, Vice President of Safety, First Student
• Driver of the Year (U.S.): Darrin J. Lonsdale, Action Resources
• Driver of the Year (Canada): Jessie-Lee Beaudoin, Whitewater Management

Mexico

• Safest Operator: Grupo Aralo
• Digital Transformation of the Year: Royal Transports
• Excellence in Physical Security: Transportes MexAmerik
• Driver of the Year: José Rigoberto Carrera Ruiz, Flecha Amarilla

EMEA

1. Safest Operator (U.K.): Speedy Hire
2. Safest Operator (Germany): SafeDriver ennoo
3. Excellence in Driver Engagement: Sysco
4. Most Sustainable Operations: Lanes Group
5. Industry Innovator: Renew Holdings
6. Driver of the Year: Richard Meehan, JLL