Annual driver turnover at large carriers has hovered near 90% for much of the last decade.* Bring in new technology without the people who use it every day, and that number only gets worse.

In this episode of Operator Grade, we hear from Raudel Arriaga, Director of Logistics at Ferrellgas, whose Blue Rhino brand keeps propane cylinders stocked at stores nationwide through a network of roughly 500 drivers. Raudel shares how his team rolls out new technology by bringing drivers into the process from day one instead of after the fact. You'll hear how that approach turns a top-down mandate into something the fleet wants to use, and why driver feedback now shapes decisions long after a new tool goes live.

Guest: Raudel Arriaga, Director of Logistics at Ferrellgas (ferrellgas.com)

Host: Heather Ash, Sr. Content Marketing Manager at Samsara

Operator Grade is an original podcast by Samsara (samsara.com).

*source: American Trucking Associations

In 2025, the U.S. logged more than 77,000 wildfires—more than the five- and ten-year averages call for.* For utility vegetation management crews, that means the call to respond can come at any time, in any terrain.

In this episode of Operator Grade, we hear from Lupita Hernandez, Fleet Manager at Ace Tree Enterprise, which keeps power lines clear and communities safe across some of the country's most fire-prone terrain. Lupita shares what it's like to manage a fleet of specialized equipment through active wildfire response, how real-time visibility helps her team track crews across remote mountains and disaster zones, and why trust and collaboration, not just technology, are what actually keep people safe when the stakes are highest.

Guest: Lupita Hernandez, Fleet Manager at Ace Tree Enterprise (acetreeent.com)

Host: Heather Ash, Sr. Content Marketing Manager at Samsara

Operator Grade is an original podcast by Samsara (samsara.com).

*source: National Interagency Fire Center, 2025 Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report

Employees who receive high-quality recognition at work are 45% less likely to leave their job within two years.* For a mature safety program, that's the difference between a set of rules and a culture that sticks.

In this episode of Operator Grade, we hear from Scott Amox, Safety Engineering Manager at Glazer's Beer & Beverage, the third-largest beer distributor in the U.S., delivering around 50 million cases a year. Scott shares how Glazer's built a driver-first safety culture from the ground up that's helped reduce auto incidents by 60% over five years. You'll hear what it takes to sustain that culture once the tools become second nature, and why the company's Safety Rodeo has become as much a planning tool as a celebration.

Guest: Scott Amox, Safety Engineering Manager, Glazer's Beer & Beverage (glazersbeer.com)

Host: Heather Ash, Sr. Marketing Manager at Samsara

Operator Grade is an original podcast, built with Samsara. samsara.com

*source: Gallup