A TMS with Samsara integration pulls truck locations from your Samsara devices into the dispatch system, so dispatchers see where every truck is on the same screen where they plan and assign loads, without logging into a second dashboard or calling the driver. At minimum, the integration should put live GPS positions on the dispatch map and keep them current. Better integrations use that location data for ETAs, customer tracking updates and stop-arrival evidence. Before you buy, confirm exactly which of those your TMS actually does with Samsara data, because “integrates with Samsara” can mean anything from a live map to a one-time vehicle import.
This guide covers what a Samsara–TMS integration is for, what to ask vendors, and how it works in Techvia TMS.
Why connect Samsara to your TMS at all
If your trucks run Samsara, you already pay for accurate, frequent GPS. The problem is where that data lives. Samsara shows you the truck. Your TMS shows you the load. Dispatch needs both at once:
- Which truck is closest to a new pickup?
- Is the driver on this load going to make the delivery appointment?
- Did the truck arrive at the shipper on time, and how long did it sit there?
- What do I tell the customer who’s asking where their freight is?
Without an integration, answering those means flipping between two browser tabs, matching truck numbers to load numbers in your head, and often calling the driver anyway. With one, the location is attached to the work.
What a Samsara–TMS integration should do
Not every integration covers all of this. Use the list to understand the range, then check each item with any vendor you’re considering.
1. Live truck positions on the dispatch map
This is the core. Every Samsara-equipped truck should appear on the TMS fleet map at its current location, refreshed automatically, and matched to the right truck record in the TMS. The dispatcher should be able to look at the board and see which trucks are loaded, which are empty, and where they are.
2. Location tied to the load
A dot on a map is useful. A dot on a map that knows it’s hauling load 10482 to Dallas is much more useful. Check whether the TMS connects the Samsara location to the load the truck is currently assigned to, so anyone looking at a load can see where it is.
3. ETAs
Once the TMS knows where the truck is and where it’s going, it can estimate arrival. Ask how ETAs are calculated (straight-line distance, road routing, traffic), how often they update, and whether they account for driver hours.
4. Arrival and departure evidence
Geofences around shipper and receiver locations can record when a truck arrived and left. That’s the evidence you need for detention claims: “truck arrived 7:52, departed 11:40” carries more weight with a shipper than a dispatcher’s note. Some setups do this inside Samsara, some in the TMS, some not at all. Ask where the timestamps end up and whether they’re attached to the load. The billing side is covered in detention and accessorial billing that actually gets paid.
5. Customer-facing tracking
Brokers and shippers want to know where their freight is. A TMS that turns location data into a shareable tracking link lets them check it themselves instead of calling. See how to track a load without calling the driver for how that changes a dispatcher’s day.
6. Hours of service visibility
Samsara is an ELD, so it holds drivers’ hours-of-service data. Some TMS integrations show remaining drive time next to the driver during dispatch; many don’t. If your dispatchers need it, ask directly and don’t assume.
What to check before you buy
“Samsara integration” appears on a lot of feature lists. These questions separate a working integration from a checkbox.
| Question to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What data comes across: location only, or also HOS, engine data, driver identity? | Tells you what problems the integration actually solves |
| How often do positions refresh in the TMS? | A position that’s 30 minutes old isn’t live tracking |
| How are Samsara vehicles matched to TMS trucks? | Mismatched unit numbers put the wrong truck on the wrong load |
| What happens for trucks without Samsara? | Leased-on owner-operators and brokered carriers often use other devices or none |
| Is there an extra fee for the integration? | Some vendors charge per vehicle or per connection |
| Who sets it up and who supports it when it breaks? | You need a named person, not a generic ticket queue |
| Can I test it with my own Samsara account during the trial? | The only real proof is your own trucks on the map |
The last question matters most. A demo account with perfect sample data tells you nothing about how your 14 trucks, three of them with renumbered units, will look. The trucking dispatch software free trial guide has a fuller list of what to test.
Mixed fleets and brokered loads
Very few small carriers are 100% Samsara. You may have company trucks on Samsara, leased-on owner-operators running their own ELD, and loads brokered out to carriers you’ve never met. A TMS that only shows Samsara trucks leaves gaps on the map exactly where you have the least visibility. Ask how the TMS handles trucks and carriers that aren’t on Samsara.
How it works in Techvia TMS
Techvia TMS includes a Samsara telematics integration. Here’s what it does, stated plainly:
- Samsara GPS on the fleet map. Locations from your Samsara ELDs flow onto the Techvia fleet map, so dispatchers see truck positions in the same system they use to plan and assign loads.
- Phone-based locations alongside them. Drivers who aren’t on Samsara, such as owner-operators or carriers you broker to, can share their location from their phone through a share link, no ELD needed. Those locations appear on the same fleet map as the Samsara trucks, so a mixed fleet shows up in one view.
- Shareable customer tracking links. Customers can follow their load through a tracking link instead of calling for updates.
- Dispatch with ETA. The AI Dispatcher gives a ranked shortlist of drivers or carriers for each load, scored on deadhead miles and margin learned from your past loads, with ETA, and lets you assign in one click.
What it doesn’t claim: Techvia’s Samsara integration is about getting ELD GPS onto the fleet map. If you need hours-of-service data, engine diagnostics or geofence events from Samsara inside your TMS, raise it during onboarding and get a straight answer before you commit. If your fleet runs a different ELD, ask about it directly rather than assuming it’s supported. Phone-based location sharing works without any ELD.
For a broader look at GPS tracking options that don’t depend on a telematics contract, see dispatch software with GPS tracking for small carriers.
Setting expectations with your team
A TMS integration changes habits, so plan for a short adjustment period:
- Match truck numbers first. Make sure the unit numbers in Samsara and in your TMS agree before you connect. It saves a day of confusion.
- Tell drivers what’s changing. Fewer check calls is good news for most drivers. If some drivers will use phone location sharing instead of Samsara, show them how it works.
- Retire the old check-call routine on purpose. If dispatchers keep calling every two hours out of habit, the integration saves nothing. Agree on when a call is still needed: exceptions, not routine updates.
- Use location with deadhead in mind. Seeing every truck on one map is the easiest way to spot which one is closest to the next pickup. Fewer empty miles is where the real savings are, and it shows up directly in your cost per mile.
Frequently asked questions
Does Samsara have its own TMS?
Samsara is a telematics and connected-operations platform: ELDs, GPS, dashcams and fleet data. Most carriers still run a separate TMS for loads, dispatch, invoicing and settlements, then connect it to Samsara for location data.
What does a Samsara TMS integration cost?
It depends on the TMS vendor. Some include it, some charge per vehicle or as an add-on. Ask for the total monthly cost with the integration turned on. In Techvia TMS every feature is included in the plan, which is $49/month at the limited-time launch price (regular $199/month), with unlimited users.
Can I see trucks that don’t have Samsara in the same TMS?
In Techvia TMS, yes. Drivers without Samsara can share their location from their phone via a share link, and those positions appear on the same fleet map as your Samsara trucks.
Do I need an ELD to track trucks in a TMS?
No. An ELD integration like Samsara gives automatic, frequent positions for your own trucks, but phone-based location sharing works for drivers and carriers without one.
See your Samsara trucks on the dispatch map
The quickest way to judge any Samsara integration is to connect your own account and watch your trucks appear. Techvia TMS offers guided onboarding and direct product-team support. Start the 30-day free trial, no credit card required.