Sensor Management

After you install a sensor on your vehicle, you can assign the sensor to a position on your asset and monitor connectivity.

• Configure Sensor Positions

• Sensors Report

• Broadcast Mode

• Manage Sensor Positions in Bulk

Configure Sensor Positions

When you assign a sensor position, you can visualize the source location of your readings from the Samsara dashboard. Use the following workflow to manage the sensor configuration for each trailer or to view and manage one or more sensors, see Sensors Report.

To configure the sensor position for a trailer, perform the following workflow:

1. From your fleet Overview ( ), select the asset to view the asset page.

2. Expand Sensors.

   

3. Select Pair Sensors if no previous sensors have been paired or click View all sensors > Configure.

   Paired EMs and cargo sensors are Middle position by default.

4. Assign one or more unpaired sensors to the trailer layout based on your sensor locations.

   Sensor configuration varies by equipment type:

   • Layout for Temperature and Cargo sensors: Front, Middle, or Back

   • Layout for Doors sensors: Left Door, Right Door, Back Door

   

5. Select Save to confirm the changes.

Sensors Report

You can view device information, including connectivity status, and manage all of your sensors from the Sensors report.

The Sensors report displays the following information for all sensors associated with your fleet:

Field	Description
Name	Sensor name
Product	Samsara sensor hardware product model
Serial	The alpha numeric serial ID of the sensor
Signal	Connectivity status and strength of the sensor connection to the gateway: Asset name, if actively connected to the gateway on an asset Sensor is transmitting data using Broadcast Mode and has transmitted data in the last 7 days, but is not currently connected to a gateway Offline, since last connection date if the sensor has not established a two-way connection to a gateway in more than 7 days ( - ) Indicates that the sensor has never connected to a gateway
Paired Asset	If the sensor is connected to an asset gateway (AG) or vehicle gateway (VG) on an asset, displays the asset name
Position	Asset position: Door monitors: Left. Right, or Back Environment Monitor (EM) or Cargo Monitors: Front, Middle, or Back

To view or manage the sensors in your fleet and their current configuration, perform the following workflow:

1. Select the Settings icon ( ) at the bottom of your Fleet menu to view dashboard settings.

2. From Devices, select Devices > Sensors.

3. To edit the sensors in bulk, see Manage Sensors in Bulk or to edit the sensor position of an individual sensor:

   1. Select the more actions menu ( ... ) > Edit.

   2. Assign the new Position.

   3. Save to confirm the changes.

Broadcast Mode

If the sensor signal status displays Broadcast Mode (BM), the sensor is actively transmitting data or has transmitted data within the last 7 days to the gateway; however, the gateway and the sensor have not established a two-way connection. The lack of detection by the gateway can by caused by too great a distance between the sensor and the gateway or the presence of a physical obstruction, such as cargo. If the sensor has not connected to a gateway in more than 7 days, the Devices report indicates that the sensor is Offline, even if the sensor is transmitting data in BM.

If you have configured an alert for Unexpected Door Open, Humidity, or Temperature, you will continue to receive alerts if the sensor is transmitting data in BM.

Manage Sensor Positions in Bulk

To modify sensor positions in bulk, you must first download a properly formatted comma-separated values (CSV) file of your current sensors from your dashboard. To modify your sensor configuration, perform the following workflow:

Note

You can modify existing sensors only. To add a sensor, see Activation and Installation.

1. Select the Settings icon ( ) at the bottom of your Fleet menu to view dashboard settings.

2. From Devices, select Devices > Sensors.

3. Select More Actions > Upload CSV and the top of the Sensor report.

4. Click Sensors List to export a CSV file of your existing fleet sensors.

   

5. Update the information in the CSV file (see CSV Format for Sensor Edits for detailed formatting requirements).

6. After you edit your file, select Upload a file.

7. Choose the CSV file from your computer, or drag and drop the CSV file to the window.

8. Click Preview to review the sensor edits.

9. Click Confirm to save the changes.

CSV Format for Sensor Edits

The following table describes the CSV fields you can use to define the sensor position in the trailer:

Field	Description	Example
ID	Internal ID Number of sensor. This field is not editable on import since it represents an internal storage identifier.	1234-567-890
Name	The name of the sensor.	12345 - Cargo Sensor
Paired Gateway Serial	The alpha numeric serial ID of the paired gateway.	1234-567-890
Tags	Tags associated with the device.	Tag 1, Tag 2, Tag 3
Position	EM or cargo sensor position in the trailer or None to reset to default.	Front, Middle, Back
	Door monitor sensor position in the trailer or None to unassign the sensor location.	Left, Right, Back