Operate Smarter
Operate Smarter
Podcast Description
There’s a reason why great operations leaders come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some started behind the wheel; others in finance offices, dispatch centers, or job sites. These diverse viewpoints are powerful — they help us see and solve problems in ways that others can’t.
This podcast unpacks the strategies and insights that drive the industries we rely on, giving you direct access to operations leaders who are making a positive impact. From reducing safety incidents at massive organizations to improving uptime and driving efficiency, they've reshaped operations by combining experience with technology.
Whether you’re in operations, leadership, or simply curious about how things really work, Operate Smarter reveals the strategy behind the operators keeping the world moving.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on themes such as safety culture, technological innovation in operations, and human-centered leadership. Episodes explore specific topics like reducing safety incidents during critical operations as discussed in the episode with James Banner, and balancing technology with the human touch in logistics as highlighted by Michael Keller, underscoring the intersection of experience and technology in operational success.

There’s a reason why great operations leaders come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some started behind the wheel; others in finance offices, dispatch centers, or job sites. These diverse viewpoints are powerful — they help us see and solve problems in ways that others can’t.
This podcast unpacks the strategies and insights that drive the industries we rely on, giving you direct access to operations leaders who are making a positive impact. From reducing safety incidents at massive organizations to improving uptime and driving efficiency, they’ve reshaped operations by combining experience with technology.
Whether you’re in operations, leadership, or simply curious about how things really work, Operate Smarter reveals the strategy behind the operators keeping the world moving.
Drowsiness is one of the leading causes of accidents—and those accidents are often severe.
Drivers who sleep less than four hours are 11.5x more likely to crash than those who get a full night’s sleep, and 17% of all fatal crashes involve a drowsy driver.* In this episode of Operate Smarter, host Cole Jurden talks with Tom Karnowski, VP of EHS at USIC, the largest provider of public utility locating services in the U.S.
Tom shares how USIC is keeping their drivers from becoming a statistic. You’ll hear what it’s like to be a Samsara beta tester and a truly mind-blowing story about how a single alert not only prevented an accident but also uncovered hidden medical conditions, potentially saving lives.
Guest:
Tom Karnowski: Vice President of Environment, Health & Safety at USIC (usicllc.com)
Host:
Cole Jurden: Senior Safety Product Manager II at Samsara
Operate Smarter is an original podcast presented by Samsara. Subscribe for more episodes: @SamsaraHQ
*source: aaafoundation.org

Disclaimer
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