Cargo theft continues to plague the transportation industry. It may seem that cargo theft is a victimless crime, but in actuality it affects all of us because manufacturers price their goods to include a theft component.
While there are several estimates of how much is taken in cargo thefts annually, the FBI estimates cargo theft at a $20 billion a year industry. The FBI also believes that some cargo theft money goes to funding terrorism.
According to Great West Casualty Company, the high-theft areas continue to be Southern California, Florida, Texas, and the Atlanta, Georgia areas.
Cargo thieves are becoming very savvy. They drill through bolts, nuts, or rivets on a trailer door and replace them with ones that look the same. They have teams that will do surveillance on a shipper’s facility for months, weeks, or days before a theft. They will follow a tractor-trailer for five or six hours waiting for the driver to leave it unattended. They will scout truck stops near a shipper to observe trucks that load at a shipper and stop at the nearest truck stop for dinner. There are electronic trailer-tracking devices in the market today for carriers to use and devices to disable the engine if the tractor is stolen.
Cargo thefts are preventable - operations and safety need to work closely to prevent cargo theft.
The following are cargo theft prevention tips:
SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Do a thorough background investigation of your drivers. Although not required by law, some carriers also include a criminal background check of all applicants. Some carriers do not allow a driver employed less than ninety days to transport a high-value load. Instruct the driver not to discuss their load with anyone, especially over the CB radio. Instruct the driver of your company policy on driving distance before stopping for a break. Issue padlocks or trailer security locks to the driver. Instruct your driver on company policies for parking or dropping a loaded trailer and locking the vehicle. Instruct them never to leave extra keys in the ignition of the tractor. Train the drivers on Highway Watch.
OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT
Remind drivers of company procedures for driving distance, talking on the CB or cell phone, vehicle security, not dropping loaded trailers, and parking at truck stops. If possible, use team drivers on high-value loads. Have the driver notify dispatch when the load is delivered. Instruct the driver to fuel before picking up the high-value load.
This material is intended to be a broad overview of the subject matter and is provided for informational purposes only. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. does not provide legal advice to its insureds or other parties, nor does it advise insureds or other parties on employment-related issues, therefore the subject matter is not intended to serve as legal or employment advice for any issue(s) that may arise in the operations of its insureds or other parties. Legal advice should always be sought from legal counsel. Joe Morten & Son, Inc. shall have neither liability nor responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss, action, or inaction alleged to be caused directly or indirectly as a result of the information contained herein. Reprinted with permission from Great West Casualty Company.