The methods of cargo theft are changing. Cargo thieves continue to target products that can be easily sold on the black market, from high-end electronics to food and beverages. Nearly all goods can become fair game for opportunistic thieves. Businesses can identify their weaknesses and reduce the risk of cargo theft by being aware of evolving strategies.
According to the experts, "Some things about cargo theft haven't changed much over the years, and there are many things that have changed significantly, including new methods, targeted commodities, and the use of technology to commit cargo theft."
Shippers may lose hundreds of thousands of dollars due to a single load of stolen cargo. Owning a truck fleet gives you more control and security over your shipments. Partnering with an authorized third-party logistics brokerage may be the answer if you have more freight than your team is able to handle. Shippers and drivers can connect with a network of carefully screened and highly supervised transportation companies through brokers.
The supply chain continues to experience theft. Every day, cargo robbers get more cunning, but freight theft is avoidable. To assist you in keeping your shipment secure along the way, here are some loss prevention suggestions that the experts recommend.
There are rules and safety measures you can put in place to assist in preventing cargo theft, which could hurt your organization. Here, we'll go through some of our expert's suggestions for thwarting theft.
Personnel
Physical Security
Operational Practices: Truck Security System
In 2020, 74% of cargo thefts, as opposed to just 6% in warehouses, occurred while the shipment was en route, according to a recent expert report.
So our experts suggested 4 cargo theft strategies to be on the lookout for, as well as some precautions you may take.
1. Theft of straight cargo
Straight theft, in which goods are physically taken from a location where they are stored, is still a concern. The goal of cargo thieves is to sell whatever they can steal swiftly. Consider drop-off spots, parking lots, roadside parking, truck stops, and other locations where cargo might be left unattended, particularly on weekends or in vacant or store parking lots. The temperatures on refrigerated vehicles may show the presence of pharmaceutical goods, confectionery, or other forms of attractive cargo, which thieves may be searching for. The easiest and more likely targets are trucks with little to no security deterrents.
Shippers and carriers should use sound policies and processes to implement a layered approach to security over the road in order to combat this widespread type of cargo theft. policies like:
2. Strategic Cargo Theft
Strategic cargo theft, often known as theft by deception, is still developing. This kind of cargo theft might involve unusual tactics, such as using deceitful information and fraud to induce shippers, brokers, and carriers to hand the consignment over to the thieves rather than the authorized carrier. Identity theft, false pick-ups, double brokering fraud, fraudulent carriers, and hybrid variations of these tactics combined with increasing confusion, are all on the rise. In the belief that deadlines and tight schedules will lead to mistakes and lax carrier vetting, cargo robbers frequently search for packages being brokered late on Friday afternoons. Even worse, to get the data they need to steal a company's identity, thieves may create fictitious cargoes and publish them to request bids.
Companies can use tactics to help assure consistent and thorough vetting methods of any carrier or broker they do business with, preventing them from falling victim to strategic cargo theft.
If there is even the slightest doubt throughout any of these steps, don't be afraid to contact your clients and business partners. The extra attention frequently discourages burglars from chasing the target load.
3. Technology
Some cargo robbers employ "sniffers," which can spot hidden best truck alarm system, even ones that are built into a truck. Once a device is discovered, the perpetrators employ a GPS jammer to disable it, preventing law enforcement from using it to track the stolen property.
Others wait for law authorities to search for stolen loads before staging them in a parking area right after the crime.
4. Plunder
Better industry reporting in recent years has made pilferage problems more widely acknowledged. Pilferage has always been the bigger part of the iceberg just below the surface, says expert, albeit it has recently become more obvious. "There is frequently a delay in the discovery that a theft has even occurred because the drivers might only become aware of it once they get to the delivery location after making several stops along the way. As a result, if the motorist is unsure of where the theft took place, authorities could be reluctant to submit a case.
Businesses should mandate that drivers perform walk-around inspections of their vehicles following each stop, checking the truck doors and seals for indications of theft.
Experts advise fleet operators to employ a multi-layered strategy for cargo security, beginning with the creation of internal policies and procedures. After that, schedule yearly training and awareness activities for your staff.
"Everyone from drivers to warehouse workers should be trained to recognize, prevent, and report cargo theft techniques," experts opined.
Features of a tiered cargo security program include the following:
Consider adding the best truck alarm system to all shipments, and keep a close eye on any loads that were staged over the weekend. The majority of tracking gadgets let you geofence the package and notify you if it starts to move. Other forms of notifications, like open-door alerts and others, are provided by some devices, which can help you rapidly become aware of any problems or intrusions on your truck.
We took this video from SGICommunications YouTube Channel.
For the first 200 miles after taking up a load, drivers should be told to refrain from using extra fuel or stopping for food. Thieves frequently follow the truck as it leaves the yard because they think the driver will make an early halt.
When specific safety precautions and training protocols are implemented, cargo theft can be avoided. The most crucial factor on the road is the safety of your driver. Make sure you are taking the necessary steps to guarantee that safety comes first.
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