Cargo theft is on the rise – up 600% in the last year, according to one industry source. Thefts can take many different forms, from physical break-ins to cyber hacking and spoofing, to cargo thieves posing as legitimate carriers. But whether the source of the problem is in-house, in-transit or at destination, some common-sense steps can help combat cargo theft:
Know your business partners. When hiring drivers and staff and when beginning business with shippers and brokers, thoroughly research backgrounds and reputations. You won’t offend customers – they are checking you out, too.
Protect the need to know. Train drivers to share route and shipment information only with those who have responsibility for a successful delivery. Drivers should be alert for strangers who show too much interest in their journey. The old trucker joke about hauling a load of “donut holes” (an empty trailer) is a good, canned response – before reporting the incident to company security.
Park where safe and secure. Deliver only where confirmed. Plan routes so your drivers have well-lit, public areas to park. Train drivers to avoid dark, isolated locations. If a driver senses someone following the truck, instruct them to pull into a busy truck stop and observe. Whenever delivery instructions change, securely confirm the new directions with the customer and look online at any new delivery location. The directions may be fictitious and coming from a cargo thief.
Lights, cameras, locks! Terminals, warehouses and trucking equipment all need protection. Surveillance cameras on buildings and in-cab cameras on trucks dissuade criminals. Locks on trailers are essential. Need to drop a trailer? Consider installing landing gear locks.
Protect your identity. Federal law no longer requires you to display your MC number on your trucks. Only your business name and USDOT number are now required. You can confidentially assure a shipper or broker that you have the interstate operating authority the MC number once represented without publicizing it on your equipment or including it in contracts. Cargo thieves have paid substantial money to purchase MC numbers – so that they can pretend to be legitimate carriers. Don’t give them that chance!
Work with law enforcement. Even if you have not experienced cargo theft, report any suspicious activity and persons who have no need to be around terminals and cargo locations to local law enforcement. You may prevent a crime and save your business.