Understanding cargo theft: Types, prevention strategies and current trends in the trucking industry.

Other products targeted include alcohol and tobacco, according to Amarok. Amarok claims thieves target products in high demand, making it easier to get rid of cargo after it’s stolen.

When and where does cargo theft occur?

According to the latest data from CargoNet, cargo theft is most likely to occur in distribution centers. The second most likely location is truck stops.

More specifically, regions where cargo theft is increasing include Southern California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Memphis and Chicago, according to Cornell. However, this does not mean that other areas are safe from cargo theft.

According to Amarok, the peak period for cargo theft is from Labor Day to Christmas because shipping of goods increases before the holiday season.

See also: Cargo theft trends: Carrier number manipulation on the rise

How can you prevent cargo theft?

As thieves become more sophisticated in their methods, preventing cargo theft is not easy or foolproof. However, there are strategies fleets can take to prevent cargo theft; The most important tools for prevention are knowledge and awareness.

• Locks: Fleets can use hard locking devices and rear door locks on their trucks to prevent outright cargo theft.
• Asset trackers: Tracking devices can help fleets locate trucks, cargo, trailers and more.
• Established relationships: While it’s not perfect, drivers, brokers, transporters, etc. you’ve worked with before and trust. It is generally safer to work with. When you need to work with someone new, it’s important to vet them thoroughly to make sure they are who they say they are.
• Communication: Communication within the fleet is vital. The scenario where a malicious actor accesses the driver’s phone number and calls him with instructions to take the cargo to another facility can be easily resolved by the driver calling the dispatcher or the original broker who facilitated the cargo.
• Education: Fleets need to stay up to date on cargo theft trends. Everyone, from managers to drivers, needs to know what to pay attention to.
• Plan: According to Cornell, having good processes and procedures regarding cargo theft is crucial. You don’t want to have to figure out how to deal with cargo theft after it happens; You should already know exactly what steps need to be taken.
• Prevention culture: Preventing cargo theft cannot be the responsibility of a single person or part of an industry. Given how sophisticated cargo thieves have become, a holistic industry approach is also needed to stop them, as fleets are praised for having a “security culture”. Prevention cultures are also needed.

This is not an exhaustive list, but these are some of the techniques that can be used to prevent cargo theft.

What do you do when cargo theft occurs?

But no matter how proactive you are with prevention strategies, cargo theft can still occur. It is important to notify law enforcement after a case of cargo theft. Unfortunately, communication with law enforcement can be difficult for fleets due to miscommunication and misunderstanding. Here are some tips from Keith Lewis, CargoNet’s vice president of operations, during the TCA webinar on how to better communicate with law enforcement so they can investigate cargo theft more efficiently:

• Find the right jurisdiction. When cargo theft occurs, every second counts. According to Lewis, it is more time efficient to research and contact the correct jurisdiction rather than immediately calling 911. This ensures you talk to the right person first. During the webinar, Lewis told him to contact law enforcement both in the area where the cargo was stolen and where the cargo was supposed to go.
• Choose your words carefully. Don’t use industry jargon when reporting cargo theft. Lewis recommends researching the correct criminal code for your state and using the same language when reporting to law enforcement. This way, there is no confusion about what the crime is.
• Get a case number. According to Lewis, you cannot file an insurance claim without a case number. The case number also allows you to refer your case to a detective if necessary. If law enforcement insists that your case is a civil matter and refuses to give you a case number, Lewis recommends getting a computer-assisted referral number instead.