Cargo Theft - Are You Protected?

Cargo theft is an out-of-control epidemic across the highways of the U.S. With billions of dollars in losses each year, it is a subject that shouldn't be taken lightly. More than 2 million trucks are on the road daily and a good amount of them have no security solutions in place for their tractor or trailer. The fact of the matter is if you don't lock it, you lose it.

Last year California and Texas harbored the most incidents- keep in mind that this is only reported incidents. Police departments are generally geared for local crime yet when the trucker and thief are both passing through it presents a problem for law enforcement to actively pinpoint the basic information being when, where, and what direction. Industry leaders speculate that if law enforcement has not found the stolen goods within 24 hours, then the shipment is more than likely out of the country already.

In 2010 there were 857 incidents recorded with the SC-ISAC (Supply Chain- Information Sharing and Analysis Group), with 813 of these incidents categorized as thefts (some are considered fraud or intelligence hits) and more specifically an inside job. In the past most hits took place at truck stops, while the driver was inside showering or sleeping. Yet with the increase in awareness of these thieves in 2010, a large amount of hits took place within carrier facilities and secured lots. The simplicity of stealing from a secured lot is outrageous; bolt cutters and some spray paint is all they seem to use.

Supply Chain Managers what measures are you taking to ensure the security of your tractor trailer and your cargo? Alarms? Cameras? Parking in access control parking lots or behind electric fences? All of these are great initial security measures, but keep in mind that they can be compromised. In the event that they are jeopardized, what are you doing to protect the asset of your truck and the valuable cargo you are carrying? The padlock you use to secure is important. While purchasing it at the same retail store you buy your socks, pet food, or headache medicine may be convenient, is this really the best line of defense you can offer your truck?

Have you heard of WAR-LOK? Here are some of the features their solutions provide:

Air Brake, Fifth Wheel, Glad Hand, Trailer Door, Utility Brand, and Intermodal Locks
Manufactured from cast aluminum or cast hardened steel
Key hole is chrome plate case hardened steel
Key hole uses stack disc technology that has never been picked
The keys are patterned by WAR-LOK and cannot be copied
Provides lock-out tag-out opportunities
Don't need a key to enable the lock providing you with logistic opportunities

Over the holiday weekends ensure that your assets are protected. Shippers, manufacturers and transportation companies must remain aware of the increased security risk during all holiday weekends. Cargo theft rates increase an average of 28% over long weekends and provide criminals with excellent opportunities to target, steal and transport goods to their storage locations before the product is even discovered missing.

Statistics provided by SCISAC.

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5 Suggestions to Prevent Fuel Theft

There are two types of fuel theft, one from a thief that acts alone or with a group and raids the tanks of parked trucks, the second is incremental fuel fraud from within the company where employees use inventive tactics to steal diesel unnoticed. The first can cost a manager anywhere from 500 to 1500 euros a truck in one night and the second will cost 1500 per truck for the entire year. Here are five investments in time and money, when used in conjunction, greatly reduce the risk of fuel theft from occurring.

1. Maintain clear accounting of your fuel expenditures:

Thieves are ingenious and there are always ways to steal small incremental amounts of fuel. Managers can stop this fraud is to have clear accounting procedures by keeping historical driving records of their vehicles compared against their overall expenses at the filling station. This is one strategy that is quite time-consuming and sometimes difficult to prove due to how different terrains and cargo can influence the rate of fuel consumption.

2. Use an anti-fuel theft device:

Fuel theft is usually achieved with a siphon, so the easiest way to combat fuel theft is with an anti-siphoning device that fits onto the inside of your tank entrance or by having a locking gas cap. These two ways limit the ability to siphon diesel, but will not deter the more determined thief armed with a drill to make a hole in the fuel tank or tear apart the fuel valve of your truck. As a further countermeasure, reinforced tanks and valves have been developed, but to limited effect.

3. Park vehicles in secure parking zones:

For fuel theft, the general idea is that trucks at rest are at danger, so when going for the long haul, one must be vigilant for thieves using the cover of night to siphon fuel. These places can be guarded by security officers, CCTV cameras, should be well lighted and guarded by reinforced fencing. While this solution may seem easy, it is also expensive, which secure trucking oftentimes costing as much as a hotel night. In Europe, there is a simple portal for finding a place to park your vehicle with variable search elements and easy navigation on the website at Truck Inform http://www.truckinform.eu/

4. Use background checks and employment tests on all prospective drivers:

For any company, this is an absolute must and seems pretty clear, but many companies don't have the capability to test properly. Job knowledge tests are important to gauge the ability of the driver, but the best way to be informed about the drivers reactions to different situations is a situational judgement test, whereby a multiple choice answer is given by the test taker in response to a question that can gauge the morality and decision-making of a prospect. Lastly, given the ability of an employer to make a background check, take this possibility as the first step in eliminating future employees that could end up stealing diesel or more.

5. Use telematics to constantly monitor your fuel level:

This solution uses the relatively new field of telematics or machine to machine (m2m) communication to prevent fuel theft. A GPS-enabled device collects data on total fuel added at refilling, the amount consumed per trip and any special incidences where there is considerable loss of fuel. This allows the manager to stop fuel theft stemming from employees by objectively monitoring fuel consumption and also to stop fuel theft with an alarm that sends an SMS of the trucks location so the manager can immediately send police or security forces. While there is no sure-fire way to combat fuel theft, these tips will be sure to lower the risk of loss from diesel theft and the repair damage associated with it.

To find out more about telematics and how it can stop fuel theft while saving you money, making fleet management simpler and reducing fuel consumption, visit http://www.stop-fuel-theft.net/

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Trucking Cargo Theft - The Problem and the Solution - Sep 02,2010

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