Cargo Theft and How to Prevent It

Tis the Season for Cargo Theft

Cargo theft, or the criminal act of stealing any type of cargo as products move through the supply chain from point of origin to final destination, is a multibillion dollar business in the US that deeply affects the transportation industry. Since the start of the pandemic, cargo theft has increased by 25%. And while it happens year round, we see an even more significant uptick during the holiday season, when there is also a significant uptick in the demand for goods to be moved. And given the ongoing supply chain disruptions, including delays and congestion, it's likely that we'll see even more cargo theft this holiday season in particular. 

Cargo theft commonly occurs when thieves find and target certain trucks by sitting around distribution centers and watching cargo get loaded. Once they pick a truck, they follow it to a parking or rest area, or a truck stop, where the entire tractor trailer can be stolen and driven away while the cargo is at rest or unattended. The stolen rig is typically then taken to a waiting warehouse for offloading and distribution to farmers markets, restaurants, and small shops who love bargain prices on goods.

Cargo theft brings a stigma for the truck driver or trucking company, and therefore these crimes often go unreported. When they are reported, the crime is often unsolved due to the difficulty in finding and arresting thieves, the inability to track the product, and the perception that it is a victimless crime.

Despite this reality, cargo theft affects everyone, including manufacturers, retailers, carriers, drivers, consumers, and more. It's important to learn more about it and ways to prevent it from happening to us.

Who Pays for Cargo Theft?

Cargo theft is a crime against society as the cost of it falls on tax paying consumers and naturally drives up insurance costs for all trucking companies. Shippers also share in the cost of lost goods in transit.

Another effect of cargo and truck theft is the damage it can cause for relationships between shippers, brokers, and trucking companies. If a broker, shipper, or trucking outfit fails to deliver the goods, everyone involved may suffer business losses.

Stolen cargo often goes to organized crime. Some stolen food and medicines get sold online to unsuspecting small shop operators at bargain prices. The result is a thriving black market and tax avoidance.

Some cargo thefts occur in trailer drop yards. Because seeing drivers hooking up trailers is such a common occurrence, it is not likely that anyone would catch a thief in the act.

Not all cargo theft is preplanned. Some thefts are crimes of opportunity where some goods are grabbed from the back of a truck while parked in a secluded and unsecured space.

We're Dealing with Pros

Strategic cargo thefts are not carried out by amateur thieves - they're often organized crime outfits or gangs that have a solid understanding of how the industry works. They use that knowledge to coerce or bribe an individual into disclosing shipping information such as cargo and pickup info.

The thieves show up early and present themselves to shippers. They arrive at the pickup point early and show actual pickup numbers while posing as real trucking company drivers. Shippers often don't know the load has been stolen until the real truck and driver arrive at their docks ready to make the actual pickup.

9 Tips to Prevent Cargo Theft

Below are certain measures you can take as an Owner-Operator to prevent cargo theft from happening to you:

1. Be vigilant to watch for anyone who may be following you. Try not to stop anywhere in the first 200 miles after loading, as that is when many incidents occur. Be especially vigilant on the weekends, when trailers are more often left unattended.
2. Park only on lots that are lighted and not secluded, such as pay for parking truck stops with guards and security cameras. Prime spots can be reserved by drivers.
3. At truck stops, where rigs park back to back, back your trailer in closely to the back of another trailer.
4. Conduct regular inspections to make sure there has been no entry to the trailer
5. Set your TV and bunk lights on timers so that they go on and off periodically to make it look like you are in your truck.
6. Start the truck's engine periodically for the purpose of maintaining GPS tracking activity in case of theft.
7. Use king pin locks on your vehicle. Other locks that can help are those that secure glad hands, steering wheel, and air brake release controls. Landing gear locks, high security trailer door locks, and seal locks can also be effective.
8. Report any suspicious behavior to police immediately. Be particularly wary of suspicious behavior when parked.
9. Add a secondary tracking device to each tractor and trailer. Make sure to hide these devices carefully as thieves often know just where to look for them if not hidden well.

We must all do our part to thwart the criminals and protect our businesses. Let's work together to safeguard your cargo, ourselves, and one another.

We wish everyone a safe and secure holiday season!

Other relevant articles:

Trucking and the Holidays: Balancing the Celebration and the Chaos

Winter Driving Tips for Truck Drivers