ADS Logistics Supply Chain Management Blog

Tips to Prevent Theft at Truck Stops

  

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Cargo theft has steadily risen over the past three years and does not show any signs of coming down. There were a total of 859 cargo thefts in 2009. This was a 12% increase from 2008. The thefts in 2009 added up to 38 million dollars worth of stolen goods. It is estimated that in 2010, 102 million dollars will be stolen by the end of the year. This is largely attributed to multi-freight thefts. Cargo thieves are out to get the most bang for their buck so they target carriers with expensive payloads and have become adept at stealing multiple trailers at one time. They can steal up to 3 or 4 trailers at a time. According to the FMCSA, half of the rest areas are full or overflowing during the day and 80% full or overflowing at night so it is quite easy to steal several trailers without drawing attention. Here are some tips to keep you and your cargo safe while you are stopped.

1. Choose your routes carefully and don’t always take same roads. Drivers who take the same roads and always go to the same truck stops are more likely to be followed by thieves.
2. Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t leave your truck unattended if you can help it. Dinner time is when the highest rate of theft occurs - everyone is inside eating and away from their trucks. If you're a team driver, one member of your team should stay in the cab during eating breaks.
3. Physical barriers will help secure cargo. Air break locks will keep theft down - if they can't drive off, thieves won't be able to move the trailer. A King Pin lock can secure the King Pin and prevent unauthorized coupling. Installing a Locking Bar across trailer will also help.
4. Don’t brag loudly in the truck stop, on the radio, or anywhere else, about what you are hauling, especially high-target loads like pharmaceuticals, electronics and HazMat materials.
5. Let people know where you are: your dispatcher, spouse, friends, co-workers etc. Have an emergency contact and check in with them often. Someone will look for you if they haven’t heard from you.

These tips were provided by Transportation/cargo security expert and TSA consultant Erik Hoffer of Rig Secure Inc. when he appeared on SIRIUS XM’s Freewheelin’ with Meredith Ochs and Chris T. on Road Dog Trucking. His points mostly speak for themselves; however there are some statistics that he did not include.

According to a report by the FMCSA, 18% of truck stops are not secured at night. That on top of the fact that 80% of them are full makes theft that much more of a relevant threat to drivers. There is also a huge difference in theft rates between types of goods that are stoeln. This chart provided by Big Rig Trucking shows the number of thefts that occur for each major product type. The top two goods stolen in 2009 were electronics and food/drink. This shows that thieves are definitely not stupid when it comes to picking which trailers to steal.

Thieves can’t afford to be stupid, neither can you. Follow these tips, use your head, and you can avoid becoming a victim of cargo theft.