15 Tips to Protect Your Fleet Cargo from Thieves

In 2015, there were over 880 cargo theft incidents with an over $175 million total value estimate of stolen cargo, according to the annual theft trend analysis put out from CargoNet. And 10 thefts equal to around $1 million each. Knowing these statistics, it’s a good idea to follow some helpful tips to protect your fleet cargo from thieves.

Tips to Protect you from Fleet Cargo Theft

1. Ensure you are up-to-date with your security protocols and follow the best practices of the industry.
2. Use transmission and brake locks and other tractor-locking mechanisms that immobilize your vehicle.
3. Use hardened padlocks, barrier seals that are ISO 17712 compliant, kingpin locks for preventing unauthorized hook ups and glad hand locks to keep trailer brakes from being released. All these devices help to protect your trailer.
4. Consider high-tech systems like GPS tracking devices, alert-sending devices, geofencing and other technology that helps track your trailer and alerts you when your cargo is being unloaded or trailer doors are being opened.
5. Before you leave the shipper’s facility, inspect your trailer and truck to reduce the chance of breaking down.
6. Ensure you have a full tank of fuel before arrive for pickups and drive a minimum of 250 miles before you stop. This reduces your risk of thieves stalking your truck and waiting for you to leave it unattended.
7. Keep an eye out for vehicles that have out-of-state plates or multiple occupants who could be following you.
8. Don’t tell anyone what your cargo is or where your truck stops are. You should never post information like this online either since people could look for tipoffs by searching the web.
9. Park in a heavily traveled area that is lit up well and has security cameras when you need to stop. If you plan on stopping for a longer period of time, be sure you check your load and monitor it at each stop.
10. Don’t leave your cargo-filled truck on a roadside.
11. Never leave your keys in a location where people might be looking for them or inside your truck.
12. Avoid stopping at unsecured areas if possible and back your truck up against a fence, post or building to make it harder for thieves to open the trailer doors. Have an assistant with you if possible to watch your truck when you need to leave it unattended.
13. Don’t wait to report a theft to police officials and agencies. When you report it right away, you increase your chances of recovering it. When you report the theft within a couple hours, your odds of recovery are better, but decrease the longer you wait.
14. Keep all VINs, license-plate numbers and truck-trailer description information like its size, color and marks. You will need to turn this information over to law enforcement as well as any information collected from your GPS tracking system.
15. Stay up-to-date on cargo-theft trends by visiting CargoNet and learn the most popular tactics with thieves.

You might have a great insurance policy that covers your cargo, but there could be exemptions that could leave some of your valuable cargo uncovered. It’s important that you go over and learn your policy details so you know you are protected in full. And remember, having a good GPS tracking system installed in your fleet cargo can help authorities locate it in the event an unforeseeable theft takes place.

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