Cargo theft is a multi-billion dollar problem for the trucking industry. However, as technology and safety equipment improve so to do would-be thieves. They continue to hone their skills to adapt to increased security. While cargo theft will likely never stop, it is much easier to prevent theft than it is to get stolen cargo back. The following are several facts about cargo theft that fleets need to know to protect their cargo.

  1. Cargo thieves shop around. Even if a thief ultimately passes on a truck’s contents, they will go snooping through it first. Thieves cannot tell from the exterior if the cargo is valuable or not. They will break locks and seals to check out the contents and decide if they want it or if they will pass. Even if they leave the cargo, drivers can still be dealing with a loss. If the driver is transporting consumables, they may rely on temperature control. Opening the door can ruin perishable items. It can also cause contamination.
  2. Some freight is in higher demand than others are. Although thieves cannot tell what a truck is carrying by looking at the exterior, many experienced criminals track trucks from start to finish to learn what their freight is. They know when the truck will depart and where the truck is going. They will bide their time until the opportune moment, and then they will boost the freight. Knowing what cargo thieves’ value can help drivers take extra precautions. Computer hardware and software, electronics, and consumables are thieves’ top three types of cargo.
  3. Thieves target the low-hanging fruit. Even though criminals continue to work on their thieving skills, they will go for the easiest targets first. This is most often unattended trailers. To reduce this kind of theft, drivers should always park in brightly lit areas. Other simple ways to prevent this type of theft include wheel locks, not leaving keys in the vehicle cab, and never leaving a truck idling.

Despite a fleet’s best efforts, cargo thieves sometimes succeed. That is why DriverCheck developed the trailer tracking technology FleetTrac. If your fleet loses a trailer, FleetTrac’s software can provide a GPS location, historical route data, a street view, and more. To learn more about our theft solutions, contact us today.