The upcoming long Labor Day weekend may be a time for rest and relaxation for many truckers, but it's also a busy period for cargo thieves.
Overhaul, a cargo security firm, said that with Labor Day falling on Monday, Sept. 7, shippers across the United States should carefully review shipping schedules surrounding the long weekend. Holidays routinely alter operating hours at receiving facilities, and hours of operation should be confirmed before loads scheduled to deliver between Friday, Sept. 4 and Monday, Sept. 7 are allowed to depart.
Cargo thieves know holiday weekends mean freight can sit unattended for extended periods, according to Overhaul. The company said trailers staged outside big box store receiving facilities are prime targets for pilferage and straight theft, while distribution centers and warehouses operate with reduced staffing and scaled back security, giving criminals a larger window to operate, and delaying the discovery of losses.
Overhaul said deception remains the dominant method employed by cargo thieves. It said tactics include double brokering, fraudulent carrier identities, spoofed communication, and falsified paperwork.
Extended holiday lead times can make these schemes harder to detect, as the gap between theft and discovery can stretch across the entire weekend, according to Overhaul.
To reduce the rosk of cargo theft during the holiday weekend, Overhaul suggests shippers should thoroughly vet all brokers, carriers, and drivers, and document all necessary details for each shipment. The company also suggests shippers should confirm if the receiver’s hours of operation will be affected by the holiday and adjust schedules as needed to avoid unnecessary staging.
For over the road shipments, Overhaul suggests stops made over the holiday period should be in well lit, secured areas with trailer doors backed to a solid surface, if possible, while facilities should ensure all security systems are functioning properly.
