An expert on cargo theft is warning the trucking industry that the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday is prime time for crooks' activity, and suggests things carriers and drivers can do to avoid being victims.
J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. encourages motor carriers to review their cargo security procedures and prepare for vulnerabilities that can arise during the holiday when facilities close, staffing levels change and loaded vehicles or trailers remain parked for extended periods.
Freight may be vulnerable while in transit, at terminals and warehouses, during overnight stops, and in parking lots or drop yards. In addition to the direct financial impact, cargo theft can cause delivery delays, disrupt operations, damage customer relationships and affect a carrier’s reputation.
Thanksgiving creates conditions that require additional planning, particularly when cargo will be parked or left unattended for an extended period.
“In my 25 years investigating cargo theft, both in law enforcement and in the trucking industry, one thing has remained consistent: thieves look for opportunity. Holiday weekends can create those opportunities when freight is sitting longer than usual and facilities are operating with reduced staffing. The best defense is to plan ahead and make your freight a harder target,” said Josh Lovan, Industry Business Advisor at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
To help fleets identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their defenses, J. J. Keller has published the whitepaper "Cargo Security and Preventing Theft in Trucking." Written by Lovan, the whitepaper explains how motor carriers can use a layered security strategy that combines physical safeguards, technology, operational procedures and employee training.
Lovan recommends that motor carriers take the following steps before the Thanksgiving holiday:
- Increase security during vulnerable periods. Heighten security when vehicles or trailers will be parked overnight, left unattended or stored for an extended time. Use secured parking facilities, surveillance systems and continuous monitoring when available.
- Secure tractors, trailers and cargo. Use appropriate trailer locks, kingpin locks, air-cuff locks, cargo seals and immobilization devices to help prevent unauthorized access or movement.
- Review holiday parking plans. Identify secure, well-lit parking areas with controlled access, fencing and surveillance. Avoid leaving loaded trailers unattended whenever possible.
- Use technology to monitor vehicles and loads. GPS, telematics, RFID technology and tamper-detection sensors can improve visibility and help carriers respond to unauthorized access, route deviations or possible theft.
- Establish communication procedures. Set expectations for driver and dispatcher check-ins and make sure employees understand how to report suspicious activity, attempted theft or a security breach.
- Inspect and document cargo. Verify loads before departure, document high-value cargo, inspect seals and locks at each stop, and report discrepancies immediately.
- Prepare terminals for holiday closures. Review facility lighting, surveillance cameras, alarms, perimeter fencing, gates and access controls before facilities close or begin operating with reduced staffing.
“There is no single lock, camera or piece of technology that will prevent every cargo theft,” Lovan said. “The strongest security programs use layers, combining physical security, technology, good operating procedures and employees who know what to look for. If one layer fails, another should still stand between the thief and the freight.”
Lovan has extensive experience in the transportation industry and in law enforcement. Before joining J. J. Keller in 2021, he served as director of safety and security for a motor carrier. His law enforcement experience included detective work and undercover operations. At J. J. Keller, he specializes in security, hazardous materials, injury prevention, hours of service and motor carrier safety management.
Motor carriers can download the complimentary “Cargo Security and Preventing Theft in Trucking” whitepaper.
