Been reading the news? It’s like something out of a high-tension TV show: Tractor trailers loaded up – not with standard cargo, but with live surveillance equipment. They’re like bait on a hook to cargo thieves, one of the biggest dangers to the trucking industry.
Cargo theft is as bold and outlandish as it sounds. Truckers will drive up with a lone cab, or towing an empty trailer. They look for nondescript, unmarked trailers that will be harder to identify in case of a police search. Then, they simply hook their cab up to the trailer and go. Items are usually sold to third parties or even turned around via bulk online sales. Between July and September alone, there were 152 cargo thefts out on the open road.
During the holidays, these cargo thefts go up in frequency. Leading up to Christmas, trucks are more likely to be toting high-dollar, in-demand goods for gifts – a pretty sweet haul for a thief on the naughty list.
For those of us who work to ensure that shipments get safely from point A to point B, cargo theft can be a huge issue. What’s interesting about these “sting trailers” is that there’s no guarantee they’ll be stolen. But if they are, the hidden equipment can give law enforcement an idea of where these goods are being taken and resold. Most cargo theft isn’t a one-time deal, and finding buyers for stolen goods is key to taking the system down from the inside.
It’s a classic game of cat-and-mouse, but there are holes in the plan. Thieves aren’t always deterred by the punishments for cargo theft – a little jail time is nothing when the load you’ve hauled can easily cover bail money! Additionally, law enforcement officers aren’t always the most tech-savvy guys in town. Freight thieves are pretty clever when it comes to evading tech and using it for their own methods.
In the meantime, the best we can do is continue to perform our stringent due diligence. For more on our best practices, watch our video: “How A Broker Can Protect You From Fraud”.
As for this season’s most important cargo hauler, I’m not worried about him getting his stuff stolen. After all, he’s got great surveillance. He sees you when you’re sleeping and he knows when you’re awake…
Keep your eyes open this weekend,
~Bob
