Understanding and finding solutions for protecting against cargo theft is essential for the various players in the domestic shipping industry. Cargo theft is the criminal act of hijacking cargo that a shipper is transporting. This type of burglary can happen at any part of the delivery process, including storage facilities or en route. When this happens, it impacts the shipper, carrier, and receiver of the freight. Over the last few years, cargo theft has become more frequent, with bulgers finding new methods of robbery. In the first quarter of 2024, analysts reported a 46% increase compared to the same time in 2023. While this may happen when moving shipments internationally, this article will focus on moving goods domestically.
Common Cargo Theft Tactics
Some of the most common ways that criminals engage in cargo theft include:
- Straight Cargo Theft – Straight theft is when thieves go to the physical location of the carrier to steal the cargo. Familiar places where this happens include roadside pick-ups, parking lots, truck stops, and warehouses. Typically, the thieves wait until the driver leaves the truck. However, they can physically attack the trucker.
- Strategic Theft – Strategic theft is a more deceptive and covert form of robbery. These are operations where thieves carefully plan to confuse carriers and shippers. It can include identity theft by falsifying paperwork and putting counterfeit seals on trucks. Another type is a double brokerage, in which a broker passes a shipment to another broker without the shipper knowing. When the shipment is complete, the original broker takes a cut of the profit and then gives the other broker the agreed-upon rate.
- Pilferage – Pilferage or petty theft is stealing items of low value. In trucking, this can mean taking a smaller portion of cargo over time, unknown to the shipper. This typically happens on large shipments where stealing tiny amounts of goods goes unnoticed. Thieves can include drivers, warehouse workers, or separate criminals not in the supply chain.
- Digital Theft – As technology becomes more common in domestic shipping, so has the chance of digital theft. Hackers can enter a company’s computer system and steal confidential information like drop-off and pick-up locations. With the info, they can commit counterfeit pick-ups by printing out fake documents to show to the pick-up facility.
Ways Of Protecting Against Cargo Theft?
Protecting against theft is crucial due to the significance that having your cargo stolen has on multiple supply chain parts. The most common way a driver can do this is by using technologies like cameras, GPS tracking, and electronic seals. These seals use electronic locking mechanisms to protect the cargo from robbers. Before the carrier moves the shipment, the trucking company must train drivers on cargo theft. Training could include recognizing suspicious behavior and not releasing vital information with load details. The facility housing the cargo for pick-up must have strict procedures for verifying driver identity, like checking credentials.
Shippers must use a credible carrier to move their goods. However, this can be challenging without the assistance of a freight broker. Brokers are the middlemen between the shipper and carrier, who find reputable cargo moving companies on behalf of the shipper. Reach A1 Freight Solutions at 786-375-9420 for assistance transporting your shipment anywhere in the U.S. We have brokers with a network of carriers experienced in protecting against cargo theft or other disruptions.