South
African companies lose billions of rands each year to cargo theft.
Understanding risks can help fleet owners take proactive measures to keep
in-transit cargo secure.
Think about trucks in
transit, and one of the first things that come to mind is the safety of the
cargo. Securing a load remains a key challenge for fleet operators in light of
ongoing theft and hijackings. This is especially true since criminals are using
increasingly sophisticated tactics to steal goods.
When targeting
high-value loads, criminals are adept at obtaining insider information about
the types of products being transported and the routes travelled. Compounding
the cargo theft problem are cases that have involved collusion by employees of
transport companies.
The national crime
statistics show a 30% increase in cargo truck hijackings in 2015. Criminals are
not just stealing high-valued goods like pharmaceuticals and luxury items; they
are also targeting products of lesser value, like clothing. Of all the
hijackings in 2015, 17% occurred on shipments valued at less than R300 000, up
from the 12% of such thefts in 2014.
According to Hein
Jordt, MD of Ctrack Fleet Management Solutions, vehicle tracking companies need
to continuously invest in research to stay ahead of the latest modus operandi
of criminals.
“While companies
continue to improve their methods to prevent cargo thefts, the older
countermeasures just aren’t that effective anymore. Each day, criminals are
getting better and better at their jobs. This calls for massive, cooperative
action between fleet owners, vehicle tracking companies and law enforcement
agencies, ” he says.
“The best security
protocol includes several layers of protection – from GPS solutions to
better-prepared drivers, to more structured, less risky routes. With the right
strategies in place, all the different parties can work together to ensure
cargo gets from A to B fully intact,” concluded Jordt.
Theft prevention tips
Keep
moving: The
longer a loaded trailer or container sits unattended, the higher the risk for
theft. Make sure drivers are clear on trip planning. This includes identifying
fuel stops, locations to layover and safe, monitored rest stops. The longer a loaded trailer or
container sits unattended, the higher the risk for theft. Make sure drivers are
clear on trip planning. This includes identifying fuel stops, locations to
layover and safe, monitored rest stops.
Use
trailer tracking devices: A tracking device allows you to identify
when a truck or trailer goes significantly off its route or leaves a designated
area. These devices alert dispatch and allow you to communicate the position of
the vehicle.
Pick-up
and delivery protocols: Make sure that
drivers are always properly identified and that they know exactly where they
need to deliver their loads. They also need to see proper identification for
personnel and make sure they are unloading in the correct location.
Do
the basics: Train drivers to be aware of their surroundings and to
stay alert while driving or stopping to rest. Educate them on hijacking
hotspots and high-risk areas. Use vehicle security cameras. With new
advancements in data storage and wifi, mobile video surveillance is now more
accessible than ever to small and large fleet operators alike. These
surveillance cameras allow for corroborating details of an incident – such as a
hijacking – accurately to track or give a trusted account, recordings, and
snapshots of the interval before, during and after the incident.
They can consists of
up to four cameras that can be mounted forward-facing, facing towards the
driver and with views from the inside front and back of the truck . This
enables critical surveillance and remote monitoring that’s ideal for most fleet
operations.
Article
first appeared in Transport World Africa:
http://www.transportworldafrica.co.za/2016/06/27/keeping-an-eye-on-cargo-theft/
