Rest Easier This Labor Day With Tips To Avoid Cargo Theft
Cargo theft over Labor Day weekend has been on a steady rise for the past five years. According to CargoNet®, theft occurrences begin the Thursday before Labor Day and continue through the Wednesday after the holiday, with food and beverage being the most stolen commodity.
Warehouse and distribution centers in New Jersey, California and Texas are prime targets, having the highest reported incidents of theft in the U.S. The average loss of each stolen load? $218,133.
Luckily, shippers and carriers can drastically reduce the odds of falling victim to theft with some added vigilance. This includes:
- Only parking in secure lots and avoid leaving loaded trailers unattended. (CargoNet recommends using high-security ISO 17712 compliant barrier seals in combination with padlocks.)
- Securing trailers with high-security locking devices, such as air-cuff and steering column locks.
- Ensuring drivers, dispatchers and security managers have accurate license plate, VIN and descriptive information for tractors, trailers, containers and chassis so they can provide it to law enforcement if needed.
- Keeping truck and load information handy in case you need to reference it quickly.
- Making sure all lights, generators, alarm systems and surveillance equipment are in good working condition before leaving for the weekend.
TQL is here to help keep your cargo safe 24/7/365, especially on the holidays. Talk to us to find out how we can meet all your shipping needs.