Rising Cargo Theft: Safeguard Your Freight with These Key Strategies

No one wants to be a victim of theft, especially when it involves losing valuable cargo worth USD 115,230. Unfortunately, this is the average loss due to cargo theft in 2024, as reported by Overhaul, marking a significant crisis that has escalated in recent years. The increasing frequency of these incidents has raised alarms in the industry about the best practices to prevent businesses from falling victim to such situations.?

The number of theft cases is unprecedented, driven by the rise of organized cargo theft groups. In the first half of 2024, CargoNet reported 1,696 theft incidents in the United States, a 43% increase compared to the same period in 2023.? The most affected areas tend to be locations that handle high volumes of cargo, such as ports. This is why California, Texas, and Illinois have seen the highest number of cases in recent months.?

According to reports from CargoNet, the primary commodities targeted for theft in 2024 belong to the food and beverage market, with liquor and energy drinks being particularly vulnerable. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in thefts of household goods, especially small appliances.?

In this scenario, you might be wondering what you can do to prevent your business from being impacted by scams and cargo theft. Below, we will explain the main strategies that criminals tend to use and the proactive measures you can take to minimize vulnerability to these cases.??

Main Methods for Cargo Theft??

The first thing you need to know is that cargo theft cases commonly occur at warehouses or distribution centers, truck stops, and even parking lots. Being aware of where these events happen allows you to proactively implement strategies to protect your business, including carefully evaluating the right partners for shipping to enhance safety.?

Here are the three most common practices of cargo theft groups, along with some ideas on how to prevent these situations:?

• Cargo Hijacking: This occurs when the carrier leaves the truck unattended to take a break, allowing criminals to seize the opportunity to steal it. According to Overhaul, this represents the most common scenario for cargo theft. To prevent this, drivers should plan stops only in well-lit parking areas with strong security protocols and avoid stopping during the initial hours of travel to minimize exposure to risky situations.?
• Fake Carriers: This scam is the second most common type of cargo theft and involves criminals pretending to be authorized carriers to pick up the cargo and then disappear. They usually use false documentation to deceive warehouse operators into releasing valuable goods.?

To protect yourself from situations like this, it’s key to partner with reliable and authorized carriers. Some of the documents that can help verify this information are:?

1. Motor Carrier (MC) Authority: This is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) license that authorizes carriers to operate.?
2. Certificate of Liability Insurance (COI): The COI serves as proof that the carrier has the necessary insurance to cover third-party property damage or personal injuries.?
3. W-9 Form: When a carrier provides a filled W-9 form, it provides its Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), which is useful to confirm it’s a legitimate and registered entity.?
4. Safety Record: Check the carrier's safety record on the FMCSA website to verify their history of accidents, violations, and compliance with regulations.?

• Leakage Operations: This method, which represents the third most common type of cargo theft, involves the subtle theft of goods, allowing criminals to act unnoticed by companies that remain unaware of what is missing. To prevent this, it’s important to strengthen security protocols during loading and unloading processes. Additionally, training your operations team to be alert to suspicious behavior is crucial.?

The Role of Third-Party Logistics in Preventing Cargo Theft?

Partnering with a third-party logistics (3PL) company can provide peace of mind as they take on the responsibility of finding customized carriers to meet your specific needs while tracking your freight every step of the way. This allows you to focus on other important aspects of your business. Here are some key benefits:?

• Regulatory Compliance: 3PL companies stay updated on the latest regulations and compliance standards in the logistics industry. They are diligent in partnering with reliable carriers to ensure your freight is handled securely, selecting them based on their safety records, reliability, and experience. Beyond compliance, 3PLs conduct regular checks to maintain high standards in their operations, reducing the risk of theft due to regulatory oversights or inadequate security protocols.?

When selecting a partner, make sure the company has a standardized safety protocol for choosing carriers to ship your freight. Ask them about the steps they follow to ensure each carrier is reliable and in compliance with industry regulations and high-quality standards.? ?

• Enhanced Visibility: By working with a 3PL, you gain access to advanced technology that offers frequent tracking and visibility of your shipments. This transparency enables you to monitor your cargo’s location and status, which is crucial for identifying any unusual activity or delays that could signal a potential theft. With this proactive monitoring, you can quickly react to any red flags and alert authorities, significantly reducing the chances of theft and ensuring the safety of your cargo throughout its journey.?
• Insurance Coverage for High-Cost Cargo: Many 3PLs provide insurance options as part of their services. Investing in insurance is a proactive way to protect your business from unexpected events, such as cargo theft or loss.?

GLT Logistics: Your Trusted Partner for Compliance and Freight Safety!?

At GLT, we take your freight security very seriously! We have implemented numerous strategies that have allowed us to identify and ban more than 4,500 dangerous accounts, preventing our customers from becoming victims.?

To provide you with peace of mind, we carefully select the right carriers for your cargo. With years of experience, we have improved our compliance process and built a network of highly skilled service providers. Each carrier is bound by an agreement with GLT and must provide documentation regarding their authority, insurance, and equipment.?

This is how we safeguard our customers against cargo theft:?

• We Have a Robust System for Monitoring Carrier Compliance: We have implemented an exclusive platform that not only analyzes information on over 415,000 carriers in the United States but also continuously monitors their compliance with national regulations. This system provides real-time alerts on any changes in a carrier's status, ensuring that our partners always work with reliable and compliant service providers.?

• We Make a Carrier Information Verification: Through this specialized safety platform, we cross-check the data provided by the carrier against the FMCSA’s SAFER website. This process allows us to instantly verify that all documents from the carrier are valid and ensures they meet our compliance standards.?

Additionally, our team verifies that the contact information used to reach out to us matches exactly with the data provided through our safety platform. This step confirms the reliability of the carrier. We perform this check each time we book a load with a carrier.?

• We Align with DOT Inspections: For carriers operating under a year, there must be at least one DOT inspection per two trucks.??

• We Are Meticulous in Reviewing Carrier Documentation: We have a minimum set of required documents as part of our compliance process. We carefully review these essential documents from each carrier before establishing a working relationship.?

• We Stay Updated to Make Informed Decisions: Thanks to the strong relationships we have built in the logistics industry, we receive daily cargo theft alerts. This helps us stay informed about where, how, and when these incidents occur, allowing us to make proactive decisions and prevent our clients from becoming victims.?

Now you have the information needed to make informed decisions when moving your freight! Partnering with a strategic ally can enhance your shipping experience and provide peace of mind. Choose GLT for customized and reliable service. Contact us at request@goglt.com to learn more about our solutions.?

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