Road Scholar Transportation

Read this post at

http://www.roadscholar.com/blog/nicb-reports-2010-cargo-theft-statistics-and-prevention-methods/

The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released its Data Analytics ForeCast Report last week, highlighting last year’s cargo theft statistics which consisted of 747 reports of stolen freight and a loss of over $171,000,000.

The following information is provided by the NICB report found on www.nicb.org/File%20Library/Public%20Affairs/2010-NICB-Identified-Cargo-Thefts.pdf.

Risks:

-Cargo was more prone to theft when stationed at areas where numerous trucks were located, such as “truck stops, parking lots, warehouses, and port cities.”

-Most thefts occur close to their origin, which the report notes, “within 200 miles or four hours.”

-As Walt Beadling and Jim Barrett note in their presentation on Cargo Security, which can be found on the RS University page, “Cargo at rest is cargo at risk.”  NICB acknowledges that it usually takes under five minutes for thieves to steal your freight.

-Do you know who is handling your freight?  Fraudulent companies, often given loads through online brokers, were responsible for numerous thefts, posing as a legitimate carrier in order to pick up the customer’s freight, which then never reaches its destination.  Know who your driver is and track your shipment live by shipping with Road Scholar Transport.

Statistics:

-Data found the state of California to have over twice the number of reported thefts than any other state with 247 cases. Texas placed second with 91 and Florida third with 66.

-The highest theft rate occurred in the month of February with 113 cases, followed by August at 78 and June with 76 thefts.

Provided by www.nicb.org/File%20Library/Public%20Affairs/2010-NICB-Identified-Cargo-Thefts.pdf

-When looking at the type of product thieves chose to steal, electronics stood out as the cargo of choice, accounting for 139 stolen shipments.  Ranking second was “other” at 118 and food third at 108.  Pharmaceuticals, a high valued target, only experienced 29 thefts, though suffering large losses, placing it at the number ten spot among the types of commodities stolen.  This number, however, excludes controlled pharmaceuticals (making up the 15^th spot with five thefts) and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals (18^th with two cases).  When combined, pharmaceutical theft would have 36 reports of theft last year, making it tied with metal in the 7^th position.

Effects:

-Cargo theft does not only affect the shipper, receiver, and carrier but everyone in general.  According to the report, consumers face retail mark-ups of nearly 20% when freight is stolen.

-Carriers and shippers that are fortunate to have their cargo recovered often receive “damaged or tainted products that cannot be resold.”

-Along with higher costs come higher risks.  Thefts can result in harm for drivers and consumers face the chance of being sold a product that has been tampered with.  As the NICB explains, there have been times when thieves have altered the expiration date on products such as baby formula in order to resell it.  This, along with improper storage, can lead to health concerns when ingested.

Prevention:

-The NICB explains that the first step in avoiding employee theft is to properly screen staff.  That’s why Road Scholar Transport conducts background checks on all new hires and routine checks on drivers.

Road Scholar Transport

-Educating your staff on proper security measures is another way to prevent cargo theft.  As the NICB notes, employees should be trained on how to safeguard “five important assets” including “employee, trailer, tractor, cargo, and customers.”  At Road Scholar Transport, we hold safety meetings for our drivers as well as continuously educate our staff on the latest news in the trucking industry.  Working with the Cargo Security Alliance, our employees are alert of the newest and best ways to ensure the security of your freight.  With independent tracking on both the tractor and trailer, tools that make it easy and convenient for our customers to monitor their freight live, and other extensive security features which you can view at www.roadscholar.com, Road Scholar is protecting the safety of your shipment.

-The NICB encourages drivers to make a continuous run without stopping for the first 200 miles, “use secured lots,…avoid theft hotspots,” as well as not to assign new drivers the task of transporting expensive shipments.

Save yourself the hassle of wondering if your freight will be safe during transport by shipping with a secure company such as Road Scholar Transport.

Do you find any of the NICB’s report to startling?