Posts Tagged ‘thieves’
Thursday, December 29th, 2011
Just days before Christmas when everyone is rushing to the stores to load up on everything they need for their traditional Christmas dinner, thieves stole a trailer loaded with several thousands of dollars worth the meats and vegetables.
The truck, which was parked behind a HoneyBaked Ham store in Cordova, TN, was filled with 1,017 hams worth $56,000, 42 boxes of turkeys worth $15,000, and $57,000 worth of side dishes (which included potatoes, casseroles and cinnamon apples), according to WMCTV.com.
Somewhere between the times of 11:15 p.m. on Dec. 20th (when the trailer was last seen) and 6:15 a.m. on Dec. 21st, the truck was stolen.
After sending out an alert for police to stay on watch for the tractor trailer, Memphis police recovered the abandoned truck two days later, the exact location not released, however, three quarters of the cargo was taken, WMCTV explains.
Although a quarter of the cargo was recovered, the high risk of contamination is enough to keep the products off the market. As HoneyBaked Ham’s Robin Blanton stated, “Because the product has been out of our control for the period of time, we of course are not able to sell it. Because of food safety issues, we’re not able to donate the product as well. We’ll just have to destroy the product” (http://www.wmctv.com/story/16390097/truck-stolen-from-cordova-honeybaked-ham-recovered).
This is the unfortunate case most of the time, especially when transporting refrigerated/frozen goods, such as meat, which can become contaminated and lead to widespread health concerns when transported under improper temperature conditions and ingested by consumers. Not knowing how long the trailer failed to maintain a proper temperature or who tampered with the product, companies are forced to discard their products, losing money.
Road Scholar Transport, however, can help. We apply a product known as ReeferTrak to all of our refrigerated trailers, which allows our staff to carefully monitor the temperature within the trailer (and your freight), alerting us of any change in degree. This system allows you, the customer, the ability to see the temperature of your freight, as well as its location, at any given time, with accessibility months after delivery so you don’t have to deal with the problem of disposing your freight due to contamination concerns.
Thieves will have an incredibly tough time making away with one of Road Scholar’s brightly colored awareness trucks which are tracked live, delivering its precise location as well as location history, so you not only know where your freight is but where it has been.
With electronic door monitoring alerting of every door opening/closing, our team will constantly be on guard of any irregular activity. Not to mention Navalock capability which is bolt cutter, sledgehammer, and chisel proof to prevent the tampering of your freight.
Visit Road Scholar’s University page at www.roadscholar.com where you will learn about cargo security from Walt Beadling, Managing Partner at the Cargo Security Alliance, and Jim Barrett, President of Road Scholar Transport, and how Road Scholar is taking measures to keep your freight secure.
What do you think of Road Scholar’s ReeferTrak system? List your comments below.
Tags: awareness trucks, bolt cutter, cargo, Cargo Security Alliance, christmas, Cordova, electronic door monitoring, freight, frozen goods, HoneyBaked Ham, meat, navalock, police, ReeferTrak, refrigerated goods, road scholar transport, security measures, stolen truck, thieves, TN, tractor-trailer, Walk Beadling
Posted in Awareness Campaign Articles, LTL freight, Services, Trucking Industry News | Comments Off
Thursday, September 29th, 2011
Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, dubbed one of America’s 100 Most Trustworthy Companies by Forbes in 2010, has recently entered into an agreement with SteelSafe Truck Immobilizer International in an effort to prevent and stop cargo theft.
Chubb has announced that “motor truck cargo liability customers who purchase a SteelSafe Truck Immobilizer can have their policy deductible waived up to $10,000 in the event a stolen load is not recovered after law enforcement is notified in a timely manner” (http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/19/3921885/chubb-seeks-to-stop-cargo-thieves.html).
Cargo theft is a growing concern nationwide with stolen loads resulting in thousands, even millions of dollars worth the lost products. As FreightWatch notes, a stolen truckload of pharmaceuticals results in an average loss of $3.8 million.
Along with pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food, and electronics have all become high-valued targets among thieves, who then resell these products for a profit.
As was the case this week when Elizabeth Arden, a popular cosmetic company, had their truckload of beauty products stolen, uncovering the abandoned tractor within an hour but is still missing the loaded trailer.
And if you think that having your cargo stolen is just a one-time bad luck occurrence, think again. This is the fifth instance within a year that Elizabeth Arden has had their cargo stolen, demonstrating that cargo theft is increasing and shippers need to look into more secure trucking companies, like Road Scholar Transport, who incorporates the latest technology on their fleet.
The SteelSafe Truck Immobilizer is one of these devices, working to both prevent theft and stop it if it should occur.
Picture this; you just received word that your cargo has been stolen. You quickly pull out your mobile phone, press a button, and the truck, and with it your freight, that thieves had made away with has now come to a stop, leading you to its position for retrieval.
That’s the case with the SteelSafe system. When a truck equipped with this device is stolen, the owner can track it with the device’s GPS system and using a mobile phone or computer, activate the system which will then release air from the brakes, slowing the truck down and stopping it within 5 minutes. The gradual slowdown helps reduce an accident caused by an abrupt stop, allowing the driver to steer the truck but preventing the driver from moving it after it has been immobilized.
Road Scholar Transport offers the same security. Using Qualcomm’s panic technology, Road Scholar drivers can quickly press a button on their keychain, which can also be activated by dispatch, immobilizing the vehicle. That’s one reason why Road Scholar Transport has never suffered a full cargo loss in over 20 years in business!
The SteelSafe Truck Immobilizer also works to prevent a theft by automatically immobilizing the truck once it is parked; only unlocking it once again using a keyfob (http://www.steelsafe.com.au).
According to SteelSafe’s website, there are two types of immobilizes; one offering GPS on the truck and one on the trailer, just like Road Scholar Transport has independent tracking on its tractors and trailers, allowing us to uncover your freight even if thieves decide to abandon the tractor.
For more information on how SteelSafe works, click on the video below and put your freight onboard a safe carrier by going to www.roadscholar.com today.
What do you think of Road Scholar’s ability to immobilize our trucks in cases of theft?
Tags: cargo theft, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, cosmetics, electronics, Elizabeth Arden, food, Forbes, FreightWatch, GPS, high-valued targets, panic technology, pharmaceuticals, Qualcomm, road scholar transport, SteelSafe Truck Immobilizer International, theft, thieves, tractor-trailer, trucking company, trucking news
Posted in Services, Trucking Industry News | Comments Off
Thursday, September 1st, 2011
It’s every shipper’s worst nightmare…cargo theft. Not only do you suffer from inventory replacement costs, but the cost of recovery operations, restocking, recall, and worse, relationships/credibility with clients. And did we mention that all of this can happen in just 90 seconds?
90 seconds…the amount of time it takes for thieves to steal cargo. That is, given that the cargo is not onboard one of Road Scholar Transport’s trucks, in which thieves would move onto a softer target once they could not tackle Road Scholar’s security features in under a minute and a half.
But what if your cargo is not onboard a well-equipped carrier?
Pharmaceuticals are a product of choice among thieves due to their high-value and marketability. Add to that the ability of thieves to dispose of the evidence by simply consuming it.
As pharmaceutical theft expert Erik Hoffer explains, “Those pills can be blended into real and fake, there’s no way to trace it anymore and you’ve eaten the evidence” (http://www.nbc-2.com/story/15354493/2011/08/29/fl-cargo-theft-impacting-drug-shortages-prices).
Now you have no culprit, no evidence, and lost a shipment. This can lead to drug shortages and, not surprisingly, price surges for consumers. As NBC-2.com notes, “According to a March survey, prices jumped 11 percent for hard to find medicine,” leading companies to replace them with generic drugs that may be less effective. And if the medication is in short supply and the price seems too good to be true, it probably is, with thieves reselling their pharmaceuticals at low costs.
Those pharmaceuticals that are regained during a theft are usually deemed worthless, even if their seals appear to be untampered with since companies do not know if their shipment was sustained under the appropriate storage conditions, which could lead to health problems if sold and ingested.
But that’s not the case when shipping with Road Scholar Transport. We can provide a detailed history of the temperature within the trailer at any time along with a log of any door openings and closures to ensure that your pharmaceuticals were properly stored and remained untainted.
According to the article, one possible solution to consumers buying/ingesting stolen pharmaceuticals would be to insert a tracking device on each bottle that consumers could use to see if the medication was on a stolen alert status, however, this solution would be too costly (http://www.nbc-2.com/story/15354493/2011/08/29/fl-cargo-theft-impacting-drug-shortages-prices).
Why go through the expense of creating individual tracking devices when you can choose a secure carrier like Road Scholar Transport, who has independent tracking devices on both the tractor and trailer along with expedited shipping to ensure the quick delivery of your high valued goods? Just visit www.roadscholar.com today to get your freight onboard.
What do you think needs to be done to prevent pharmaceutical theft in the industry? List your comments below.
Tags: cargo theft, carrier, expedited shipping, freight, generic drugs, pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical news, pharmaceutical theft, recall, road scholar transport, satellite tracking, security features, temperature monitoring, thieves, tracking devices, tractor-trailer, trucking company, trucking industry, trucking news
Posted in Services, Trucking Industry News | Comments Off
Friday, June 10th, 2011
Not one, but two North Carolina companies were the victims of a theft last month when thieves took a tractor from a privately-owned company, using it to then steal a trailer from a trucking company.
A & B Land & Timber, located in Fuquay-Varina, had their sole truck cab stolen on May 11th, resulting in the company having to hire contract haulers to transport their shipments, an article on wral.com notes.
But that’s not all. The thieves then waited an hour before driving the truck to Williams Brothers Trucking in New Hill, stealing one of the company’s $40,000 trailers.
Surveillance video caught the theft, which occurred in under four minutes, as it plowed it’s way through the company’s fence, which was actually wide open at the other end, the article notes. (See video on the right)
So what happens next? According to one GOLO member on the site, who goes by the name ‘djofraleigh,’ “Someone went into trucking business.”
Unfortunately, this is the case a lot of the time, where thieves create fraudulent trucking companies to steal freight…your freight. This is another reason to conduct research on a carrier before trusting them with your precious cargo. Better yet, why not get a first-person customer point of view on the reputation of a company before shipping with them. At www.roadscholar.com, you will be granted access to both freight and auto hauling customer testimonials telling you about their experiences with Road Scholar. Don’t take our word for it, take shippers’ and receivers’ like yourself.
Another person, going by the codename “radartoe,” also commented on the theft stating, “They’ll never find it. Had one stolen and I don’t even think they ever looked for it. If they did stop someone they look at the truck ID, but never ever the trailer.”
That’s why Road Scholar Transport not only has tracking devices on all of our tractors, but trailers as well, knowing the precise location of your freight, and our equipment, at all times.
Unable to track down their missing trailer a month later, Williams Brothers Trucking is now offering a $5,000 reward for the recovery of their trailer.
According to the company, the truck is “a white 1990 freight-liner with “A&B” on the doors” and “North Carolina tag number YA104853,” while the trailer has “‘Williams Brothers Trucking’ decals and Georgia tag number LE5256F” (http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/9703676/). Those with any information are asked to contact Roger Williams at 912-424-4777.
Tags: A & B Land & Timber, auto hauling, customer testimonial, freight, Fuquay-Varina, Georgia, New Hill, north carolina, road scholar transport, satellite tracking, surveillance video, thieves, tracking, tractor trailer theft, truck, Williams Brothers Trucking
Posted in LTL freight, Services, Trucking Industry News, auto hauling | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011
Do you know who is pulling up to your dock to pick up your freight? Or do you know what company you can expect to deliver it? Better yet, can you guarantee that your freight will be delivered?
It is important to do your research when choosing what carrier to trust with your freight. Not doing so is bound to place your freight, as well as company’s reputation, at risk.
So was the case last Friday with Vitan Enterprises, whose shipment of king crab was stolen “without a trace.”
Nearly 25,000 pounds of king crab was to be delivered on Monday to International Seafoods Venture in Seattle from the L.A. cold-storage warehouse where it originated.
On Monday, the driver phoned in from Oregon to report mechanical difficulties, The Seattle Times explains, and the load, which was valued at over $400,000, never made it to its destination.
According to the article, Vitan Enterprises uses New Sound Transportation, a Washington company that uses truck contractors to fill lanes, for several of its shipments. The problem with this is that there is not a steady, single carrier transporting the company’s freight but rather various companies.
Wouldn’t you rather know that a distinguishable/recognizable company with uniformed drivers and reliable equipment is going to show up at you and your customer’s dock in a professional manner the way that Road Scholar Transport does?
New Sound Transportation acknowledged that although they post their lanes online for truck contractors, they do not list the contents of the cargo, and therefore, while king crab is currently a high valued target due to current price surges, there is doubt that thieves in this case knew exactly what they were stealing.
New Sound Transportation continued to explain that when they initially examined the truck contractor, “the trucker’s insurance, driver’s license and other documents appeared to be legitimate,” yet when the freight did not deliver, they reinvestigated the material and found it to be a case of fraud, stressing the importance of thoroughly checking a carrier before trusting them with your freight (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015168410_crabtheft28m.html).
According to The Seattle Times, Vitan Enterpises’ Andrew Feoktistov states, “No one knows where it went. Did it go south, north, east?” This brings up the issue of cargo security. If you are a company looking for the cheapest service, then you shouldn’t expect features such as satellite tracking or electronic door monitoring for when something goes wrong.
Road Scholar not only has independent tracking on both the tractor and trailer, quickly uncovering the precise location of your cargo, but navalock and seals preventing the tampering of your products.
Don’t leave it up to the broker to find the right person to transport your precious LTL and truckload freight. Do your research and choose Road Scholar Transport, an asset-based carrier ensuring quality service and security of your goods.
Have you ever experienced a problem with a broker before?
Tags: asset-based carrier, broker, cargo, carrier, cold-storage, freight, International Seafoods Venture, king crab, L.A., LTL freight, navalock, New Sound Transportation, Oregon, road scholar transport, seals, Seattle, security features, stolen shipment, thieves, truckload freight, Vitan Enterprises, warehouse
Posted in LTL freight, Services, Trucking Industry News | Comments Off
Tuesday, May 17th, 2011
It’s not just copper but metal in general that has become a popular target among thieves lately, with a current spike in reported activity.
Not only are companies noticing unfamiliar trucks loaded with their metal on their property, but farmers are taking a hit as well with thieves stealing metal wires from irrigation pipes, preventing farmers from tending to their crops, an article on StatesmanJournal.com notes.
Improper irrigation can lead to the destruction of crops, which in return affects the farmer’s source of income, possibly leading the farmer to shut down his farm.
This is why it is important to take preventative measures to drastically lower your chances of a theft.
Officer Mark Jantz of the Salem Police Force recommends the following tips (provided by http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110517/NEWS/105170339/As-copper-theft-rises-companies-try-fight-back?odyssey=nav|head):
-“ Increasing the lighting around a business property, installing as many surveillance cameras as possible on the property, and having fencing that allows police to look onto the property.” Road Scholar Transport has just that with a digital surveillance system of our entire property that is monitored 24/7, protecting our trucks and your freight from intruders.
- “Sign up for the police department’s Security Survey Program, a service that lets police check whether the business property meets crime-prevention standards.”
-“Participate in the police department’s Trespass Letter of Consent, a document that gives police permission — without the need to contact the business owner — to go onto the property and arrest or order people to get off the premises.”
Oregon also possesses a law stating that “anyone transporting and selling metals must have a Metal Transport Certificate” and that “businesses that buy copper wiring, such as recyclers, must take a picture of the metal, make a copy the seller’s driver’s license and keep records for purchases of nonferrous metals — excluding aluminum cans — for one year” (http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110517/NEWS/105170339/As-copper-theft-rises-companies-try-fight-back?odyssey=nav|head).
The above steps are suggestions on what companies should do to prevent theft…now this is what Road Scholar is currently doing…
-Provide satellite and reefer tracking for live monitoring of your freight down to the street level. You’ll always know where your freight is and who has it.
-Qualcomm distress/panic messaging allows disablement of the vehicle to prevent your cargo from taking off with the wrong person(s).
-Navlock, bolts, and seals protecting the contents of your freight.
-Background/drug checks and online driver verification to ensure that only the safest drivers are transporting your freight.
-Brightly colored awareness trucks that make our trucks easily recognizable and harder to steal.
And that’s not all. Road Scholar is constantly improving our security features to have only the most innovative and resourceful tools accompanying your freight. Visit www.roadscholar.com to learn more.
How important do you feel it is to choose a carrier that applies the latest technology on their trucks?
Tags: awareness program, awareness trucks, background check, bolts, cargo, carrier, copper, crops, drug check, farmers, freight, irrigation, Mark Jantz, metal, Metal Transport Certificate, navalock, police, Qualcomm, reefer tracking, road scholar transport, Salem, satellite tracking, seals, security features, Security Survey Program, surveillance system, theft, thieves, tractor-trailer, Trespass Letter of Consent, trucks
Posted in Awareness Campaign Articles, LTL freight, Services, Trucking Industry News | Comments Off
Wednesday, April 27th, 2011
Comdata and other fuel card companies are prime targets right now as fuel prices continue to skyrocket. With this being said, it comes as no surprise of the number of reported theft cases from truck drivers whose accounts have been hacked.
As was the case last month when a San Antonio truck company driver, Albert Yoshimoto, was refused online access to his Comdata account.
Yoshimoto later found out why when he received a call from Comdata two weeks later claiming that $12,000 worth his checks were cashed overnight, an article in Land Line Magazine notes.
Whereas Yoshimoto blames Comdata for knowing that there was a problem and choosing to ignore it, Comdata believes that it is not their fault, they explained in an interview with the magazine.
Yoshimoto is not the only target either. Reports of thieves hacking into a driver’s fuel card are being reported all over, and not just those using Comdata.
EFS Transportation Services experienced the same reaction this month when their customer, Wisconsin owner-operator Tracy George, had 17 checks stolen, valuing $10,400 (http://www.landlinemag.com/todays_news/Daily/2011/Apr11/042511/042611-01.shtml).
Both companies blame malware, which they state is what thieves are using to hack into accounts. Customers are encouraged to have up-to-date anti-virus software installed on their computers to prevent this from occurring.
According to the article, software developer John Ewing blames “fuel card companies” for “allowing truckers to be robbed blind,” stating that “it’s really rare for a hacker to go into someone’s individual computer for anything other than sending out spam emails.”
A recent survey conducted by Land Line Magazine notes that fuel card theft is becoming more common, with 10 percent of those who participated claiming to have had their fuel cards hacked at least one time, with 15 percent of those paying in cash for their fuel, believing it to be a much safer route.
Regardless of rising fuel costs and thefts, the trucking industry remains “the 
backbone of America,” continuing to deliver your products across the nation.
Road Scholar Transport is well-versed in cargo security and will keep your freight safe from theft with our ever-evolving technology. Visit www.roadscholar.com to request a rate via a secure website today!
What do you think companies issuing fuel cards should do to prevent thieves from hacking into accounts?
Tags: Albert Yoshimoto, cargo security, ComData, driver, EFS Transportation Services, freight, fuel card, hack, John Ewing, malware, road scholar transport, San Antonio, thieves, truck drivers, Wisconsin
Posted in LTL freight, Trucking Industry News | Comments Off
Friday, April 15th, 2011
Tomatoes and other produce are being dubbed the new MVP (Most Valuable Product) among thieves after nearly $300,000 worth the food products were stolen last month by a group of thieves who created a fraudulent trucking company.
E&A Transport Express, a false Miami-based trucking company, is said to have stolen eight tractor trailers worth the food products which include six loads of tomatoes, one load of cucumbers, and one load of frozen meat, according to thestar.com.
Why thieves would target tomatoes instead of a trailer full of electronics may pose as a question to many. The answer would have to do with freezing temperatures in Mexico that ruined and damaged crops, raising the price of produce, the site notes.
One 40,000 pound load of tomatoes that was stolen, for instance, cost West Coast Tomato $42,000 (http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/975215–vegetable-bandits-strike-as-food-prices-soar).
The thieves, who are still not caught, realized the impact that freezing weather conditions would play on produce sales, which is why, thestar.com explains, E&A Transport Express quickly registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and began to search out brokers listing produce loads.
One of these brokers was Allen Lund, who verified the company’s registration with the FMCSA before giving the thieves loads. But they were not the only ones conned. Three other brokers were wrapped up in E&A Transport Express’s scheme as well.
By taking loads that were given a few days for delivery due to distance, the company had enough time to pull of the theft before the goods were reported missing/undelivered. On the other hand, if the shipper had transported their cargo with Road Scholar Transport, they would been able to track their shipment live as well as have their freight constantly monitored by Road Scholar employees so that if a driver goes off route, the driver and truck are immediately contacted and checked of any problems.
Unfortunately, the inability to track your freight is the case for many produce companies who go through brokers to ship their freight.
More and more instances of fraudulent companies using online methods to develop and steal freight are erupting, posing a concern for those shippers using brokers, since they do not know who exactly is handling their freight or if the company now trusted with their goods is legit.
Having your products stolen is a concern for all companies but especially food, beverage, and pharmaceutical industries whose products, when in the wrong hands, could become contaminated and result in large effects on the health of the general public.
This can be prevented by choosing a reputable company who has been in business for years and is well-versed in cargo security, such as Road Scholar Transport.
Road Scholar has joined CargoNet, a group dedicated to theft prevention and recovery, and is continuously pushing the performance envelope with new products and technologies with an emphasis on brand protection and on time performances.
Owner Jim Barrett has been asked (and accepted) to do several radio interviews and presentations on cargo security. Some of these include the radio show “Tough Talk” with Joe Peters, which you can hear at http://www.roadscholar.com/webinars/toughtalk2.html and presentations with Walt Beadling, President of the Cargo Security Alliance, who was recently featured on Fox News as an expert in the cargo security scare.
You can view a pdf explaining all of our features/services at http://www.roadscholar.com/cms/uploads/files/rs-security.pdf.
Don’t let your products be the target of a theft scheme. Go to www.roadscholar.com to learn what Road Scholar can do for you.
How much do you value cargo security?
Tags: broker, cargo security, Cargo Security Alliance, CargoNet, driver, E&A Transport Express, federal motor carrier safety administration, food products, Fox News, fraud, freight, Joe Peters, Mexico, Miami, road scholar transport, theft, thieves, tomatoes, Tough Talk, trucking company, Walt Beadling
Posted in LTL freight, Services, Trucking Industry News | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 12th, 2011
Dr. Pepper’s slogan, “There’s nothing like a Dr. Pepper,” has shown some truth over the previous months as thieves made away with several tractor trailers hauling the popular beverage. But the thieves could care less about the expensive equipment they hijacked, they just wanted the soda, as proven by the abandoned tractor trailers in each case, all found in open, easily noticeable areas.
The first theft occurred in Sherman, TX last February, in which a tractor trailer worth between $100,000 and $200,000 and loaded with Dr. Pepper products was taken from a plant at 1915 E. U.S. Highway 82, according to the Herald Democrat.
The trailer was reported missing around 5 in the morning and not found until the next morning, in which police discovered the empty truck, whose engine was running, on State Highway 183 about 80 miles away (http://www.heralddemocrat.com/hd/PoliceReports/2-8-11-Police-Reports-Feb-8).
A few weeks later, two more thefts occurred. The first on March 1st in Waco, TX, this time not one, but two trucks being stolen. Early that morning, thieves hot wired the trucks, again loaded with the beverage, and drove through a chain link fence, taking the Dr. Pepper and leaving the trucks behind in West Dallas (http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/04/truck_thefts_from_texas_soda_d.php).
The last theft occurred not too long afterwards at a plant in Wichita Falls, TX on March 16th. Again, two trucks baring ‘New Bern Transportation’ on them, were hot wired between 12:30 and 5 in the morning and driven off through the gates, in which the padlock was cut (http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2011/apr/06/stolen-soda-trucks-found/). $20,000 worth the beverages were taken and the trucks were discovered weeks later in separate locations; one in Fort Worth and the other in Euless.
All three thefts occurred during the morning hours, since the manager from one of the warehouses where the trucks were stolen noted, employees leave at 12:30 a.m., not returning until 5 a.m.
Road Scholar Transport, on the other hand, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. With terminal surveillance cameras and tracking on all tractor trailers, there is always someone monitoring your freight.
Visit www.roadscholar.com to learn more about Road Scholar’s high security shipping.
Do you feel that thieves are now stealing Dr. Pepper products, not because of the products themselves, but because they know they can get away with it, becoming more like a game?
Tags: beverages, distributors, Dr. Pepper, Euless, Fort Worth, freight, high security shipping, hot wire, road scholar transport, Sherman, surveillance camera, Texas, theft, thieves, tracking, tractor-trailer, U.S. Highway 82, Waco, West Dallas
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Friday, March 18th, 2011
You may be well aware of the significant increase in cargo theft over the years, with 864 thefts occurring in 2009 (more than two per day), which increased to 1,035 thefts from trucks and warehouses across the country last year. This information is made public through data-based sources such as CargoNet, but CBS takes us further than facts and figures and into the minds of the thieves themselves.
In a video exclusive, CBS’s Armen Keteyian interviewed two men who were engaged in the cargo theft process, one of them claiming that it was “very easy” to steal trucks/cargo (and who CBS referred to as “The Trucker”) and the other whose duty it was to “sell the merchandise.”
“The Trucker” notes that thieves target computer hardware and pharmaceuticals the most, either stealing the truck (which is the easiest to do) or taking the cargo and container, which makes sense since “$184 million in prescription drugs were stolen in 2009…a 350% increase from 2007.” The problem is that when these pharmaceuticals get in the wrong hands, they can be tampered with, causing recalls and widespread health problems. One of the reasons for this is improper transport.
When certain prescriptions, such as insulin, are not transported under the right temperatures, it can taint the medication and cause health problems for those who inhale/ingest it, which is why Road Scholar Transport has ReeferTrak to regulate the temperature inside the trailer at all times, ensuring that your pharmaceuticals are safe.
Do you think thieves worry about this? According to “The Trucker,” “they are just in it for the money” and not concerned about the consequences.
The video then takes you into a standard heist, in which “The Trucker” demonstrates how he hijacks a truck using a small key and pliers and quickly takes off…all of which takes place in under 28 seconds. Who has your cargo now? Not the customer but who the video calls “The Broker,” who then sells the stolen freight, having 2-4 jobs a month according to the interviewee whose job it is to sell the merchandise, claiming that he is able to receive over a million and a half dollars at once from a buyer.
You would think that robbers would worry about getting caught but like “The Trucker” states, they are not. Not every carrier has advanced security features like Road Scholar, who can immediately pinpoint where their truck, and your freight, is. View a pdf explaining Road Scholar’s security features/services at http://www.roadscholar.com/cms/uploads/files/rs-security.pdf.
Besides lack of security, as the video notes, the penalties of cargo theft are “weak…almost never leading to jail time,” causing thieves to not care as much if they are caught and to take more risks.
What do you think the penalties of cargo theft should be?
Watch CBS’s Exclusive Interview below:
Tags: Armen Keteyian, cargo theft, CargoNet, carrier, CBS, computer hardware, freight, pharmaceuticals, ReeferTrak, road scholar transport, robber, security features, The Broker, The Trucker, thieves, transport, video
Posted in Services, Trucking Industry News | Comments Off
