Shippers, carriers, and 3PLs must stay ahead of theft trends to protect their cargo. According to an annual analysis compiled by Verisk CargoNet, cargo theft across the United States and Canada reached unprecedented levels in 2024, which was a 27 percent increase from 2023. However, analysis from Verisk CargoNet and various other industry sources predict incidents of cargo theft in the U.S. and Canada will continue to increase dramatically in 2025
Vet Drivers & Third-Party Carriers
Make sure you trust whoever will be handling your cargo. Run background and criminal record checks on drivers and any other individuals who are part of the shipment supply chain. Vet any third-party carriers with tools like the Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) program and Carrier411 — these resources collect information on carrier safety ratings, BASIC scores, insurance, and more.
Train Employees
Being on the lookout for theft and having situational awareness is critical for drivers, as well as others who are handling cargo (such as warehouse employees). Train your employees on the current security threats, crime warning signs, and best practices to mitigate theft. This will prepare your staff for day-to-day and emergency operations.
Protect Your Facility
Warehouses are high-risk hot spots for theft and always will be — the large volume of products in a single location will always tempt thieves. Traditional security methods like security fences, cameras, padlocks, and patrolling guards will protect your facility and shouldn’t be overlooked. Inspections and threat assessments from outside security advisors can also help identify vulnerabilities and keep you current on the latest on-site theft deterrent measures.
Use Tracking Technology
Asset tracking technology like GPS allow shippers to actively monitor the location of cargo during transportation and will provide real-time alerts of any unscheduled stoppage, delay or route deviation during transit. This technology can also be utilized to remotely immobilize a truck in the event of a theft. These tracking devices can be utilized both on the truck as well as covertly embedded within the cargo to limit access by thieves.
Limit At-Rest Risk
Any time cargo is at rest, it’s at risk. The majority of cargo theft occurs at unsecured locations, such as truck stops when drivers leave their loads unattended if only for a few minutes. Shippers can limit this at-rest risk by:
· Using a team of drivers who can switch taking the wheel (reducing the time cargo is left unattended) instead of using one driver who requires longer breaks
· Parking tail-to-tail at rest stops or up against a building to block access to the cargo within the truck/trailer
· Avoiding weekend or holiday deliveries when drivers must wait to unload their cargo creating too much “dwell” time
In other words, cargo is a sitting duck when it’s not in motion and shippers can limit risk by reducing any down time.
Get Theft Insurance
Does your cargo insurance cover you against theft? If you’re not sure, contact your insurance provider to get fully educated on the details of your coverage and liability limits. Make sure you pass the knowledge on to your employees so they are prepared if an incident happens.
Document Theft Policies & Procedures
It’s always smart to plan for the worst. Document your best practices on how to prevent theft, as well as the procedures on what to do in case theft happens. Having everything organized and in writing will help your employees respond quickly and appropriately in the event of a theft. Conduct tabletop exercises and simulation testing to make sure your employees know what actions to take when a theft occurs, including prompt notification to local law enforcement and your insurance company. It is also important to maintain a list of what information you will need to provide both to law enforcement and your insurance company to allow for prompt incident investigation. These exercises will also help to identify what, if any, improvements need to be made to the process to increase the possibility of the stolen goods being recovered.
When you put the best people, technology, and policies in place, you will dramatically mitigate the overall risk of theft to your goods during transit.
Conclusion
As you discover better ways to protect your assets and your business, we have more helpful tips to keep your cargo safe.
