With the increase in online shopping, home deliveries, and overall work-from-home opportunities, more and more people have hopped on the bandwagon of having all their needs delivered straight to their doorstep.
This is seen as the right modern step in the world of consumerism, but it seems that more valuable items on the road mean increased cargo theft on delivery vehicles and shipments.
Let's tackle cargo theft and the solutions businesses practice to ensure items are safely delivered.
We get it, convenient shopping at the click of a button and the ring of a doorbell is hard to beat. And even more so with online shopping sparking a logistical frenzy with the e-commerce market expected to surpass $8 trillion by 2026.
But this convenience comes with a hidden cost: increased cargo theft. More deliveries translate to more vehicles on the road, with more stops and longer dwell times for criminals to take advantage of.
When it comes to the types of cargo criminals target, they are not very picky. From high-value goods like electronics and pharmaceuticals to everyday essentials like groceries and household items, whatever you're transporting could be a criminal's next target.
Cargo theft remains a major concern for businesses globally, causing significant financial losses each year. Thieves are constantly evolving their methods, so to protect your fleet and the cargo it carries, businesses need to understand and stay updated on the latest cargo stealing trends and employ effective prevention measures.
Securing your cargo against theft is a top priority for any business involved in transportation and logistics. Rather than waiting for cargo stealing attempts to happen, it is better to take the proactive route and put measures in place in case of cargo theft.
Here are a few methods to mitigate the risk of cargo theft:
Real-time vehicle tracking and monitoring: Use advanced GPS solutions through vehicle tracking to keep a close eye on your vehicles and cargo at all times. This well-hidden unit can quickly identify and address any suspicious activity like road deviations or vehicle use after working hours.
Enhanced security measures: Invest in smart security cameras like dashcams. Apart from being used to enhance driver safety, these cameras can record hijacking incidents, prove your driver innocent of stolen cargo, and might have footage of the cargo thieves, assisting the authorities in swiftly finding the criminals.
Empowering drivers: Provide training to your employees on how to quickly recognise and respond to social engineering tactics commonly used by thieves to stop cargo vehicles. Educate them on security protocols, avoiding high-risk areas, being vigilant while on the road and encourage them to report any unusual activity immediately.
Another practical solution that shippers and carriers should adopt is a multi-layered security approach, like implementing sound policies and procedures.
These may include:
Now and again, you hear the latest news of cargo theft events and see the lengths that criminals are willing to go to ‘score big’. Across Asia, criminal groups have become more sophisticated and started targeting supply chains to commit in-transit theft.
In 2022, in Tambaram India, thieves stole an estimated $118,000 worth of pharmaceutical materials from a shipment bound for Germany. The sophisticated act was believed to involve a group of seven criminals working with container truck drivers to steal material over several months.
What made this case different was the level of planning the criminals put into this. They pressured and bribed truck drivers to use their vehicles, transported the trucks to Minjur to unscrew bolts from the container doors, rather than simply opening them, to avoid tampering with the security seal, and successfully sold off the stolen goods after taking the cargo and returning the trucks without any authorities or the business knowing. The business only realised what was happening once the cargo reached its destination, by then it was too late.
The group is also responsible for stealing 4,800 pairs of shoes from Ambur, keyboards worth $62,700 from Thiruporur, and an additional 1,000 pairs of shoes from a factory in Tada, Andhra Pradesh.
2022 Cargo Theft Report
In our sunny country, Statista reported 1,996 instances of truck hijackings in South Africa for 2023, marking a rise. In 2012, 821 cases were reported, showing that these incidents have more than doubled in the past 12 years.
While cargo theft can realistically happen at any point in the trip, there are specific spots that attract thieves looking for opportunities. The hotspots for cargo theft can vary by region, and they are often located in major cities, along major transportation routes, and in non-secure parking areas.
Most thefts occur when trucks are parked overnight in non-secure parking areas, which are often unlit and less vulnerable to detection. Recognising these weak points enables businesses to put in place focused security measures and reduce the chances of theft.
Although most cargo theft cases happen once the truck is already on the road, it's important to also practice safety at the warehouse. Getting to the route of cargo theft requires you to take a look at the bigger picture, from dispatch locations to delivery.
Keep in mind that these are not foolproof, you have to take into consideration the size of your company, how many trucks you operate, working hours, routes you take, etc., and choose the fleet management system that has the right safety measures that would suit your business.
While Cartrack Malaysia doesn't offer a magic bullet to completely prevent cargo theft, their advanced solutions can contribute significantly to your company’s defence, reducing your business's vulnerability and keeping your drivers, vehicles and cargo safe.
Here's how Cartrack's various industry-leading features can help:
Mr Build is a hardware store specialising in woodworking, timber, cement, plumbing, and home decor. They operate a fleet of about 40 vehicles for delivering building and DIY materials.
Their main challenge was keeping track of the whereabouts of their drivers and vehicles during deliveries. The lack of visibility made it difficult to manage delays effectively without knowing whether the cause was a tyre burst or possible cargo theft.
Cartrack's vehicle tracking system provided Mr Build with real-time visibility of their fleet's location and trip history. This eliminated the need for manual tracking and enabled better route planning.
“Cartrack helps us monitor the fleet much better. I always know where all the vehicles are. There's no part of the day where I have to look for a vehicle or driver."
These features work together seamlessly to provide comprehensive protection for your fleet and cargo, giving you peace of mind while your drivers are on the road.
Embrace Cartrack’s industry-leading fleet solutions to ensure that the convenience experienced by your customers doesn't come at the cost of your business’s security.
Let us help you reap the full benefits in a thriving delivery-centric era without falling victim to its shadows. Contact Cartrack for a free quote now.