Top 3 Ways to Improve Your Cargo Logistics Security

One major issue in national and international cargo logistics is rampant theft: recently gathered data from a major organisation in the haulage industry indicates a rising incidence of thieves preying on transport companies. However, it takes only three simple steps to harden your fleet against theft.

Employ Highly Trained Drivers

There are truck drivers, and then there are highly trained truck drivers who can act proactively to protect your loads from thieves. Cargo logistics is complicated, but not impossibly complicated, and the fact that there are people who may be targeting what you’re moving is understandable enough—anything of value that happens to be out there on the street is a possible target. Having your drivers properly trained for security purposes will enable them to sense ‘hot spots’ or areas that could make their trucks and themselves vulnerable. They should also be able to maintain presence of mind when moving loads: every little thing they do can lessen or increase the security risk. Nothing’s worse than a truck driver who is totally clueless about the importance of security in their line of work.

Always Be Moving (ABM)

While it’s a common "given" in cargo logistics that trucks should always be on the move busily hauling loads from one place to another, there are instances when trucks have to sit idly. The fact is that the longer your truck stays in one place, the higher is the security risk—especially if you’re handling valuable goods, such as electronics, rare art, or pricey furniture. The obvious way to avoid this is to keep moving. You can also standardise the limits on how long a trailer or a truck can stay unattended under certain situations, as well as define contingencies for each possible circumstance. For the long term, you can collect data regarding how long loaded trucks stay idle along your supply chain; this way, you can effectively identify weak points and certain areas for improvement. It is not enough to simply issue some sort of general order to your drivers "just keep moving"—you’ll have to make it part of your operational procedures.

Work with People you Know

According to data gathered by security experts, thieves are getting more and more sophisticated. In certain cases, a theft is a result of an inside job—a career thief inadvertently hired by the company. That’s why as far as cargo logistics is concerned, theft is an important issue that must be addressed effectively. You must know the background of who you’re working with: from employees, to truck drivers, to managers, to brokers, everyone must be thoroughly vetted. One way to ensure this is set in place a robust carrier qualification process, and follow it down to the last stringent detail. Trust your people, but verify their records.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub and cargo logistics company for trading haulage work in the express freight industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.