Truck drivers face hundreds of distractions, obstacles and stresses each day. Outside of personal-safety issues on the road, one top problem you don’t want to deal with is cargo theft. In an instant, it can turn a good day into a nightmare and make the occasional bad day even worse, not to mention costly.
Personal vigilance should always be a top priority and the first line of defense. But because it’s typically impossible to guard the goods you’re hauling 24/7, drivers often need extra protection to ensure their loads stay safe from cargo bandits.
While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, plenty of theft-deterrent devices are worth the investment. Many owner-operators use a mix of low-tech and high-tech tools to guard against cargo theft.
Trailer products
To protect trailers, consider ISO-compliant barrier seals, hardened padlocks, kingpin locks that prevent unauthorized hook-ups and glad hand locks that prohibit release of trailer brakes. When seals are intact, you know when you inspect loads en route that no one has tampered with the load. Intact seals also send this message to personnel at delivery points. Be careful not to tip off thieves to high-value cargo, though. Don’t create a pattern by matching a particular seal type or color with a specific kind of cargo.
Tractor devices
Tractor-locking devices such as brake and/or transmission locks and other vehicle immobilizers protect you from thieves who prefer making a clean getaway with the truck and trailer.
High-tech options
Look for high-tech solutions you can afford. Systems that send alerts when trailer doors are opened are available. Those systems can detect whether a trailer is loaded or empty. Covert GPS tracking actively monitors high-value shipments, and you can remotely disable a stolen vehicle using immobilization technology.
If you use battery-operated security devices, remember to check the batteries regularly and replace them as needed.
Leave a comment.