Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/204210
Business 5 tips to beat cargo theft By JACK ROBERTS ere are a few ways to keep your loads more secure and to help prevent potential thieves from even considering your truck as a target: USE YOUR SURROUNDINGS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE. Try to park in heavily traveled, well-lit areas of truck stops. If you can spot a security camera, park in its field of view. Where possible, back up against a building or high fence if it blocks your trailer doors. USE A STRONG PADLOCK. Invest in a professional-grade padlock for your trailer. If your budget allows, consider huck-bolted door hardware and frames, horizontal pins to reinforce doors or satellite-controlled locking pins on the inside of doors. A brightly painted H undercoating can help you spot breaches in the trailer floor. WATCH WHAT YOU SAY. The old World War II-era adage about loose lips sinking ships also applies to cargo theft. Watch what you say about your load and its destination. This extends to CB chatter and social media outlets. If you've been targeted, it's a safe bet thieves will check your online accounts to gather any information about your route. MAINTAIN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. As the targeting of drivers has become more prevalent, it's upped the importance that drivers be vigilant of their surroundings. This includes noticing whether your truck is being tailed on the road or whether suspicious characters are loitering Parking in visible well-lit spots helps deter cargo thieves. nearby when you're parked. DON'T RISK BEING FOLLOWED. If you think you're being tailed, slow down and get the license number of the vehicle as it passes. Should the vehicle instead continue to follow you, get off at the next exit and find a secure location to park. If the vehicle still follows, contact your fleet. Gauges a sweeter swipe 99% 82% 6% Large truckload Smaller truckload Less-than-truckload 2011: 48 2013: 24 losing ground Tractor-trailer drivers were earning about $1,200 less than average U.S. wage earnings in 2002. While wages for all rose over the following decade, the spread had widened considerably by 2012 to about $5,400. 2002 At less-than-truckload fleets, driver turnover plummeted nine percentage points to 6 percent in the second quarter. That was the lowest level in two years, says the American Trucking Associations. Turnover rose two percentage points at the nation's largest truckload fleets – $30 million or more in annual revenue – and was unchanged at smaller fleets. Truck drivers $34,350 2012 Driver turnover Anyone driving over-the-road knows debit card and ATM fees can add up to more than pocket change. The good news is that since debit swipe reform legislation took effect two years ¢ ago, the average debit swipe fee on cards from covered banks fell by half to 24 cents. That's ¢ saving consumers $5.8 billion a year in costs, says the Merchants Payments Coalition. Truck drivers $40,360 U.S. wage earners $35,560 0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 U.S. wage earners $45,790 0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000 U.S. Dept. of Labor data cited by the Journal of Commerce 18 | Overdrive | November 2013 Business_Lead_1113.indd 18 10/29/13 11:12 PM