Is Your Security Plan In Place For The Holidays?
By: Chip Storm
It’s that time of year again – Thanksgiving this week, Christmas next month, and we’re closing out 2011 on New Years Eve. While your business may be closed and employees taking a few days off, the crooks will be working full-time to target great opportunities for their own gain at your expense.
Cargo theft increased by 4% in 2010, reflecting an average of 75 cargo theft incidents per month. This is the most ever recorded; equivalent to one theft every 9.7 hours. A new trend is for criminals to steal several pieces of equipment during one incident because they know the payoff will be greater and the risk of being caught is the same whether they steal one rig or five rigs
Remember, “Freight at rest is freight at risk!”
Below are some recommendations to consider.
General:
- Review security procedures with affected employees and remind them of the importance of “sticking to the plan.”
- Review your alarm response procedures in case your alarm system is activated. Have your communicated your policy to local law enforcement? Do employees know their roles?
- ESPECIALLY during the holidays, the crooks want you and law enforcement to be lazy and not follow typical protocol following alarm activation. If you have had any recent alarms, they might have been a “test” to see what response, if any, there is after activation. Get any concerns fixed now before the holiday weekend.
When Staging Equipment:
- Stage loads at secure company yards whenever possible, but ensure that secure lots used are truly secure and offer services that will prevent theft or unauthorized access. An extra secure compound should be provided for cargo of high value or cargo that is attractive to thieves (for example, the compound should have a chain link fence of 9-gauge material at least 8 feet high and topped with barbed wire and it should be properly anchored).
- Employ the use of Security Patrols in lots where cargo might be staged for transport.
- Keep loaded trailers married to tractors and secure tractors with devices like air cuff locks, kill switches, king pin locks, and landing gear locks.
- Use high security locks on trailer doors to prevent break in thefts, and consider installing a sensor to alarm the driver when the trailer door is breached (available here http://www.traklok.com). Traklok provides real physical security and global visibility for highly mobile cargo and containers. To protect against container tampering, TrakLok has developed an intermodal and international container locking solution and integrated several wireless technologies to track containers globally.
- Consider using theft prevention devices to disable fuel, hydraulic, or electrical systems.
When On the Road:
- Close truck doors before pulling out into open view in the lot so that surveillance efforts cannot see what has been loaded on to departing trucks.
- If you do have deliveries scheduled during the holiday weekend, especially if you transport high-value commodities, be sure drivers do not stop from time of departure for at least 200 miles – this is called the “Red Zone;” the distance wherein the driver does not stop after pick-up.) Drivers should be rested, fueled and all personal needs taken care of so the red zone can be effectively implemented. NOTE: §392.9 requires a stop for cargo inspection within the first 50 miles and every 150 miles or three hours thereafter if hauling anything other than a sealed load.
- Encourage open internal communications and the reporting of any “out of norm” occurrences.
- Drivers should remain vigilant and maintain communication with their dispatch during extended stops at high risk areas such as truck stops and rest areas.
- Drivers and warehouse workers should not discuss any details regarding loads with anyone; specifically drop locations, routes and contents, if known.
- Consider a no drop policy keeping the trailer married to the tractor so that the tractor and trailer can be secured.
Additional Security:
- For High Value / High Target Loads consider employing the use of covert tracking devices which will enable geo fencing during stops and tracking in the event of a theft. Employ theft prevention devices to disable fuel, hydraulic, and/or electrical systems.
- Shippers that utilize covert tracking systems should geo-fence and route fence staged loads.
- Consider installing AGPS (Assisted GPS) trackers in loads or in trailers where possible (available here http://www.lojacksci.com ).
- Remove keys from forklifts in warehouses and restrict access to the keys.
- Be sure lighting is well maintained and functional so that the facility and lots are well lit.
Remember, your preparation and vigilance helps us in the battle against cargo and equipment theft; a tremendous expense to us all.
Be safe during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Eve holiday weekends!
FLriskadvisor 