The Problem:

Cargo theft is a serious problem that is not at the top of the priority list for law enforcement, even though the estimated loss from cargo thefts to the economy and supply chain is estimated to be between $10 billion - $30 billion a year. In the current economic recession many law enforcement agencies have had to reduce officers and restrict overtime while cargo thefts are rising.

Understanding the Problem:

• Cargo theft is not a random event.
• Organized groups, many operating regionally and having ethnic ties, are responsible for many of these thefts. These groups can transit cargo internationally as easily as interstate.
• Thieves surveil distribution centers, warehouses, carrier terminals and truck stops to identify high dollar loads and will follow a truck for hundreds of miles waiting for the opportunity to steal the cargo.
• Thieves, because of their surveillances, know the practices of the distribution centers, carriers, drivers, and consignee, and are able to exploit the weaknesses of each to steal cargo with minimum risk of being caught.

Hot Spots:

• EVERYWHERE – Carriers traveling through high risk states should advise their drivers of the increased risk of theft and take additional security precautions.
• States with the highest risk for cargo theft are California (Los Angeles area), Texas (Dallas, Houston, and Mexican border area), Georgia, Tennessee, and Illinois (Chicago area). These are also the highest risk states for Old Republic insured’s, as well as the greater Toronto area.

When:

• The majority of cargo thefts occur over the weekend between Fridays, when a loaded trailer is parked, until the driver returns for a Monday deliver. Better security of loaded unattended trailers over the weekend is the single most important thing a carrier or driver can do to lower vehicle and cargo thefts.

Where:

• In 2009, theft locations by frequency were truck stops, secured and unsecured distribution centers, carrier terminals, and public access parking, in addition to the trailers and cargo parked unattended on the street.
• A new trend emerged in 2009 in which there was a sharp rise in the number of thefts reported from distribution centers and carrier terminals, whether secured or unsecured.

What to Do:

Keep informed. A quote that says it all is: “Right now our enemies are studying us and they know us better than we know ourselves. Our job is to change where these battles are fought.”

The battle to be fought is to return back to the basics. Carriers need to review their company’s physical security programs. Companies hire many of their problems. Common sense, good background checks, basic locks, fuel shut off’s, air cuff locks, pin locks and ignition locks can thwart many of these thefts if used. Technology has advanced and new anti-theft devices are being developed to combat cargo theft, but these new devices are not a cure-all to avoid cargo theft.

One of the most common types of accident is hitting debris or animals on the road. Several types of accidents can occur when these obstacles are encountered:

1. Hitting the object, with resulting property damage of hundreds or thousands of dollars.

1. Swerving to miss the object or animal, and hitting another vehicle in an adjacent lane. This type of accident risks major injuries to occupants of the other vehicles and the risk of extremely adverse liability.

1. Swerving to miss the object or animal and loosing control of the vehicle, leaving the roadway and rolling over. Damages in excess of $100,000 can occur.

None of these accidents is desirable; however, one type results in the least amount of damage and the least amount of adverse liability….hitting the object or animal if necessary.

Drivers must be trained that maintaining control is of paramount importance. Swerving to avoid is usually an instinctive reaction, and one that must be trained. Take the following steps to help your drivers avoid a serious loss accident.

1.         Train drivers in proper actions to take in the event that this type of situation happens to them.

a.         Train drivers to always anticipate that this could happen at any time, day or night.

            b.         Train drivers to never swerve radically to avoid an object.

                        c.         Proper reaction is to slow the vehicle by braking, and moving slightly to the left or right so that if impact is inevitable, it is lessened by avoiding a direct hit.

2.         Drivers should always stop the vehicle at the first safe place if a collision occurs to inspect for damage before proceeding.

3.         Companies can inform drivers that this type of accident will be determined to be non-preventable in most cases, unless extraordinary circumstances occur. This will help alleviate driver concerns that they will be in trouble if they hit debris or animals, and will be less likely to swerve and lose control or hit someone else.

4.         Cover this type of accident in safety meetings thoughout the year.

Road Rage

Summer driving can be more treacherous than driving in the middle of winter. It seems when the weather becomes pleasant, hazards such as road construction, traffic congestion, and children playing, pop up all over. These hazards can make it very difficult for drivers to maintain physical control of their equipment and emotional control of their mind. When drivers let their emotions surface, road rage may ensue.

For truck drivers, road rage is a daily hazard. And as traffic congestion increases, road rage will become even more of a problem. When a driver loses focus while operating their vehicle and accident can happen. The situation is magnified if a confrontation is involved. The professional driver must control his/her emotions as well as their vehicles. He/she must also be aware of the actions of the amateurs around them.

The DOT has names road rage one of the most serious transportation challenges facing the country today. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over half of all annual traffic fatalities  are caused by aggressive driving actions, such as passing on the right and tailgating. Many safety officials feel these numbers don’t accurately reflect the actual number of aggressive driving incidents that occur. For every incident of aggressive driving that gets reported to the authorities and media, there are many more that never get reported.

Drivers make many decisions each minute that affect the control of their vehicle. With this going on, it is vital that they stay calm and in control of their mind and vehicle at all times. It is very important to remind your drivers at safety meetings or during individual discussions the importance of safe and proper driving techniques to avoid road rage and avoid confrontation:

1.         Avoid using obscene gestures.

2.         Do not switch lanes without signaling well in advance.

3.         Dim your lights when oncoming traffic approaches.

4.         If traveling slowly, stay in the right lane and do not block the passing lane.

5.         Use your horn sparingly.

If another motorist confronts you, be sure to:

1.         Be polite and courteous, even if the other driver is not.

2.         Avoid prolonged eye contact.

3.         Do not leave your vehicle.

4.         Contact law enforcement if needed.

Frequent reasons for road rage are:

• Lane Blocking
• Tailgating
• Using obscene gestures
• Failure to use signals
• Failure to dim headlights
• Using horn in an aggressive manner
• Changing lanes too often
• Improper merging
• Aggressive / reckless attitude

Rear-end accidents are among the most preventable losses a trucking company can incur. A single rear-end accident can be very expensive to recover from, not to mention the physical and emotional distress that may be imposed on the driver. These accidents can result in serious injuries, and extensive property damage. In many cases, a rear-end accident involved the failure to adhere to basic driving procedures.

Paying attention to your surrounding, such as road, traffic, and weather conditions, will help reduce the frequency of these accidents. It is important to remind your drivers at safety meetings or during discussions to follow the professional, safe driving rules to prevent rear-end accidents from happening. Follow these guidelines to help reduce rear-end accidents:

1. Always maintain a minimum six-second following distance. Increase following distance under adverse weather or traffic conditions. It takes a lot of time and distance for an 80,000-pound truck to completely stop (over 300 feet at 55 mph).

1. Always drive within the speed limit. The faster you go, the more time and distance it takes to stop. You have less time to react to your surroundings. This is especially important at night when visibility may be reduced.

1. Check brake systems and adjust as necessary. Before starting a trip, test brakes for stopping ability to assure they are working properly. Learn how to determine if the air system in operating correctly and always check to make sure that low air warning devices are functioning properly.

1. Stay alert at all times. Avoid distracting behaviors suck as eating, drinking, or day dreaming while driving. It only takes a split second of inattention to rear-end the vehicle ahead of you.

The most frequent reasons for rear-end accidents are:

• Following too closely
• Aggressive or reckless driving attitude
• Driving too fast for conditions
• Inattention or drowsiness
• Failure to check brake equipment
• Failure to replace  badly worn parts
• Progressive brake deterioration
• Sudden air loss in braking system