Truck Cargo Crime

Below is a list of five tricks of the cargo trade – something you should be aware of if your business is connected with the movement of freight.

If your business is connected with the movement of freight in the UK and Europe, you need to be aware of these possible scams.  It’s also vital that you have comprehensive fleet insurance and cover for goods or freight in transit.

The Insider Trader

Cargo theft often involves information being supplied by employees. Information regarding shipments, values and commodities should not be left unattended. Employees should be warned about discussing business outside work regarding assignments and routes.

The Barn Door Scam

A truck driver stops at traffic lights and is signalled by a passenger in an adjacent car that his trailer door is open.  Acting on instinct the driver jumps out of his truck leaving the engine running, to check the rear doors. The passenger from the car has then got into the cab and driven off.

The Sleeping Beauty

Drivers are often under the misapprehension that their load is secure when parked in lay-bys of secure lorry parks to sleep. However, many wake to find that their load of valuable good has gone missing. A more alarming trend is where robbers spray a commercially available aerosol gas into the air intakes which has a narcotic effect causing the driver to sleep soundly.

The Wedge Trick

When making a delivery, a driver may be in a conversation with a colleague or customer leaving his load unattended and the roller shutters up. During this time the wedge is placed on the floor of the van directly under where the shutter door closes. When the driver closes the shutter it stops at the wedges and doesn't lock properly. If the wedge works and the driver leaves the vehicle to make his delivery the offenders could open the roller shutters without activating the alarm. On each occasion the drivers had noticed the wedges after they were put into position but didn't notice them actually being placed there.

The Careless Key Club

This alarming negligent trend, often finds its way on police truck theft reports. These are some examples:

• Driver leaves keys in the ignition whilst away from the cab (this may even invalidate the insurance)
• Driver leaves keys in jacket pocket and hangs jacket over the back of a chair or on a wall peg whilst stopping for a meal break
• Depot staff leave keys hung up in the office for early collection of vehicle by driver the following day
• Driver leaves keys in a hiding place within the cab

Make sure your fleet insurance is adequate for your needs and that goods in transit are comprehensively covered

Last reviewed 7/11/2011

To talk to an expert in your area and get a quote, contact your local insurance broker.