Don’t Get Burned By Cargo Thieves This July 4th Holiday
As many Americans celebrate our nation's independence this coming weekend, some well-coordinated groups of cargo thieves will be targeting your freight.
Cargo theft regularly spikes in the U.S. over the July 4th holiday, particularly in trucking, with incidents occurring up to 65% more frequently in certain parts of the country.
Because of black market demand, the most highly targeted freight typically falls into the following categories:
- Food and beverage
- Household products
- Building materials
- Electronics
- Alcohol and tobacco
Some of the largest heists from past July 4th holidays have included:
- $2 million dollars of cell phones stolen in Miami, Florida
- $1.3 million dollars of apparel and accessories stolen in Newport, Tennessee
- $659,000 in cash and other valuable items stolen in San Angelo, Texas
- $500,000 in electronics stolen in Carnesville, Georgia
Authorities are warning companies and drivers this year of “extremely active” cargo theft rings attracted to shipments left unattended for longer periods of time over the 4th of July weekend.
For carriers, CargoNet has a list of the top 20 driver security tactics recommended to keep cargo safe while in transit. CargoNet has also dedicated an entire online page with resources to prevent theft, including an on-demand webinar with details on current theft activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how to report a theft. Truck stops, rest areas and distribution centers are known as frequent targets for cargo thieves, so drivers are strongly urged to look for parking areas with controlled access, adequate lighting and surveillance.
For shippers, anti-theft experts recommend the use of GPS tracking on all cargo and confirming receivers’ hours for the holiday weekend to reduce the time a truck is parked unattended. Click here for more tips, trends and best practices from CargoNet for protecting your cargo.
Want to track your shipments? Visit TQL's Load Tracking page, TQL TRAX, on TQL.com and enter your TQL PO number or TQL LTL BOL number to see the most recent location of your load. You can even take advantage of TQL’s complimentary TQL Tracking services to get location updates via GPS. Speak to your Logistics Account Executive for more information on TQL’s tracking services.
Have a load to move? Request a freight quote. Or call 800.580.3101 to connect with a Logistics Account Executive today.
Have a safe 4th of July weekend.
Remember, we will be available 24/7, like always, to help you with any needs during your holiday weekend.