Trucking

Cargo Theft Risks Were Predicted to Rise on July Fourth

July 16, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Factory industry worker working with face mask to prevent Covid-19 Coronavirus spreading during job reopening period .

CargoNet, a service for theft prevention and recovery that collaborates with insurance companies, law enforcement offices, and motor carriers, predicted a sharp increase in cargo thefts that would take place over the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

“Cargo thieves will seek to exploit extended business closures this upcoming holiday to steal more cargo” said the company ahead of Independence Day. “In previous years, household goods and food and beverage items were the most commonly targeted commodities. This would include items like appliances, toys, alcoholic beverages and seafood.”

According to CargoNet’s data regarding these kinds of thefts between July 1st and July 7th over the past five years, there were 127 incidents of cargo theft in that specific time frame–coming out to around 25 cargo thefts a year during the holiday. On average, carriers lost around $145,699 in stolen goods when they were the target of these particular crimes.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has caused shortages and price inflation of specific goods, and we think the items most affected–like computer electronics–are the items most at risk this holiday,” explained a CargoNet advisory professional.

In order to find discrepancies in supply chain data (that could include thefts), Total Quality Logistics works alongside CargoNet by utilizing certain computer programs that are able to identify these irregularities and alert customers when needed.

“Here’s the situation: The holidays are always an opportune time for cargo thieves because of the fact that law enforcement is busy,” explained Kerry Byrne, President of Total Quality Logistics. “There’s so much going on, for one. Two, there are shippers and receivers and yards where the staffing is low–especially this year.”

In relation to COVID-19’s effects on the economy and on theft levels, CargoNet discovered that the overall number of thefts occurring in 2020 rose by 26% from 2019–reaching 1,502 thefts, the highest number since 2016. These numbers are in correlation with the financial issues many people face in times of economic strife, as we have seen throughout the pandemic.

“With this consumer-driven economy, there is just so much freight on the road,” added Byrne. “There may not be enough staff and security personnel at the various shippers, receivers, and yards.”

In fact, because so many groups have seen this year’s thefts coming for so long, they began warning the public.

“CargoNet is extending warnings about significant theft risk to freight for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday,” said CargoNet in a tweet. “Cargo thieves will seek to exploit extended business closures this upcoming holiday to steal more cargo.”

Tech-based trucking insurance company Loadsure also warned people publicly.

“Ah, the 4th of July weekend,” the company tweeted. “Burgers on the grill. Frosty beverages. Sparklers. Cargo theft. Are you ready?”

According to Byrne, all it takes is one criminal finding an opportunity for cargo theft and taking advantage of it, although there are still many organized theft incidents that take place, as well. Sometimes, a thief will even pretend to be working as a trucker picking up a load.

“It’s basically identity theft,” said Byrne. “We’re concerned about those fictitious pickups where somebody fraudulently positions themselves as either a customer or a carrier. Because everyone is so busy and capacity is so hard to find, there is perhaps that opportunity for things to fall through the cracks. So, we’re on high alert.”

Loadsure also recently announced that it would be boosting its smart cargo insurance platform to add higher insurance coverage for all methods of transportation–up to $2 million, to be exact.

“The economy is beginning to reopen, and highly-targeted freight, like food and beverage, is moving in volume for the first time since 2019,” said the company’s CEO, Johnny McCord. “[By] leveraging AI and automation, brokers, shippers, and carriers can now expand coverage for these high-value loads and protect commonly excluded specialty freight on the fly, all through direct platform access, custom integrations, or third-party platforms.”

Transportation Industry Gearing Up As Hurricane Season Nears

July 13, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Coastal states along the Atlantic have to begin preparing themselves for the hurricane season that comes with the summer months–and huge transportation companies in these locations are beginning to ready themselves for what could be potentially higher-than-average amounts of storm activity along the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Coast.

For instance, Amazon.com Inc. has opened fulfillment centers in Atlanta that are currently serving as staging facilities for hurricane relief supplies and resources.

“Instead of us having to wait for disaster and ask the organizations what they need, and then procuring and packing them and then putting them on a plane, we’re doing all of that ahead of time,” said Amazon’s Global Accessory lead, Abe Diaz.

As of now, the company’s Atlanta fulfillment center is holding enough emergency supplies to fill up a 767 cargo airplane–around 500,000 emergency supplies–that will be sent out to the surrounding area when needed for relief efforts.

“Atlanta is going to be our storage hub where we have already bought, packed, and put on pallets the items we need to put on a plane or a truck to [take to] a disaster area, most likely [in the case of] a hurricane,” Diaz continued. “It usually took us a couple of days [to complete these efforts], and now we can do it in one.”

To be able to boost with their reach, Amazon has been collaborating with organizations like Direct Relief, the American Red Cross, the International Medical Corps, World Central Kitchen, Save the Children, and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Because the city of Atlanta has two major north-south interstates running through its center and Interstate 20 and Interstate 285 running east-west (referred to as the Perimeter), Amazon chose this location for its supply center.

In addition, Atlanta is home to the always-bustling Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, as well as many other trucking companies that can help with these relief efforts. Amazon has also expressed its intention to include more American cities in its natural disaster relief plans.

“Now, we have the items ready and we can put them wherever they need to be,” noted Diaz.

For UPS Inc., also based out of Atlanta, ensuring that all of its facility locations stay open during hurricanes is key in being able to focus on tropical storm relief efforts.

“We want to keep our facilities operating as long as we can and as [safely] as we can,” said UPS’ director of building and systems engineering, Rick Garcia. “When a hurricane comes along, the first thing you lose is power. We strategically place generators near our facilities, and it’s one of the main things we do. With generators, you need fuel, and we have fuel available to keep those generators running. Wherever we need those resources, we want to shift them as needed.”

Maersk, a global shipping company, is also alerting people to start gearing up for potentially hazardous summer storms. In fact, the company said over the last several years, tropical hurricanes have begun starting up earlier in the summer and have been occurring in increased amounts.

“With the global pressure seen on today’s supply chains, it is more important this year, perhaps than any in recent history, to plan ahead with suppliers and logistics service providers to put contingency plans in place as early as possible to mitigate the effects of seasonal climate risk,” explained the head of Maersk’s Special Projects and logistics branch, Rob Townley.

Maersk also plans to collaborate with groups like the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the case of natural disasters and seasonal storms, as well as with the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency in order to help heavily-hit areas throughout the Caribbean nations to receive logistical support in regards to hurricanes and other major storms.

Luckily, weather forecasters are often able to track huge tropical storms at least a week in advance–a resource that has been incredibly helpful for many trucking companies to be able to more easily and quickly respond to these kinds of disasters.

Information About Truck Parking Needs Huge Boost, According to ATRI

July 7, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

According to recent research released by the American Transportation Research Institute, accuracy and thorough standardization will make or break efforts to help ease the current truck parking capacity challenges taking place throughout the United States.

The study, which focused on a survey of 1,103 truckers, analyzed perspectives from truck drivers themselves in regards to truck parking information system capabilities. The research also looked into data collected from cross-tabulates within a variety of trucker experience levels, age groups, and sectors. Additionally, the study analyzed how parking information systems are currently utilized by truck drivers and how these drivers perceive the ways in which parking availability data is released.

Of the survey’s participants, one-third noted that to help them find parking availability, they often use both message signs and trucking parking apps. However, ATRI explained that both of these methods have caveats and limitations in regards to quickly and easily finding parking can be. For example, with an app, a truck driver must typically be parked or pulled over to use it in order to find a parking spot due to federal regulations regarding using a cell phone while driving. As of now, many state departments of transportation are looking into boosted trucking parking initiatives that would likely use entrance and exit sensors to indicate when parking is available, among other technologies.

From state-to-state, though, many programs’ methods of collecting and releasing parking information varies, ATRI noted.

“Until we get an infrastructure bill that dramatically increases capacity, the next best thing we have are truck parking information system apps,” said Dan Murray, Senior Vice President of ATRI. “One of the biggest messages that this research conveys is that there’s a lot of complexity and confusion out there.”

Murray also noted that it can be difficult for a trucker to have to use multiple apps in order to find an open spot quickly.

“There’s nearly half a dozen apps available,” he said. “Many drivers are using [from] many [of them] to all of them concurrently. That sort of confusion will pretty much serve to drive people away from these systems rather than towards them.”

According to the survey, long haul truck drivers were the most likely to use smartphone-based truck parking apps, with young people also being the most frequent users–68.7% of truckers under the age of 45 said they often use these kinds of apps. This may indicate that younger drivers are much more comfortable using phone-based tech on the job, or that older truck drivers are more familiar with their routes and where to find parking in a pinch.

Additionally, over half of survey participants noted that they usually will ignore message sign information in regards to parking availability, which shows a lack of faith in the accuracy of this posted information–deeming parking space monitoring system accuracy an important piece of solving the parking availability concern, ATRI said. A push notification method of reaching truckers could be a solution, though, as this kind of automated alert would reduce potential distraction for drivers and help them use their phone less while looking for parking, while still notifying them of important parking-related information.

“This is sort of a win-win for everybody,” Murray explained. “The driver is not distracted, [he] gets real-time information and you’re letting him know what he needs to know without him having to actively search out the information.”

ATRI plans to collaborate with Natso, a truck stop association, during the next phase of its research around this issue. It will also work alongside truck driver groups, tech vendors, and state departments of transportation in order to find the best methods of regulating and standardizing truck parking information systems throughout the United States.

“This new research on driver issues and preferences toward truck parking information systems is hopefully a first step in developing a national driver-centric system, built on clear standards and approaches,” said American Trucking Associations’ America’s Road Team captain and Werner Enterprises driver, Bill Hambrick.

Because the truck parking information systems and technologies being developed and utilized in the public sector vary so often and implement differing information distribution methods, ATRI and its Research Advisory Committee have conceptualized their research into this pressing issue. Truck parking availability continues to be a major concern for the trucking industry as a whole, and currently ranks as number 3 on ATRI’s list of Top Industry Issues.

Pandemic Triggers Spike in Cargo Thefts

July 5, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

With the desperation that arose behind much of the criminal activity taking place during the coronavirus era, trucking industry experts say cargo thefts were not excluded.

“Our numbers started to jump [in the] second quarter of last year,” said CargoNet’s vice president of operations, Keith Lewis. Cargo Net is a cargo theft prevention and recovery service “We saw a spike in the numbers and it continued on throughout the year.”

In 2020, CargoNet suffered 1,502 circumstances of theft–events including both cargo thefts and vehicle thefts, which can often occur at the same time. These numbers are much higher than those of 2018 and 2019, which saw 1,181 thefts and 1,106 thefts, respectively. For cargo thefts, specifically, CargoNet experienced 797 in 2018, 758 in 2019, and 1,059 in 2020. In regards to solely vehicle thefts, the company had 810 in 2018, 676 in 2019, and 861 in 2020.

“My opinion–we’re still too early in the year, but almost halfway through–my prediction is we’re going to start to, and I hope–I really do hope for the industry–that we start to normalize [in 2021],” said Lewis.

For these numbers, any circumstances in which cargo was stolen, in addition to events when cargo thefts and vehicle thefts occurred simultaneously, comprise the numbers in the company’s cargo theft category. Vehicle theft numbers can also encompass situations involving dual thefts, but these numbers remain specific to the overall number of vehicles which were stolen in an event. Total theft events involve all thefts reported; however, only one event is recorded when a vehicle and cargo are stolen at the same time. Because of these overlapping events, the 1,502 cargo theft situations reported is lower than those of solely cargo thefts or solely vehicle thefts.

Data compiled by CargoNet comes from law enforcement, trucking companies, and other resources, and groups like the Travelers Cos. utilize CargoNet data to monitor thefts, along with their own investigative unit information.

“The majority of thefts involved both the cargo and the vehicles,” said Travelers Cos.’ vice president of transportation and crime, Scott Cornell. “We’ve definitely seen a big jump in 2020, and it started to come down through the fourth quarter into the first quarter of 2021, which was no surprise [and was] pretty much the pattern we expected.”

Luckily, these numbers have already continued to see improvement and companies are expecting their overall theft activity to return to numbers seen before the pandemic. For example, Cornell noted that 2021’s first quarter saw 289 thefts reported, as compared to 321 during quarter one of 2020.

Regardless, a chunk of theft activity was indeed unique to the events surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

“In the U.S., full-truckload thefts increased in 2020 by 25 percent as criminals targeted shipments of medical supplies and household supplies,” explained Sensitech’s supply chain intelligence director, Scott Martino. “U.S. pilferages also increased by 35%, as [fewer] organized criminals targeted cargo at rest stops and in storage locations. This is a very clear example of how economics and market equilibrium are particularly relevant in the illicit market.”

In fact, organized crime is usually at the bottom of full tractor-trailer combination thefts in an effort to reach the cargo onboard.

“These organized groups are strategically located in the United States,” explained Lewis. “They’re stealing the tractor-trailer for what’s on the trailer. Typically, they’re going within about 30 miles or so, they’re going to drop the tractor off somewhere, and they’re going to use their own tractor to continue on with the trailer to whatever their cross-dock is or the fencing operation.”

However, these kinds of thefts are not new–big economic changes can easily trigger this kinds of criminal activity.

“If we go back to 2008, when we saw the economic downturn, we saw tremendous increases in cargo thefts,” said Cornell. “And, we also saw shifts in what was being stolen.”

Before 2008, a majority of cargo thieves looked for electronics and other expensive items, but placed their focus more upon food and beverages when the U.S. was deep in recession during 2010. In 2020, though, the most sought-after items were, unsurprisingly, household goods.

“The things that household goods gives us an advantage with, in regards to recovery, is that [they don’t] disappear,” unlike food items, which are quickly consumed, Cornell said. “But [they are] not as traceable as electronics trend to be. So, that was a big change.”

ATA’s Chris Spear Gets Extended Contract; ATRI Celebrates 20 Years

June 10, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Chris Spear, President of American Trucking Associations, has accepted a contract that will extend the length of his current position for another five years.

“I’m grateful for the confidence and support of the ATA Board, and I’m excited to take on the challenges that lie ahead,” said Spear. “I am honored to work on behalf of this incredible industry, and I look forward to continuing to strongly advocate for trucking, as well as grow ATA’s impact and influence.”

ATA announced the extension in May, and Spear made official his signing of the new contract at the 2021 ATA Mid-Year Management Session.

“We have been fortunate to have Chris at the helm during the past five years,” said treasurer of ATA and CEO of FedEx Ground, John Smith. “Chris’ strong, smart leadership has benefited ATA immensely, and we look forward to how his passion and innovative thinking will continue to position the association and the industry for success.”

Since his induction to the position in July of 2016, Spear has prioritized highway safety and infrastructure improvements, particularly.

“Chris has proven himself as an exceptional leader of ATA during the past five years, elevating the organization and providing tremendous vision for our industry at a critical time,” said Sherri Garner Brumbaugh, Chairman of ATA. “We look forward to how he will chart the course for the association in the years ahead.”

Also acknowledging an industry accomplishment is the American Transportation Research Institute, which is celebrating two decades of collecting and analyzing helpful industry research to push the trucking world forward.

ATRI came into fruition when the ATA Foundation and members of American Trucking Associations wanted to find ways to best conduct adequate research to help the transportation industry find answers and solutions to the challenges it was facing. Thus, American Transportation Research Institute was born, and aims to provide further insight into the largest concerns of trucking industry members and experts.

ATRI has also developed a widely-respected and referred-to annual ‘Most Wanted’ list, which the industry monitors closely to find the most pressing issues needing to be addressed as efficiently and quickly as possible each year.

Because the primary goal for ATRI is research and analysis, it has a much different job than that of the ATA Foundation, said Rebecca Brewster, Chief Operating Officer and President of ATRI.

“Former ATA Foundation Chairman Mike Wickham’s vision was that we would have industry input to identify these topics, and the separation between ATRI and the American Trucking Associations–because ATA is an advocacy and lobbying organization–that’s what they do,” she explained. “That greater firewall between ATRI as a research organization and ATA gives us more credibility.”

The ‘Top Traffic Bottlenecks’ annual report is another of ATRI’s most highly-considered, which has helped many companies determine where their truckers may be stuck in traffic as well as where and how their hours-of-service compliance capabilities may be compromised.

“It might change the timing of some of our routes, or how we dispatch our drivers or utilize them, and it’s critical we get [those things] right,” explained Judy McReynolds, CEO of ArcBest. “And when you have ATRI’s research reporting on the impact of that, it helps both the businesses and the regulators to really see that.”

Not only has ATRI researched bottlenecks and congestion issues, but it has also studied methods of boosting truck parking capability, truck driver health and wellness, infrastructure funding, and truck driver wages and retention.

“It was obvious to many that the industry needed a research-based, science-based organization, and ATRI was formed,” said McReynolds. “Many times, there are topics that are talked about and looked at in [the] press and in government that really need this research to come to the right conclusions. It’s almost hard to believe that the industry could function without ATRI.” McReynolds also added that her company regularly utilizes data released by ATRI to determine where to build additional congestion-relieving terminals, as well as how to recruit and retain new truckers.

Additionally, ATRI has made major efforts to advocate for drivers and fleets in terms of potential new legislation.

ATRI’s research “is also valuable data for different areas of the government–Congress, the House, Senate,” noted Pitt Ohio COO, James Fields. “This data is so well-respected, it is often used in hearings and other government proceedings. I think over the years ATRI has been an undisputed source of accurate data about the trucking industry. It has built a reputation of being a go-to source for data.”

ATA Launches Panel to Help Law Enforcement and Truck Drivers Work Together

June 3, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

American Trucking Associations has been looking for ways to “grow and strengthen” truck industry employees’ relationships and perceptions of law enforcement organizations across the country, and ATA’s federation is bringing aboard a new panel of advisors to help with this effort.

ATA announced its intentions for this panel recently and explained that both retired and currently active law enforcement officials who have been working to boost collaboration efforts with truck drivers, as well as ATA members who have worked in law enforcement at the local, state, and federal levels, will comprise the panel.

“No two groups have a stronger and more consistent presence on our nation’s highways than law enforcement officers and American truckers,” said Chris Spear, President of ATA.

Collaboration within the panel will involve more than two dozen law enforcement agencies–including state organizations like Washington State Patrol and California Highway Patrol, local police departments like Madison County, Florida’s Sheriff’s Department and Jackson, Tennessee’s local police department, and even U.S. Secret Service and FBI members.

Because law enforcement agencies and trucking companies consist of workers who are most commonly on America’s roadways and are both working to keep the nation moving forward efficiently and safely, Spear explained that boosting the partnerships between them is vital for the economy and for public safety.

“Therein lies a strategic opportunity for greater collaboration, increased communication, and new bonds,” Spear continued. “The incredible depth and breadth of experience represented on this board will be an invaluable asset for our industry, the law enforcement community, and the safety of the motoring public alike.”

The Law Enforcement Advisory Board held its first official meeting in March and plans to meet at least every other month to determine the most important challenges and potential opportunities for improvement its members wish to address. In its inaugural meeting, the board found the particular subjects it intends to prioritize over the next few months.

These pressing issues include efforts to increase rest stop safety for truck drivers, boosted truck parking capabilities and availability, the improvement overall commercial motor vehicle security, increased company safety employee and truck driver training accessibility, and ways to help in the fight to end human trafficking.

Some solutions the board discussed in regards to improving communication and strengthening relationships between local police officers and truckers included: meet-and-greet events during which participants could focus on building friendships and rapport, and ride-alongs for truckers and police to gain a better understanding in regards to the daily duties of one another, noted Dana Moore, advisory board member and Texas Trucking Association’s director of policy and government relations.

Moore also explained that at TTA, members have already been working toward forging relationships with members of their local law enforcement, and he believes that many other agencies should be able to easily begin similar efforts to make communication and cooperation as efficient as possible.

“One of the things we do is bring a food truck in and we buy officers lunch,” said Moore of TTA. “We have fellowship, [we] don’t do business [during those times].”

Moore, who has also served as a commercial vehicle enforcement officer with the Texas Department of Public Safety, also noted that because trucker safety at rest stops has been such a prevalent issue, the board believes law enforcement should help by offering their services at parking areas and rest stops whenever they can.

“It’s all about integrity and trust,” he added, explaining that police officers and truck drivers in his state of Texas have been already begun working together in efforts to combat human trafficking over the Mexico border.

Trucking companies from which members of ATA’s advisory panel come include: Yellow Corp., HNTB Corp., FedEx Freight, ABF Freight System, Zonar Systems Inc., Old Dominion Freight Line, UPS Freight, Werner Enterprises, and Roehl Transport. The board also includes employees from Walmart Inc., the Nebraska Trucking Association, The Texas Trucking Association, the South Dakota Trucking Association, the National High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Assistance Center, McAnally Wilkins Insurance, and DeVere Public Affairs and Consulting.

Finally, employees from Midlothian, Texas’ Police Department and the City of La Porte Police Department have also joined the advisory board.