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Cargo theft is on the rise, and the thieves aren’t just interested in high-value goods anymore.
According to USA Today, cargo thefts of paper goods, personal protective equipment (PPE), and food increased last year as the black market for such items flourished during COVID-19. It says the thieves have stolen everything from ventilators to toilet paper.
“In some cases, organized criminals have targeted semi-trucks, while in other cases ordinary people have engaged in crimes of opportunity,” the publication reports, adding that the recorded incidents of cargo thefts—ranging from major to minor incidents—increased by 35% during the first 10 months of 2020 (compared with the same period in 2019).
In several cases, for instance, thieves stole entire truckloads of paper goods, with the average truckload worth anywhere from $15,000 to $40,000. “Thieves often aim for a truck stop where they can take a few items off of each trailer and then sell them to a buyer,” USA Today reports, “such as a retailer that can comingle it in their store [so that it] doesn’t look like an anomaly.”
Technology to the Rescue
According to IBM, the Internet of Things (IoT) and sensors help companies monitor the location and the status of the cargo being shipped. It says the technology is particularly valuable when used to track the journey and condition of perishable cargo. With the worldwide vaccine rollout now in full effect, these and other tracking technologies will surely play an important role in ensuring that these pharmaceutical products get to the right place at the right time and in the right condition.
“Throughout the journey, powered cargo monitoring systems enable handlers to ensure that the cargo is fresh until it reaches the customer,” IBM points out. “Parameters like airflow, temperature, humidity, and condensation can be tracked in the container to ensure that the package is all right.”
IBM says IoT systems can also be used to prevent theft of cargo from the truck trailer. For example, when embedded on the axle of the trailer, weight monitoring sensors can monitor the weight of the cargo and share it with fleet operators. “In case the weight of the cargo unexpectedly decreases,” it explains, “an alert could be sent to fleet handlers alerting them to possible cargo theft.”
Are You in Control of Your Freight’s Destiny?
Transporting cargo requires a layer of security to ensure that the freight, vehicle, and driver get from point A to point B as quickly and safely as possible. Whether the goal is theft prevention, shorter transit times, and/or safe passage in high-risk markets—or a combination of all three—shippers can leverage technology to help reduce risks and keep their supply chains running smoothly and securely.
Whether you’re shipping high-value freight, managing time-sensitive cargo, or transporting goods through high-risk countries, DB SCHENKERsmartbox gives you the real-time visibility needed to keep that freight safe and secure. It monitors global freight transports in a very convenient and innovative way.
The Benefits are Priceless
DB SCHENKERsmartbox premium uses GPS coordinates to monitor consignments on the Internet in real-time using parameters like temperature, humidity, G-force, movement, vibration, and inclination. It monitors global freight transports in a more convenient and innovative way, offering options for pharma, logistics, air gateways, air real-time, domestic package tracking, rail, security service, and other options.
Already being used by shippers worldwide, this freight-monitoring solution allows companies to be proactive and in control of their destinies, instead of waiting hours or days to learn the status of their valuable cargo. Armed with the real-time data, shippers can make quick decisions that keep their supply chains secure without the need for heavily-securitized containers.
“The DB SCHENKERsmartbox service is an extremely affordable and user-friendly way to track and monitor everything from temperature control to current location to theft,” says Lorant Kovacs, Head of Vertical Market Healthcare, DB Schenker Americas. “The benefits are literally priceless.”
