driver that they say is there to pick up the load is the carrier who that load is supposed to be released and assigned to,” Cornell says. “That’s the key to avoiding a fictitious pickup.” Shippers sometimes assume that the broker they hired has done due diligence on any carrier that they use, but that is not always the case. Instead, shippers should make their security requirements clear to anyone they partner with and ensure that partners are contractually liable if they fail to follow established security procedures. Shippers who use third-party logistics providers or outsourced transportation services often do not obtain all relevant information from the driver and unit picking up their goods. “I call this ‘point of pick-up control,’” Coughlin says. “You must capture unit information, license plates, Department of Transportation numbers, markings and pictures on the tractor/ trailer, driver license information, and pictures. Then, if the loads go missing, you have something to provide to law enforcement. “Don’t assume someone has all this information because 90% of the time they don’t,” he cautions. 5. Stay involved. Getting involved with industry organizations that emphasize cargo security is one way for companies to strengthen their security efforts. For instance, the Transported Asset Protection Association, a nonprofit organization that develops industry standards for supply chain security, hosts the kind of security-focused webinars, conferences and courses that can be invaluable, Cornell says. Joining regional security councils such as the Southwest Transportation Security Council also can bring large benefits for organizations as a place to share intelligence and resources. “Get involved in different organizations so that you can have access to the current intelligence that the industry is providing,” Cornell says. “It’s a great way to be a part of the solution to the cargo theft problem.” n
PARK IT
Parking and safe areas for pit stops are enduring challenges and critical to cargo security. A lack of available truck parking ranks second on the list of the trucking industry’s top concerns—the highest the issue has ever ranked on the list— finds the American Transportation Research Institute’s 19th annual Top Industry Issues report released in October 2023. “Secure parking and secure stopping areas are sore spots for drivers,” says J.J. Coughlin, chairman of the Southwest Transportation Security Council. “Truckers work within mandated driving time limitations, and many times they deliver to industrial areas of the city that are not the best parts of town. “Drivers need to pre-plan their trip and identify where it will be safer to stop, rest, or refresh,” he says. One resource to help drivers with their search for parking is the Trucker Path app, which provides real-time information from its nearly 1 million driver users at all hours of the day on a variety of driver-related topics, including truck stops and parking availability. Trucker Path also recently partnered with We Realize to allow drivers to use the app to reserve secured parking at certain lots. “In the past six or seven years, many private parking locations have popped up with reserved parking available, and that's a viable solution,” notes Chris Oliver, chief marketing officer for Trucker Path. “Truck stops and rest areas are viable as well, but finding them is not always easy. That's the void that the app looks to fill.” With parking, it usually is better for drivers to use foresight rather than to improvise, particularly in densely populated areas with highly competitive parking climates where reserving a paid spot might make sense. “Drivers have a good feel of where they will be at the end of a day or a shift,” Oliver says. “Planning ahead based on that information can be important.” In addition to finding secure parking spaces, one simple method of reducing thefts in truck parking lots is parking a trailer back-to-back with another trailer, making access to the trailer nearly impossible. As an alternative, Keith Lewis, vice president of operations for CargoNet at Verisk, recommends that drivers pull straight into parking spots rather than backing into them, ensuring that the trailer doors are exposed and potential thieves do not have cover to access them.
February 2024 • Inbound Logistics 45
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