From: The Daily Citizen

Submitted by the governor’s office

ATLANTA – Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced that the Georgia Motor Trucking Association (GMTA) has donated $16,000 to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Major Theft Unit (MTU). Members of the GMTA joined Governor Perdue to commend the MTU on their dedication to investigating cargo and other major thefts in Georgia.

“Cargo theft represents a big concern and cost for trucking and other freight haulers,” said Governor Perdue. “The Major Theft Unit was created to identify and target the individuals and groups responsible for cargo theft in our state. This donation highlights Georgia’s efforts in combating this crime.”

Georgia is a major logistics hub making cargo theft prevention an important priority for the state. It is estimated that 43.5 million truckloads of cargo, valued at $1.4 trillion, traveled through Georgia’s highways in 2009.

The Major Theft Unit was created last year and has already seized $17 million in stolen cargo and made 71 arrests. In addition, the MTU has assisted in the seizure of $1.2 million in drug contraband. The MTU has provided cargo theft investigation and prevention training to both local law enforcement agencies and the transportation industry. Cargo theft is a nationwide issue with significant impact on the United States economy.

“The Georgia Motor Trucking Association has partnered with law enforcement as we work to investigate and prosecute persons committing cargo theft in this state. The financial support provided by the association will be used to purchase equipment for the Major Theft Unit and to train state and local law enforcement,” said GBI Director Vernon Keenan.

Cargo theft crimes account for an estimated direct merchandise loss of $10 to $25 billion per year in the United States. Georgia has become the target for cargo thieves operating in the southeast, and is now one of the leading states for cargo crimes. The Major Theft Unit is working in close cooperation with federal, state, and local agencies to investigate cargo and other major thefts in Georgia.

“GMTA and its members are grateful for the opportunity to support the GBI in this vital effort,” said Ed Crowell, President & CEO Georgia Motor Trucking Association, “Cargo theft is a growing plague across the nation and thanks to Governor Perdue’s leadership, as well as the skill and dedication of GBI’s Major Theft Unit, Georgia is now leading the nation in fighting back. GMTA will continue to this work in every way possible.”

The Georgia Motor Trucking Association is the only organization in the state that provides full-time service and representation for the trucking industry. The Association serves as the “voice” of the trucking industry in Georgia, representing more than 400 for-hire carriers, 400 private carriers, and 300 associate members.

Governor Perdue and GBI Director Vernon Keenan were joined by Ed Crowell and members of GMTA. Follow this link for a photo of the presentation http://photos.gov.georgia.gov/Governor-Sonny-Perdue/February-2010/Photo-ops-21010/11201014_qz9Ux#785366575_gusfs-A-LB.

Original Story:http://www.daltondailycitizen.com/statenews/local_story_042130151.html

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The ENFORCER® Geo1, along with ENFORCER® online tracking service, provides an end-to-end solution for covert tracking applications. Based on Qualcomm gpsOne™ assisted location-position technology, the ENFORCER® Geo1 tracker operates in impaired environments with no clear view of the sky. Examples include inside buildings, embedded in high-value cargo, and hidden under vehicles. Superior battery management sets the ENFORCER® Geo1 apart. Powered by the Qualcomm inGeo™ platform, the ENFORCER® Geo1 operates on patented “Low Duty Cycle” technology which provides unique hibernation capability, producing best-in-class operation and standby time.

The ENFORCER® Geo1 features small size, value-priced, tracking and monitoring

ENFORCER® Geo1 Product and Service Features

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About Transport Security, Inc.

Transport Security, Inc. – ENFORCER® www.transportsecurity.com is a leading Cargo Security Company that has been providing High Security Solutions for the transportation, supply chain and retail sectors for over 25 years. With the combination of its ENFORCER® Physical Security Locks and C-TPAT Security Seals for trucks, trailer and containers, the addition of the ENFORCER® Geo1 to their security solutions allows for a complete end to end security solution for companies.                       ##

JERSEY CITY, N.J., and DES PLAINES, Ill., Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — ISO and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) announced today their intent to create a national information sharing system to combat cargo crime. By networking existing databases and adding secure reporting and analytic functions, the new system will enable more efficient, accurate, and timely sharing of cargo-theft information between theft victims, their insurers, and law enforcement.

Cargo theft is a multibillion-dollar economic drain that exploits existing gaps in the nation’s information-sharing framework. When theft victims are unable to provide timely and accurate information concerning their losses, it hampers law enforcement’s ability to conduct an effective investigation. Aside from the immediate loss of merchandise, cargo theft affects insurers and their policyholders through added costs that are ultimately borne by consumers.

Even more troubling are the indirect costs of cargo theft through supply-chain interruption, which can jeopardize product safety when goods are taken from a controlled environment and resold to an unsuspecting public.

For the first time, a nationally coordinated data-sharing system is being built to take into account the needs of insurers, law enforcement, transportation companies, manufacturers, retailers, and their many agents and service providers. The core of the network is a new database called CargoNet(TM), which will be launched in early 2010. The network will also encompass training and investigative support for law enforcement, as well as theft prevention services and analytics.

Vincent Cialdella, ISO senior vice president, explained, “ISO’s track record of building and managing sophisticated and secure systems to share sensitive loss and crime data is ideally suited to building CargoNet(TM). We are greatly encouraged by the strong support we are receiving from leading cargo insurers. This initiative would not be possible without it. We are also encouraged by discussions we have had with transportation companies, manufacturers, and retailers, given the crucial role they play in this initiative.”

Joe Wehrle, president and chief executive officer of NICB, added, “This is a critical step in the plan that the industry and law enforcement mapped out in November 2006, when the National Cargo Theft Task Force recommended the development of intelligence databases and information sharing. Working with our members and law enforcement, NICB has been making progress against cargo theft on many fronts. We have recovered stolen cargo, developed intelligence, and dissolved organized groups behind the thefts. If CargoNet were in place today, I’m sure we’d be seeing a lot more recoveries, and we’d be making thieves think twice about stealing these loads.”

Ronald Thornton, president and chief executive officer of the Inland Marine Underwriters Association (IMUA), a not-for-profit association that represents most U.S. cargo insurers, noted, “IMUA has worked with and on behalf of its members for many years to combat cargo theft. We have made good progress in some areas, but information sharing has remained ad hoc and fragmented at best. Our technical committees and member companies have met with the team developing CargoNet, and I am encouraged by the evident level of support it is receiving. This effort will be a major step forward in the fight against cargo theft for our members and their policyholders, who both play such a critical role in the U.S. economy.

If you are an owner-operator, these guidelines from Western States Cargo Theft Association will help you protect your equipment. If you are a company owner who employs drivers, the following driver guidelines will help prevent the theft of company tractors and trailers.

• Be suspicious of individuals asking you to stop as a result of an alleged traffic collision. If unsure, drive to a police station or busy location before stopping. Hijackers frequently use this ruse to get drivers to stop.

• Take the bill of lading and/or other paperwork with you when you leave the truck to eat, sleep or use a restroom.

• Be especially watchful immediately after picking up the load and just before delivery. The majority of armed hijackings occur within a few miles of the pickup or delivery point. Freeway on-ramps and off-ramps are particularly dangerous.

• Stay with the trailer or container during loading or unloading to protect the property, prevent pilfering and observe the condition of the property being handled.

• Implement a “no stop” policy for drivers picking up containers for local delivery.

• Make sure each of your drivers has a 24-hour phone number for dispatch or management personnel that he/she can call in the event of an emergency.

• Require drivers to check and use seals, padlocks and kingpin locks when the trailer is dropped.

• Require drivers to keep all cargo compartment doors closed and locked when unit is loaded.

• Require the driver to get a signed delivery receipt prior to leaving the delivery location.

• Insist that drivers not take loaded units home or to any other location that is not secured.

• Require that drivers park units in a reputable truckstop or secure yard when waiting for their delivery time. A number of motels in southern California are being targeted for tractor-trailer thefts and break-ins.

• If you are hijacked, always and immediately do as instructed by the hijackers. Listen to what is being said and to the sounds around you as this may provide law enforcement with valuable information as to where the thieves have taken your truck and load.

• If you are hijacked or you find that your load has been stolen, immediately notify police (dial 911) and then your 24-hour dispatcher or emergency contact.

• You are law enforcement’s best witness. Try to provide them with descriptions of the hijacker(s)and the vehicle(s) they used.

• Carry information on your person concerning the identification of the equipment you are driving. You will need license numbers, container and/or trailer numbers and descriptions. Law enforcement cannot make a stolen vehicle report or cargo theft report without this information.

Original Article: Heavy Duty Trucking June 2009 by Deborah Lockridge

Bill Anderson, GroupDirector, Global Security, Ryder System, Inc.

Today’s economy is driven by a global supply chain. Goods are moved around the world 24/7 – packed and transported by air, rail, sea or truck. As the supply chain grows more complex, so does the ability to secure it. One of the biggest challenges affecting businesses today is cargo theft, and the resulting potential disruption of the supply chain.

How large is this problem? It is difficult to quantify because cargo theft is not always categorized in the same manner and often goes unreported. According to experts, the estimates range between $10 to $30 billion a year. However, this figure does not capture the indirect costs associated with theft such as lost sales, production down time, and missed deliveries. In addition to the financial losses, certain industries such as alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceuticals face the risk of their products being sold to minors or being counterfeited.

What’s in it for cargo thieves? Well, the obvious answer is the value of the cargo. However, there is another element affecting the dynamics of cargo theft; a relative lack of downside risk. Cargo moves anonymously across the nation’s roads and highways, through jurisdictions with varying resources and abilities or willingness to prosecute if apprehended. Cargo thieves know that law enforcement and prosecutors are less likely to give cargo theft a high priority when the cargo’s owners, transporters, and thieves are from another jurisdiction. If there is an apprehension and prosecution, the sentences are often less than other types of crimes such as drug trafficking. Because of the relative ease of hijacking and the lenient punishments of prosecutions, cargo theft continues to grow larger year after year. High tech, high value products, specifically consumer electronics, are in high demand.

How does it happen? The criminal element responsible for cargo theft is more sophisticated than ever. A well-executed cargo theft is pre-planned and highly coordinated. The stolen goods are often moved quickly to a warehouse, off-loaded, repackaged, re-manifested, and placed on another vehicle; often before the theft is discovered or reported to law enforcement. This “illegitimate supply chain” is managed by organized crime operations that know what they are targeting and have the ability to move, transload, and distribute stolen goods within hours. Today’s virtual economy often works against legitimate businesses by facilitating the distribution of stolen goods through on-line marketers and auction sites.

Can GPS and Telematics prevent cargo theft? Advances in technology, such as GPS tracking, have improved a fleet manager’s ability to monitor vehicles. Onboard telematics technology significantly improves the vehicle recovery process and may deter a less sophisticated criminal. While there have been many success stories with onboard tracking systems, GPS and other common tracking technologies are frequently defeated as criminals adapt to a hardening of the transportation network. Technology alone is not the magic bullet against cargo theft.

An effective security program must be well planned and combine technology with robust security procedures and fundamental security practices. These practices include:

1. Be Alert. Be aware of possible surveillance being conducted on your facility’s

operation. Signs to watch for include:

· Vehicles parked outside your facility or within view of the facility gates and entrances.

· Individuals with cameras (still or video) or taking notes outside your facility.

· Unauthorized personnel inside the facility, on the grounds, or walking the perimeter.

· Vehicles (usually mini-vans or SUVs), especially those with two or more occupants, that appear to be following your drivers. It is not uncommon for cargo theft teams to follow their target for hundreds of miles waiting for an opportunity to hijack the vehicle and cargo.

2. Respond. Immediately report all suspicious activity and/or theft to management and law enforcement officials.

· Criminals can move stolen goods quickly, so immediate reporting of theft to law enforcement is critical.

· Respond to every alarm. Frequent “false alarms,” including attempted entries or break-ins into the facility, may be a sign that suspicious individuals are testing the facility security system and response times for law enforcement.

3. Manage Information. Do not share information on cargo or operations with anyone

except those involved in the operation.

· Limit load information within the facility to parties who have a need to know the information.

· Maintain inventory control. Unusual changes in inventory levels may help to alert when something is awry.

4. Know Your Supply Chain.

· Know the carrier and driver that are scheduled to pick-up your cargo and verify their identity before a load is released.

· Monitor delivery schedules and routes, treat suspiciously any over due shipments or out of route journeys.

· Review the security of your supply chain partners and know where your cargo will stop along its route. Will it go directly to the delivery point or will the cargo be consolidated with other cargo or sit temporarily in another yard?

5. Execute Basic Safety Practices.

· Keep trucks locked and park them in an organized manner on a well-lit facility lot.

· Ensure alarm systems are functioning properly, and monitored by a central station that has updated contact information. Ensure your central station is capable of detecting telephone line interruptions. (This is done with a DVAC line or cellular backup.)

· Communicate to driver teams that one person must remain with the vehicle at all times.

· Review security at your site regularly and quickly address maintenance and repair items.

6. Screen and Train Employees. Often cargo theft is perpetrated with inside help.

Rigorous pre-employment screening will help weed out those most likely to steal

merchandise from a warehouse, loading dock, or truck. After screening, make your

drivers effective with good security training including:

· Communicating security awareness information and location-specific security rules to employees and carriers.

· Providing security training covering basic topics such as their role in the security system, how to report security incidents, and how to recognize internal conspiracies and suspicious activities

· Participating in the Highway Watch program to train drivers to look for suspicious and possibly terrorism related activities

7. Be involved. There are several organizations that can help you combat cargo theft.

These include:

· International Cargo Security Council (http://www.cargosecurity.com/ncsc/) and your Local Cargo Security Council

· American Society for Industrial Security (www.asisonline.org)

· Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) (http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ctpat/)

· Technology Asset Protection Association (TAPA) (www.tapaonline.org)

· Cargo theft task forces (http://www.cargosecurity.com/ncsc/images/Cargo_Security_Councils.pdf)

In addition to preventing theft, making investments in security to address the areas covered in this article, from hard costs associated with technology and systems, to investments in training and resources, will ultimately improve supply chain efficiency, customer satisfaction, and bottom line results.