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

Waconia, MN – Transport Security, Inc- ENFORCER® a leading provider of High Security Solutions for the Transportation and Supply Chain Sectors, today announced an addition to their Covert cargo and portable tracking solutions, The ENFORCER® Geo1, a low-cost, high performance covert tracking device.

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

• Locates target object accurately and quickly.
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• Small size easy to fit inside packages
• Long battery life.
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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