Wayne Hummel, a cargo and auto theft investigator or the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), gave advice for how to prevent this theft.
“Any loaded trailer with cargo in it that’s sitting is at risk,” Hummel said. “My suggestion to anybody with a load, don’t leave it sitting. If you have to leave it sitting, have some kind of security on it, especially if it’s an expensive load.”
Thieves have many different strategies to steal cargo ranging from a simple grab while the truck is parked in a trucking yard to setting up fraudulent companies that gain possession of the cargo.
Some companies are combating the theft by keeping their trucks on the move at all times. Drivers trade off cargo at rest stops so they can take breaks while not allowing cargo to stay in one place too long.
Hummel recommends that if your cargo is stolen to immediately report it. The IBC and law enforcement were able to recover half of all reported theft claims.