When transporting various materials, certain safety measures should be taken to keep the cargo as safe as possible. Read more to learn about the best-in-class security features used in the trucking industry.

The trucking industry transports hundreds of different materials, from food and fabrics to coal and fertilizers. Most of these materials are valuable, which encourages criminals to go to great lengths to steal goods during transportation. But don’t worry, with good fleet management software and its advanced features, there are many ways to keep your cargo safe.

 

Cargo security measures

 

Goods are transported through different types of freight pipelines, such as land, air or water. Regardless of the type of cargo, special care is taken to ensure that it is not damaged during transportation. Packing your goods in a container and wrapping them with foam, bubble wrap, or any other material is just one way to keep your goods safe and prevent them from moving around or being tampered with.

The shipping company is responsible for packaging and labeling the cargo prior to departure and is responsible for protecting the cargo from damage or theft.

Here are some tips shippers can take to ensure their shipments are handled safely:

• Use appropriate shipping supplies such as cushioning materials, proper strapping and labeling
• To prevent movement on the road, cargo must be secured on all sides
• Fill open spaces with a variety of materials, such as wood panels, airbags, empty packaging, and foam to minimize weak points
• Securing cargo with top and bottom side rails and special tie-downs at the corners
• Use netting to secure goods in place

 

high risk goods

 

Living in certain countries where crime is rampant and fleet attacks are common can be stressful for fleet managers and transporters.

While cargo theft can happen at any time, criminals often target goods in transit. This is largely due to the numerous unsafe parking spaces and dodgy streets along the way. This is when the cargo is at its most vulnerable.

The distance between one point and another can also be a factor in an attempted theft. The more drivers are on the road, the more tired and less aware they become, making them easy targets for hijackers. As a result, criminal groups may attempt to steal goods at stop signs, under bridges, in unsecured parking spaces or on deserted quiet streets when drivers least expect it.

There are some go-to features that fleet managers often use to avoid these situations, and geofencing is one of them. This feature allows for setting up perimeters around any area or hazard area that a fleet vehicle may pass through.

Alerts will be sent when the vehicle reaches these locations, and if for some reason the vehicle does not leave these locations,fleet managerYou will know immediately that something is wrong and can act quickly by dispatching emergency personnel to the exact location, hopefully arriving in time to thwart the hijacking attempt.

 

The impact of technology on roads.

 

As security measures become increasingly sophisticated and technologically advanced, criminal groups appear to have kept pace with the times and begun to implement technology into their operations.

Truck hijackings have been on the rise in South Africa for years, and they don't appear to be slowing down anytime soon. Last year, Police Minister Bheki Cele reported a significant increase in truck hijackings across the country.

“Criminals are now very sophisticated and are using signal jammers, diversion tactics, penetration teams, extortion and even planting employees to obtain products or assets,” said transportation tactical risk expert Stan Bezuidenhout, while sharing some insights with Arrival Live.

While this all seems negative, hope is not lost. As criminals become more sophisticated and "expert" at their craft, technology will always be one step ahead. Fleet management security systems have certain features such asCarWatch, Protector, AI surveillance cameras and many other features that add another layer of monitoring and security to protect your assets.

 

Track your shipment

 

Monitoring driver arrival times is one of the most effective ways fleet managers can ensure the safety of their trucks and cargo. To ensure optimal safety during transportation, tracking companies like Cartrack offer fleet management solutions to account for day-to-day operations.

While fleet managers do their best to keep their fleets safe, transporters also have the tools to manually protect their cargo through certain features provided.

 

Benefits of geofencing:

 

Geofencing provides a location-based service that uses GPS to define a virtual perimeter around any area, such as a warehouse or even an entire city.

With this feature, fleet managers can:

• Instantly track their vehicles
• Recognize certain events during the journey, such as traveling in unassigned areas
• Send automated notifications to preset geofenced areas and receive alerts when drivers enter or exit high-risk or unassigned areas
• Allows immediate response in the event of cargo theft or hijacking

While geofencing is a huge asset when it comes to fleet security, it also helps a business's bottom line. By using this solution, fleet managers will save money that would otherwise be spent on replacing or repairing stolen or damaged vehicles.

 

Artificial intelligence driven live camera technology:

 

It is more important than ever for fleet managers to have an extra set of eyes on the road and a “presence” in each of their fleet vehicles. Managing risk in large fleets can be a daunting task, but LiveVision is the coveted tool that gives fleet managers the visibility they need to keep drivers, vehicles and cargo safe.

LiveVision is Cartrack’s artificial intelligence video surveillance solution that can be used to protect, monitor and record the activities of your drivers and fleet. The solution can be used for fleet management, fleet tracking and fleet security.

Fleet managers can instantly stream the journey to a laptop or mobile phone to get a complete view of their cargo, or instantly download footage to review incidents or handle alerts of potential cargo tampering.

 

international road safety rules

 

While ensuring your shipment arrives safe and sound is a top priority, certain security measures are designed to reduce the chance of attempted theft or road accidents.

A Monash University study on fleet management and safety provides insights into how three different countries deal with road safety issues:

1. In Germany, the German Traffic Safety Council promotes the establishment of volunteer safety circles, where company employees gather together to discuss outstanding safety issues and find solutions under the guidance of expert moderators. They also offer a one-day "Safe, Economical and Environmentally Friendly Driving" course.
2. In the UK, the United Kingdom implements various strategies to improve road safety within organizations. These strategies are as follows: driver training programs, incentive programs, penalties, accident investigations, driver monitoring systems and driver feedback programs, etc.
3. In South Africa, we have a hands-on approach to our road and cargo safety protocols. We have fleet management and vehicle recycling companies such asCartrack, providing training facilities for drivers to better improve their driving skills and driving behavior, as well as fleet management training to help fleet managers achieve a higher level of operational management.

We also offer a wide range of safety features tailored for every driver and for businesses with any number of fleets. These features include Carwatch, Protector, Fuel Monitoring, Geofencing, AI-powered cameras and over 40 reporting features to continuously monitor vehicle and driver status. With all these insights and tools at your fingertips, your business’s productivity and efficiency levels will only increase.

 

The ultimate goal of driver and fleet safety

 

While countries around the world have taken different approaches to their cargo security protocols, the ultimate goal is to improve road safety for cargo, fleet vehicles and transporters involved in transit.

Implemented cargo security protocols are necessary steps to achieve:

1. Reduce theft and hijacking attempts
2. vehicle accident prevention
3. Enhance driver education, alertness and behavior
4. Ready-to-use incident analysis reports
5. Reduce operating costs for damaged or stolen items.

 

Improve and implement security with Cartrack

 

Cartrack offers security features specifically designed to protect your drivers, fleet, and cargo from theft, hijacking, or any other roadside emergency that may occur. Trust us, we will protect your assets. Visit our website today to get a free quote.