Freight theft is a major issue, costing the UK economy £250 million annually. Weak links in security, such as unsecured parking and inadequate surveillance, leave goods vulnerable. Beyond financial loss, theft impacts brand reputation, driver safety, and industry investment.
To combat this, advanced security measures like GPS tracking, geo-fencing and load-facing cameras are essential. Strengthening supply chain security requires investment in infrastructure and dedicated law enforcement efforts.
This article, with insights from Len Mifsud, our Product Marketing Manager, explores common theft risks and the latest technologies improving supply chain protection.
What are the most common forms of theft in supply chains, and where are the weakest links?
A truck parked overnight in a layby, or another unregulated area can be extremely vulnerable.
Roadside facilities in the UK are generally unsafe and there is a distinct lack of secure facilities in which to park at night, meaning that the hours of darkness are a significant weak spot for both driver safety and the security of their loads. The RHA has raised this in its ‘Mission driven: A blueprint for delivery’, which outlines that two-thirds of drivers questioned in a Transport Focus survey were dissatisfied with roadside facilities. It also highlighted that the £18m of DfT funding allocated to improving security, among several competing aspects, is welcome but not enough so far.
With freight theft viewed by criminals as a low risk, high reward activity, it is small wonder that the RHA notes that freight crime costs the UK economy around £250m annually, after the National Freight and Cargo Crime Analysis Yearly Report’s estimated figures of 5,373 instances of HGV and cargo crime in 2023. The average loss per incident cited in the same report was £13,252. Fuel theft is also on the rise.
Freight crime is not just about goods lost but the reputation of the industry too. This then reflects retention of staff and levels of investment in the UK, so secure facilities are essential as is dedicated police focus to tackle the issue.
How can the security of goods in transit, particularly via road transport, be enhanced?
Technology can assist in this situation. Trailer door sensors can alert managers should a load be interfered with and panic buttons in the cab offer the driver an extra level of security. The vehicle can be locked down using geo-fences erected around vehicles which sound an alert should the vehicle be moved.
Load-facing cameras which can record intruders are also extremely helpful, especially for high-value stock, offering insight into what happened and potentially assist in subsequent investigations. Cameras are particularly useful should thieves be bold enough to attack moving vehicles.
GPS technology tracks vehicles so that a transport manager can find out where an asset is at any one time.
The RHA made a series of recommendations in the ‘Mission driven: A blueprint for delivery’ document based largely around the creation of specific offences and sentencing of freight and cargo offences, as well as increasing funding which can be used to support operators.
The notion of the geo-fence can be expanded upon in the future. In an ideal world, such a device would be automatically constructed around a vehicle every time it stops. This would prevent unauthorised access from almost any potential scenario.
Which new technologies are proving effective in safeguarding goods in warehouses and during transportation?
There are some gaps in knowledge in the industry – among some, there is a lack of awareness of the problems that are faced. Some of these relate to lone workers, for whom the principal and most effective solution is a cover-all panic button on a mobile phone.
Being a driver is a highly responsible job. A fully-loaded HGV is a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands and so it is vital that it is monitored at all stages of its journey. Lives can be placed at risk if it is handled incorrectly, which is where a suite of safety products can come into their own. If the driver is driving safely, the load and the vehicle are much more likely to be safe too.
To assert this, tools which monitor driver performance can be used. Coaching driver in the use of safe and fuel efficient driving practices and incentivising them accordingly can have a huge effect of safety for drivers, and the general public. Cameras placed around the vehicle monitor and analyse blind-spots and emit audible alerts when a vulnerable road user is placed in danger by the vehicle, in particular when turning left or pulling away at pedestrian crossings, but they can also provide vital video evidence to the authorities in the event of an attack. Load facing, side cameras and rear facing cameras are particularly useful and can offer a deterrent to thieves. Camera technology can pick up on poor driver behaviour which places a load or trailer at risk too.
As with the above, trailer door sensors which alert managers to breaches can also be implemented and panic buttons in the cab can alert relevant parties. Remote lockdown procedures can be added using geo-fence technology.
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