Fleets need to focus on security

Light & Medium Truck, Nov 2003 by Flora, Whitt

Fleets are on their own when it comes to protecting cargo, several experts said at a recent conference on cargo security.

Less Help for Investigations of Cargo Thefts

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's diversion of resources to fight terrorism means that trucking firms should expect less help from the bureau in pursuing cargo theft, the FBI's lead agent in transportation crimes said.

"The reality is, we're not really the same. We're stretched a little thin . . . When we handle cargo theft cases now, we look for terrorist funding," Dan Wright, chief of the FBI's Major Theft Transportation Crimes Unit, told transportation and security executives at the Cargo Security Forum 2003 conference in Washington, D.C., recently. The conference was sponsored by the London-based firm of First Conferences Ltd.

The bottom line for truckers, Wright said, is, "Don't rely on the government to handle all the problems. You need to look within your company to check your hiring practices to know who's working there. Don't just rely on checking criminal records; interview the employee. Set zero tolerance for employee theft."

The FBI has the same number of agents as it did before the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, about 11,000 worldwide, but now many of them have been shifted from duties such as handling cargo theft cases to anti-terrorism activities, Wright said.

Several industry representatives agreed that carriers need to do their own security work. They said investigations that start in-house could then be taken to law enforcement officials who would finish the case by seeking court convictions based on work started by the company.

Wright concurred, noting that the bureau wants to rely more heavily on investigative work that could be done by security teams at trucking companies.

Kevin Johnson, Transportation Security Administration branch chief for highway cargo security, said that when he worked for defunct less-than-truckload carrier Consolidated Freightways, the company successfully convinced federal authorities to bring cases against cargo thieves by doing much of the investigative work for federal agents unfamiliar with cargo theft.

"Bring it to them on a silver platter. A lot of FBI agents have never been in a trucking company before," Johnson said.

Low-Tech Precautions Aid Security, Execs Say

The most effective security measures are often simple precautions that anyone can learn - and high-tech systems do not provide complete solutions to cargo theft problems.

"Don't forget low-tech or simple human error," said Randal Mullet, director of government relations for CNF Inc. "Don't assume that high-tech will solve all problems."

Some industry officials also said that anti-theft programs must be supported by top executives if they are to succeed.

For example, said Will Urban, director of security for freight forwarder Expeditors International of (Seattle) Washington, "99.9% of the time somebody did something stupid" when companies suffer major cargo thefts.

Urban added that thefts often happen "after someone props a door open. Access is crucial in trucking or warehousing. We need to get basic security issues down to the truck driver level. Once people understand security issues," they will act to improve security, Urban said.

August Bremer, security manager for Ryder System of Miami, said, "Somebody has to check the guy with the key to the door to make sure he did his job. We have a tendency to underestimate our adversaries - [yet] they are very, very smart."

Mike Laden, president of Target Customs Brokers, a subsidiary of retailer Target Corp., stressed that good security programs need the support of a company's top management. "Unless the security program is engaged by the most senior management, it won't be very effective. There is no silver bullet. Companies just need to tighten up as much as possible."

Shippers Say Responsibility for Security Lies With Truckers

Shippers should get tough with trucking firms to help prevent cargo theft, including making them install costly security systems, said one shipper representative.

Robert Bullington, the global security manager for Motorola Inc., said he insists on strong anti-theft systems before doing business with trucking firms. Bullington urged fellow shippers to require contract language that holds trucking companies responsible for losses due to "gross negligence."

"Make contractual language so they are responsible if they lose your stuff," Bullington said.

Bullington said when he visits freight forwarding firms, he "counts their cameras, counts the locks" to make sure the firms' practices are in line with what Motorola needs to ensure its freight is secure. "If we don't dictate the way things will happen, they will happen just the way they occur," he added.

"If you can't find someone who'll meet you halfway [on security measures], walk away," he said.