Schneider Bests Industry Average in Truck Cargo Thefts

The trucking company Schneider has reported its seventh consecutive year of declining cargo thefts and a 20% decline in truckload thefts, well ahead of the industry average.

The news follow the freight security company CargoNet issuing a reporter earlier this year showing the overall number of stolen freight incidents that occurred throughout the U.S. decreased by 9% in 2013, the first time the industry has seen a drop since CargoNet began tracking data in 2009.Since 2006, Schneider said it has achieved a 91% decline of truckload thefts.

Schneider attributed its seven-year streak of beating the industry’s average cargo theft incident rate to what it calls “proven security methods. These include proactive communication with shippers, drivers and owner-operators, as well as disciplined standard operating procedures and technology, said the company’s Director of Safety and Enterprise Security, Walter Fountain. It said another component of the company’s security plan is moving high-value loads using driver teams, which creates speed in the supply chain and ensures freight is continually moving and far less susceptible to theft.

“Perhaps correlated to our declining number of thefts this year is the implementation of Schneider’s pre-notification system,” Fountain said. “Using the company’s new geo-fencing technology, drivers are alerted when they enter an area with higher reports of theft. The system then notifies drivers of safer alternative places to fuel and rest within the area.”

Fountain also stressed the importance of preparing and educating drivers and owner-operators. “Ours is a three-prong approach: We address expectations during on-boarding, we regularly communicate the locations and types of thefts that are occurring, and we incorporate cargo theft preventable measures into our quarterly training sessions.”

The result is fewer Schneider drivers entering high-risk theft areas in exchange for fueling up and resting at Schneider operating centers or secure truck stops, according to the company. It also means a 37% percent decrease in total value per load theft.

A report issued a few days earlier by the logistics security services provider, FreightWatch International, said between February and April the average trucking industry loss value per incident was $245,101, a 98% increase over the previous three-month period.