Cargo theft prevention: How advanced tracking protects high-value freight

• Delayed data leaves freight exposed. The manufacturer’s old system reported locations up to two weeks late, with no alerts for unapproved stops.
• Real-time visibility changes the game. Multiple data sources now feed live monitoring and instant exception alerts.
• Prevention beats recovery. Since the new approach launched, there have been zero successful load thefts.

When you ask shippers what keeps them up at night, cargo security is likely near the top of the list. Just one stolen load of cargo in a year can wreak havoc on a business’s bottom line, let alone four. This was the reality for a technology manufacturer that develops and sells computers and related IT products. 

Every load it ships is considered high-value freight, which puts a target on the back doors of every trailer moving those products. In a typical year, the manufacturer lost between two and four loads to cargo theft. After 10 years of subpar cargo security, millions in lost revenue and customer confidence challenges, it was time to find a better approach to freight safety across the supply chain.

Freight visibility and driver compliance are two key factors that help improve cargo security. The tech manufacturer had a freight monitoring solution in place, but the system’s risk-reduction tools fell short. There was no real-time visibility into a load’s actual location and status; freight tracking information was often sent two weeks after it had already been delivered. There were also no automated notifications if a driver made an unapproved stop along the route, which is a key red flag that a high-security load may be at risk. This poor feedback loop made driver coaching difficult and kept the manufacturer from knowing where its freight was at any given time. 

These ever-present factors put the shipper in freight recovery mode, but it knew it needed to find and implement a cargo security solution that focused on prevention and detection instead.

The Transportation Management division at Schneider has a long-standing relationship with the manufacturer. Because Schneider is committed to improving cargo security across both its owned assets and third-party carriers, the transportation and logistics provider worked with Overhaul, a supply chain security company, to develop and provide real-time visibility and advanced freight tracking capabilities for its brokered freight. 

All the manufacturer’s loads are considered high value, so Schneider worked with Overhaul to create a customized solution based on the freight’s characteristics and the manufacturer’s business needs. Active monitoring of freight was essential, so the following protocols were implemented:

Freight tracking

Multiple sources of data are used for real-time monitoring and exception notifications, including:

• Carrier electronic logging devices
• GPS cargo tracking devices inside the trailer
• Trailer tracking devices such as SkyBitz
• Driver cell phone apps

Immediate notifications

Any time a load experiences an unplanned event, an instant notification is sent to Schneider, allowing the team to follow up with the driver to address the alert.

Customizable parameters

Schneider and the shipper evaluate and validate the value of the freight, the related risks and how incoming notifications should be managed.

For example, geographic areas identified as high-risk hot spots were set as no-stop areas for drivers.

Since implementing Overhaul, there have been zero successful load thefts. Schneider saw an opportunity to apply advanced technology to improve cargo security and protect the shipper’s bottom line.