Cargo at rest is cargo at risk. Increase the safety and security of your truck stop, warehouse, distribution center, and more with professional cameras from LVT.
If any of us had been asked if we were worried about our access to toilet paper in 2019, we’d probably have been very confused. Fast forward to March 2020, and we were experiencing shortages of daily staples and necessities on an unprecedented scale—seemingly out of nowhere.
The COVID-19 pandemic showed us just how dependent we are on the supply chain. It also caused a huge shift in consumer behaviors and expectations. Suddenly, a casual trip to the grocery store posed a big potential threat to our health and purchasing habits. As a result, we became more reliant on delivery options for food, furniture, and other goods and necessities.
Fast forward again to the present day, and we’ve grown accustomed to same-day shipping from big retailers like Amazon and Walmart. We expect—and rely on—these quick and convenient options. Now more than ever, America's economy depends on a safe, reliable transportation network that delivers everything from electronics and household goods to food and beverages.
However, the transportation industry encompasses far more than just the delivery of goods. It is the backbone of our economy, supporting critical infrastructure, healthcare, and emergency services, as well as the movement of people, from commuters to tourists and everyone in between.
In this blog, we’ll explore the threats and obstacles the transportation industry faces and explain how professional outdoor security cameras can come to the rescue.
Let’s paint a picture of the landscape: The transportation industry is up against various security threats that endanger not only the movement of goods but also the safety of workers. From sophisticated theft operations to escalating violence, these challenges pose significant risks to businesses on an individual level and our economy as a whole.
Parking lots, rental car businesses, and dealerships are prime targets for thieves to steal multiple vehicles with relative ease. The statistics are alarming—nearly two cars are stolen every minute. In 2021 alone, 932,229 vehicles were stolen.
The theft of commercial vehicles, such as semi-trucks and trailers, has also spiked in recent years due to the involvement of organized theft groups. To add to the complexity of this issue, criminals have become increasingly sophisticated in their methods, often using relay devices that allow them to unlock and start vehicles without a physical key.
The consequences of vehicle theft extend beyond the immediate loss of the vehicle itself. Statistics show that 97% of stolen cars are used to commit other crimes, such as arson, kidnapping, burglary, and more.
Cargo theft is a multibillion-dollar problem for the transportation industry—each individual theft averages over $200,000, and the total costs to retailers and trucking companies are estimated to be between $15 and $30 billion.
Often, when cargo is at rest during the shipping process, it is gathered in large quantities with minimal security. This makes it an easy and profitable target for criminals who employ either:
In addition to the obvious and immediate loss of goods, cargo theft creates supply chain disruptions and results in delays and higher consumer prices as companies attempt to recover the lost revenue.
→ An LVT thermal camera caught four thieves stealing from an at-rest railroad car. See what happened next.
In 2022, 153,000 catalytic converters were stolen—it’s no surprise, really. Catalytic converters are valuable targets for thieves because they contain metals like palladium, rhodium, and platinum. Each of these metals can be sold for hundreds—or even thousands—of dollars per ounce.
Thieves target areas with large concentrations of vehicles, such as dealerships, rental car lots, and company fleets, as they can steal multiple catalytic converters in a single strike. The impact on businesses is substantial. While a thief might make a few hundred dollars selling a catalytic converter, the cost of replacing stolen converters and repairing vehicles is much higher. And since a vehicle can't be driven without a catalytic converter, not replacing them is not an option.
Organized criminal groups haven’t just become more sophisticated; they’ve also become more aggressive. According to the National Safety Council, the transportation and warehouse industry is the third most dangerous industry. In 2020, the industry reported 62 fatal injuries from violence and nearly 80,000 injuries.
Unfortunately, this means that transportation workers are putting themselves at risk every day simply by showing up to do their jobs. While you can put a price on the theft of high-value items, you cannot put a price on human life.
Anywhere cargo stops, it is vulnerable. And anywhere cargo is vulnerable, the people transporting or monitoring that cargo are vulnerable too. We must translate this awareness into action. The right security tools and tactics give you better visibility and control, equipping you to protect your staff, fleet, and cargo.
Below, we’ll explore how LVT helps secure the transportation industry.
Parking lots, trucking stops, railyards, and warehouses often give thieves an easy opportunity to vandalize fleets, steal trucks, or raid shipping containers and cargo. With LVT’s professional outdoor security cameras, you can enhance shipping container security, capture clear evidence to aid investigations, and monitor parked fleets in real time from anywhere.
With LVT, you can set up perimeters around your lot and get notified immediately if those perimeters are breached. This early warning system makes it easy for you to respond to crimes and other incidents before significant loss or violence occurs—money and lives get saved, and your supply chain keeps running like a well-oiled machine.
LVT’s mobile security units can come equipped with deterrent lighting and loudspeakers to scare off would-be thieves in parking lots or around warehouses or cargo staging areas. This proactive deterrence also minimizes the risk of vandalism, ensuring your assets are protected even in the most vulnerable locations.
LVT's advanced surveillance solutions go beyond traditional security measures. With AI-powered analytics, you can identify suspicious activities and patterns, allowing for quicker response times and more effective incident prevention. Data is power, but intelligent, AI-driven data is a superpower.
LVT’s solutions are mobile, which means protection is not fixed to a single location. Our units can be easily deployed to new sites or areas of your lot that experience heightened threat levels, so you get flexible and responsive security coverage. This adaptability is crucial for the transportation industry where cargo is constantly on the move, your fleet comes and goes, and operational demands change rapidly.
LVT is changing the way the transportation industry detects, deters, and defends against crime and secures their supply chains. From shipping container security to parking lot solutions, warehouse surveillance, and more, we’ve got what you need to keep things moving safely and smoothly. If you’re interested in learning more, contact our team today.
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