skip to main content
Travelers Logo
  • About
  • Careers
  • Agents
  • Investors
  • Sustainability
  • Contact Us
  • For Individuals
    • Overview
    • Products
      • Car
      • Home
      • Renters
      • Condo
      • Landlord
      • Boat & Yacht
      • Flood
      • Motorcycle
      • Travel
      • Pet
      • Weddings
      • Umbrella
      • All Products
    • Prepare & Prevent
      • Insurance 101
      • Home Central
      • Travelers Garage
      • Managing Through COVID-19
    • Affinity Group Discount
    • Online Service
    • Pay Your Bill
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • For Business
    • Overview
    • Products & Solutions
      • Overview
      • Boiler & Machinery
      • Commercial Auto & Trucking
      • Cyber
      • Environmental Liability
      • Excess Casualty & Umbrella
      • General Liability
      • Global Insurance
      • Inland Marine
      • Management & Professional Liability
      • Ocean Marine
      • Property
      • Business Owner's Policy
      • Surety Bonds
      • Workers Compensation
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Industries
      • Overview
      • Agribusiness
      • Architects, Engineers & Surveyors
      • Auto & Truck Dealers
      • Business & Professional Services
      • Construction
      • Education
      • Energy & Renewable
      • Equipment Dealers
      • Financial Institutions
      • Food Services
      • Health & Related Services
      • Hospitality & Recreation
      • Manufacturing
      • Marine Industries
      • Museums & Fine Art
      • Non-Profit
      • Oil & Gas
      • Public Entities
      • Real Estate
      • Retail
      • Technology
      • Transportation
      • Wholesale & Distribution
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Services
      • Overview
      • Risk Control
      • Claim
      • Premium Audit
      • Online Customer Tools
      • Risk Management Information Services
      • Travelers Client Advantage
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Small Business
      • Overview
      • Automobile Insurance
      • Business Owner's Policy
      • Data Breach
      • Employment Practices Liability
      • Professional Insurance
      • Umbrella Insurance
      • Workers Compensation Inurance
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Large Business
      • Overview
      • Casualty
      • Cyber
      • Management & Professional Liability
      • Property
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
    • Multinational Business
    • Prepare & Prevent
      • By Topic
      • By Industry
      • Navigating Your Business Through COVID-19
        • Find an Agent
        • File a Claim
        • Pay Your Bill
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • Claim Center
    • Claim Center
    • Should I File a Claim?
    • File a Claim
    • Roadside Assistance
    • Find a Service Provider
    • Check Your Claim Status
    • Manage Your Claim Experience
      • Understanding the Claim Process
      • Claim Guide Library
      • Workers Compensation Resources
    • Claim Capabilities
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • Prepare & Prevent
    • For Individuals
    • Home Central
      • Buying & Selling
      • Home Maintenance
      • Home Renovation
      • Home Safety
      • Moving
      • Smart Home
    • Travelers Garage
      • Buying & Selling
      • Car Maintenance
      • Distracted Driving
      • Safe Driving
      • Teen Driving
      • Boating
    • Insurance 101
    • Weather
    • For Business
    • Industries
      • Construction
      • Manufacturing
      • Nonprofit
      • Small Business
      • Technology
    • Topics
      • Business Continuity
      • Cyber
      • Driver and Fleet Safety
      • Facilities Management
      • Internet of Things
      • Product and Services Liability
      • Supply Chain Management
      • Workplace Safety
    • Travelers Risk Index
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
  • About Travelers
    • Overview
      • Awards & Recognition
      • Careers
      • Community
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Sustainability
      • History
      • Investors
      • Media Resources
      • News
      • Travelers Championship
      • Travelers Institute
      • Get a Quote
      • Find an Agent
      • File a Claim
      • Pay Your Bill
    • Get a Quote
    • Find an Agent
    • File a Claim
    • Pay Your Bill
Main Navigation
  • For Individuals
      • Insurance for Individuals
      • Products
        • Car
        • Home
        • Renters
        • Condo
        • Landlord
        • Boat & Yacht
        • Flood
        • Motorcycle
        • Travel
        • Pet
        • Weddings & Events
        • Umbrella
        • More
      • Prepare & Prevent
        • Insurance 101
        • Home Central
        • Travelers Garage
      • Affinity Group Discount
      • Online Service
      • Pay Your Bill
    • Get a home quote now

      It's easy to get a free quote for home insurance from Travelers in just a few minutes.

       

      Get a home quote now
  • For Business
      • Products & Solutions
        • Commercial Auto & Trucking
        • Cyber
        • General Liability
        • Management & Professional Liability
        • Property
        • Business Owner's Policy
        • Surety Bonds
        • Workers Compensation
        • More
      • Industries
        • Construction
        • Energy & Renewable
        • Financial Institutions
        • Healthcare
        • Manufacturing
        • Real Estate
        • Technology
        • Transportation
        • More
      • Prepare & Prevent
      • Services
        • Risk Control
        • Claim
        • Premium Audit
        • More
      • Pay Your Bill
      • Small Business
      • Large Business
      • Multinational Business
      • For Business Overview
    • Tips for Managing Risks Related to a Remote Workforce

      Tips for Managing Risks Related to a Remote Workforce

      With the current reality of more employees working from home through the pandemic, is your business ready for all the implications?

      Learn more
  • Claim Center
      • Claim Center
      • Should I File a Claim?
      • File a Claim
      • Roadside Assistance
      • Find a Service Provider
      • Check Your Claim Status
      • Manage Your Claim Experience
        • Understanding the Claim Process
        • Claim Guide Library
        • Workers Compensation Resources
      • Claim Capabilities
    • Send us your receipts, photos, invoices and more with just a push of a button.

      Securely share information with your Claim team.

      Send us your receipts, photos, invoices and more with just a push of a button.

      Upload a File
  • Prepare & Prevent
      • For Individuals
      • Home Central
        • Buying & Selling
        • Home Maintenance
        • Home Renovation
        • Home Safety
        • Moving
        • Smart Home
      • Travelers Garage
        • Buying & Selling
        • Car Maintenance
        • Distracted Driving
        • Safe Driving
        • Teen Driving
        • Boating
      • Insurance 101
      • Weather
      • For Business
      • Industries
        • Construction
        • Energy
        • Manufacturing
        • Nonprofit
        • Small Business
        • Technology
      • Topics
        • Business Continuity
        • Cyber
        • Driver and Fleet Safety
        • Facilities Management
        • Internet of Things
        • Product and Services Liability
        • Supply Chain Management
        • Workplace Safety
      • Travelers Risk Index
    • Managing Through COVID-19

      Managing Through COVID-19

      Resources to help you adapt to the realities of COVID-19.

      Learn more
  • Home
  • Prepare & Prevent
  • Business
  • Supply Chain Management Resources
  • How Well Do You Understand Your Cargo Theft Threats? [Video]

How Well Do You Understand Your Cargo Theft Threats? [Video]

By Travelers Risk Control

Cargo theft can impact almost any supply chain across the globe, and the threats can vary significantly. Variables such as the type of commodity shipped, the regions of the world where it may pass through, and, even the time and day of the week all are factors to consider when understanding cargo theft threats.

Scott Cornell, Travelers’ National Practice Lead for Transportation, shows how data and speed can help customers recognize, avoid and respond to identity theft schemes and other types of cargo theft.

(SPEECH)  
[MUSIC PLAYING]

(DESCRIPTION)  
Text, Data and speed, preventing cargo theft. 

(SPEECH)  
SCOTT CORNELL: Cargo theft is a multibillion dollar business. From pet food to flat screens, cargo theft disrupts day-to-day business operations across the country. It's not just lost goods. Cargo theft ripples across a supply chain and impacts the bottom line.  

Consider the complexity of global and domestic supply chain. Each leg and every transfer point presents an opportunity for theft. To stay one step ahead of cargo thieves, businesses need both data and speed. Data to recognize theft patterns and techniques. Speed for a fast response that helps limit theft, giving law enforcement a better chance to recover stolen goods and put a stop to organized crime rings that commit these thefts.  

At Travelers, we know the current hotspots around the world where these crimes are happening and the latest ways criminals are using identity theft technology to steal. And we can help your business avoid cargo theft. Our Special Investigations Group works with Travelers customers to help prevent thefts and to recover the stolen goods.  

The team built a sting trailer, equipped with surveillance and tracking capabilities, designed to help break up cargo theft rings once they've been identified. We've positioned our investigators across the country in the areas where cargo theft is most prevalent. And they're ready to respond 24/7, 365 days a year for our customers.  

When we're notified of a stolen load, we use analytics and resources developed over years of field work to quickly gather leads and partner with law enforcement to help them track down the thieves. For a customer who'd lost 12 loads to identity theft, our quick response, thorough investigation, and partnership with law enforcement helped them recover all but one load within just two days.  

I'm Scott Cornell, National Practice Lead, Transportation, for Travelers. To learn more, visit travelers.com. 

(DESCRIPTION) 
Travelers Logo

Data and Speed: Preventing Cargo Theft

www.travelers.com

Copyright: 2019 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved. Travelers and the Travelers Umbrella logo are registered trademarks of the Travelers Indemnity Corporation in the U.S. and other countries.  

Identifying your product’s susceptibility to theft and developing appropriate strategies can help protect your cargo and your business. “Education is paramount to effectively combating cargo theft,” says DZ Patterson, a Travelers Investigative Services professional. “Once companies understand their particular cargo theft threats, they can implement targeted behavioral and procedural changes more effectively. These can include improved hard controls, including locks and electronic detection, as well as implementing cyber security techniques, to harden their supply chain,” adds Patterson. One approach to curbing cargo theft and introduced by Travelers’ Special Investigations Group (SIG) is the Travelers’ “Sting Trailer.” The trailer is an innovative tool that Travelers deploys in partnership with law enforcement operations. Its use has shut down criminal operations resulting in arrests and criminal prosecutions.

What is Stolen Most Due to Cargo Theft

Most people believe cargo crime is focused on larger value pharmaceutical and electronics. However, home and garden supplies, as well as food and beverage products, are the two most theft targeted cargo types. These two categories account for more than 30 percent of all reported cargo theft in the United States in 2017.* This type of cargo is attractive to thieves because it can be more easily resold in illicit markets. Other more protected products may have more developed anti-theft features, for example, unique control numbers and identifiers that help law enforcement identify stolen goods.

Cargo thieves take advantage of every weakness they can. Some examples are:

  • Poor roadways and transportation infrastructure, such as bridges and ineffective traffic control.
  • Weak or non-existent security procedures at ports and terminals.
  • Unreliable telecommunications networks that are expected to support covert tracking devices.

These types of regional weaknesses can serve as choke points where cargo thieves focus their resources to attack cargo moving within them.

In the United States, cargo thieves tend to consider weekends, especially extended holiday weekends, as prime times to target cargo. They understand that reporting and response times can be delayed when facilities are left unattended over weekends and holidays, giving them more time to transfer cargo to another trailer, hide it away in another location or even sell it to another party before law enforcement, or even the shipper, is aware the cargo is missing.

A few starting points when evaluating the theft potential for goods in transit are:

  • Understand how your cargo will travel — both type of conveyance and the actual route it will take.
  • Develop routes that avoid areas with ‘known’ high-crime or poor infrastructure.
  • If shipping in higher-crime areas is unavoidable, work with local law enforcement to time shipments to occur when there is less chance for theft.
  • Consult with reputable security vendors who may be able to provide better security solutions and types of anti-theft devices that meet your threats.
  • Enforce high security standards within your operations, such as:
    • Require trailer kingpin locks to be installed whenever a loaded trailer is not attached to a tractor.
    • Ensure facilities are well-lighted and fence lines are maintained.
    • Have drivers avoid stopping within the first 200 miles from the pickup point.
    • Prohibit drivers from leaving loaded trailers unattended.

Shippers can incorporate these requirements, as well as others, within their freight contracts.

Sources:
* SensiGuard™ Supply Chain Intelligence Center (SCIC), U.S. Cargo Theft 2017 Annual Report.

Learn More About Inland Marine Insurance

More Prepare & Prevent

Cargo ship on the water in transit

Helping Protect Your Cargo While in Transit

Taking steps to protect cargo can help prevent business interruptions. Learn about inspecting, securing and receiving cargo.

Illustration of truck part of supply chain driving to store

Where is Your Supply Chain the Most Vulnerable? [Infographic]

Compare your results to those who took the Supply Chain Pressure Test and learn about potential risks from weak links.

plane flying over cargo

Global Supply Chain Management Tips

Read these tips to help managing and mitigating risk when dealing with suppliers overseas.

Top Stories
Truck carrying cargo driving on highway

5 Cargo Theft Tactics and How to Help Prevent Them

Being aware of cargo theft tactics can help businesses prevent supply chain interruptions.

  • Learn more

Related Content

  • The Supply Chain Pressure Test [Tool]
  • Where Is Your Supply Chain the Most Vulnerable? [Infographic]
  • Global Supply Chain Management Tips

Find an Agent

Need an Agent?

Get the personal service and attention that an agent provides.

Find a local agent in your area:


Related Products & Discounts

Inland Marine

Protection for a business’ property that is mobile in nature or requires unique valuation for the construction, transportation, fine art and renewable energy industries.


Ocean Marine

Marine and non-marine coverages for operations, includes marine services suppliers, marine transportation and construction, ocean cargo, and luxury yacht owners.


View More Business Insurance Options


Related Resources

  • Learn How SIG Can Help Reduce Cargo Theft Risk Exposures
  • Travelers Sting Trailer Can Help Catch Cargo Thieves in Action

See All Supply Chain Management Content


Travelers logo

Travelers and The Travelers Umbrella are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries.
© 2023 The Travelers Indemnity Company. All rights reserved.

  • Travelers on Facebook
  • Travelers on YouTube
  • Travelers on Twitter
  • Travelers on LinkedIn
  • Travelers on Instagram

Products & Services

  • For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • Claim Services
  • Prepare & Prevent

Our Company

  • About Travelers
  • Careers
  • Investors
  • Sustainability
  • Travelers Institute

Connect

  • Customer Support
  • MyTravelers®
  • For Agents
  • Find an Agent

Legal & Compliance

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy & Security
  • Cookie Settings
  • Accessibility
  • Producer Compensation Disclosure