Miami Truck Accidents Lawyer

What’s Behind The Uptick In Trucking Cargo Theft During The Holidays, And How To Prevent It?

If you ordered Christmas gifts for your family members and friends online and are waiting for the delivery to arrive at your doorstep, do not be surprised if your delivery gets stolen on its way to your doorstep.

Yes, we are talking about trucking cargo theft, which is a very common phenomenon during the holiday season. “Everyone wants a Christmas present, and thieves are no exception!” says our Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer at Dante Law Firm, P.A., with a soft smile passing over his normally serious face.

On a more serious note, trucking cargo theft is no joke. Apart from late deliveries of Christmas presents and financial losses, this type of theft can contribute to the increased number of truck accidents in Fort Lauderdale and all across Florida during the festive season. That’s because when a truck cargo theft occurs in the middle of a highway or road, surrounding vehicles are more likely to crash into the truck transporting eye-catching goods.

Which trucks are at risk of cargo theft during the holidays?

Trucking companies that transport electronics, food and apparel are aware of the problem of cargo theft more than anyone else, because they are more prone to theft during the holiday season. In fact, statistics show that truck stops and highway rest areas are the most targeted locations by thieves, as these places account for more than a third of all trucking cargo theft incidents in the U.S.

The largest percentage of organized trucking cargo theft occurs around the holidays, right when Americans are ordering expensive Christmas presents like crazy. Apart from the fact that the holiday season is associated with expensive gifts (with electronics being one of the most popular Christmas gift choices in the U.S.), shipments being left unattended for long periods of time also contributes to the uptick in cargo theft during the holidays.

Trucking cargo theft in Florida

Since Florida is home to some of the largest warehouses, ports, and distribution points in the country, incidents of trucking cargo theft in Fort Lauderdale and all across the state are not unheard of. For skilled thieves, trucking cargo containing goods ordered by American families during the holiday season becomes an easy target.

Fact: During the 2014 holiday weekend, thieves stole nearly $500,000 in cell phones in Florida alone.

How to prevent trucking cargo theft during the holiday season?

But phones and other electronic devices are not the only goods that often get stolen during the holidays, as thieves also target trucks transporting prescriptions drugs, over-the-counter medications, apparel, and even food.

“Although law enforcement officials come up with new techniques and tricks to catch criminals and prevent cargo theft during the holiday season, trucking cargo theft continues to be an unresolved problem,” says our truck accident lawyer Fort Lauderdale. If you own a trucking company or work in the trucking industry, follow these tips to prevent trucking cargo theft:

• Make sure you hire the right people. A large number of trucking cargo theft incidents are caused by trucking company’s employees leaking inside information to thieves;
• Select transportation partners and intermediaries wisely;
• Make sure all employees in your trucking company, especially the truck drivers, receive proper security training to prevent cargo theft;
• The golden rule for truck drivers is to refrain from stopping the truck in the so-called “red zone” (the first 200 miles or 4 hours from their starting point), as that’s where the vast majority of all trucking cargo theft incidents occur;
• Do not scrimp on high-technology security that can help prevent cargo theft;
• Do not forget to conduct security audits every once in a while.

If you have witnessed trucking cargo theft or have been injured in a truck accident in Fort Lauderdale or elsewhere in Florida, speak to our Fort Lauderdale truck accident lawyer from Dante Law Firm, P.A. Schedule a free consultation by calling at (305) 949-2526.