Top 5 Cargo Theft Hotspots: Don't Get Burned

The Inland Marine Underwriters Association (IMUA) recently published their study on U.S. truck stop cargo thefts in 2013 and 2014. We were surprised to see which states dominated the total incidents. We go over the hotspots and tips to avoid getting your freight stolen.

The Study

The recent study released from IMUA used many sources including CargoNet and FreightWatch International, whose primary focuses are to track cargo theft cases throughout the U.S. The 28-page publication highlights each of the cargo theft incidents and groups them into categories of state and road stops. 

The point of the two year investigation was to spotlight common theft occurrences and threads, so that shippers and carriers could make informed decisions about their routing and stops on their shipments.

Hotspots for Cargo Theft

According to the study, 298 cargo theft incidents were recorded between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014. It was made clear that five states had significantly higher occurrences above the other 40.

Here are the top 5 hotspots and how the study recommends you avoid them on your route.

1. Texas had 52 incidents. Roads running east-west (I-10, 20, 30 and 40) were the most hit. It is advised that drivers avoid stopping in and around Dallas and Houston to avoid major thefts.

2. Georgia had 49 incidents. Roads running north-south (I- 75, 85, 95 and 675), I-20 and specifically, at Exit 19, were clearly hotspots. To steer clear of this, trucks should choose exits up to 140 (except for 11) and not those further down the interstate.

3. Florida had 34 incidents. Roads running north-south (I-75, I-95 and I-295) were the most heavily hit, which is where major traffic flows. According to the study, this could be because the most prolific gangs operate from this state. Consider avoiding I-10 in either Lee and Midway and I-75 between Exits 329 and 368 and I-95, particularly near Ft. Pierce and St. Augustine. Truck stops along I-75 in Ft. Myers down the west coast are also active, so use caution there as well.

4. California had 23 incidents. Truck stops were the number one spot for cargo thefts in this state. Try to make stops distant from Barstow, Hesperia, Ludlow and the I-10 corridor between (east to west) Colton, Rialto and Fontana.

5. South Carolina had 16 incidents. The most traffic from truck seems to be north and south, though there doesn’t seem to be many correlations between each incident. The IMUA recommends drivers to be cautious of stopping along I-85 between Exits 90, 104, and I-95 Exits 77, 164, 169 and 181

Tips for Avoiding Cargo Thefts

The Cargo Theft Hotspot Study includes a list of tips for drivers to lessen their chances of getting freight stolen. We’d like to highlight what we think are some of the best.

• Make sure you have enough Hours of Service and fuel to travel at least 200 miles before stopping.
• Take your mandated short (30-minute) rest break either before leaving the shipment origin or after driving 200 miles.
• Park so that the trailer doors are tight against a wall, pole or other immovable object, to avoid break-ins.
• Only visit truck and rest stops that are well lighted and secure. When you stop, park along with fellow trucks and position them so that it is always visible to you.
• Always carry identification of both the tractor and trailer with you. This information should contain relevant details such as make, model, year and vehicle license numbers.

Using these tips and theft statistics should help you make informed decisions about your routes to and from deliveries to ensure you and your freight’s safety. For more detailed information on the study, click here.