While those days are long gone, highway robbery remains a significant criminal activity, and as reported by American Shipper's associate editor Eric Kulisch in this issue (pages 48-55), has perhaps become supercharged recently in the United States by the down economy.
Hundreds of millions, if not billions, of dollars are lost annually by U.S. shippers, and this nation's hardworking truckers could lose their jobs if a mistake they made contributes to a lost load. Also, in rare instances, truckers may be injured or killed during these robberies.
Criminal gangs have become increasingly sophisticated with their use of coordinated communication and information technologies, reaching their tentacles deep into businesses to know their every move. It's not a stretch to imagine these modern-day cargo thieves could offer a roadmap for how terrorist organizations might conduct future economic sabotage in this country or others.
Local and state law enforcement and federal agencies unfortunately must fight cargo theft with little to no additional resources and are plagued by disjointed laws, regulations and reporting procedures, allowing these shadowy syndicates to stay steps ahead of the law.
Beating back this new breed of highway robbers will not be easy. Since these crimes often cross local, state and federal jurisdictions, the battle will have to be waged starting from Capitol Hill, which needs to ensure sufficient funds and pressure are applied within the FBI to expeditiously complete the addition of cargo to the Uniform Crime Report database, as authorized by the 2005 Patriot Act. National and state lawmakers need to provide sufficient funding to police departments in high-risk areas to build up anti-cargo theft teams and systems that communicate well with other law enforcement agencies. Taxpayers, when provided with sufficient information about a problem, will generally support crime-fighting initiatives.
It's also extremely important for shippers to be engaged in the process. This means keeping a closer watch out for suspicious activities within their organizations, and maintaining solid communications channels with their carriers, logistics services providers, and law enforcement. Shippers who decide not to participate, especially those with high-value consumer goods, will suffer the consequences of higher insurance premiums, deteriorating bottom lines and damaged reputations.
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