In the world of dry van and refrigerated van transport, there is often no more than a little plastic or tin seal that serves to verify that the shipment has been transported without tampering to its final destination. This little plastic or tin seal may be enough assurance for the customer to know their goods were transported without being messed with, but it offers the driver of the load little protection from the threat of load tampering while it is in transit.
The best deterrent to a real threat of tampering is to make oneself the hardest potential target. Often a thief will go for a load that is easy to break into, rather than having to spend the time getting into a trailer that is more of a challenge, unless they know for a fact that the reward inside will outweigh the increased risk of getting caught. This is the reason that a lot of safety sensitive shipments have drivers sign a sheet when signing for their bills to acknowledge that he/she will adhere to certain safety measures, such as traveling a certain distance from the shipper before stopping and keeping the contents of the cargo withheld from anyone inquiring.
The most effective method of deterrence however, is to always keep your box locked up, both while in transit and when stopped. Not all cargo thefts and tampering happen when the truck is stopped, so it is always important to adhere to a strict personal regiment of using proper locks and security devices while the vehicle is on the move as well. A lock must be properly affixed in the manner it was designed, and is only effective if latched properly, unlike the example I saw on the road the other day (picture right). In all my years of pulling refrigerated and dry boxes, I was fortunate enough to only have one break-in where only one case of product was taken. The single box valued at around $50 was enough of a learning lesson for me to understand just how important prevention is to keeping my load sealed and protected.
Since then I always use locking devices on my trailer and require the same practices from anyone pulling for me. In requiring this, I supply the best locking devices from Ranger Lock to my drivers at my own expense, but it is a small price to pay for the extra insurance and peace of mind that having our cargo safely locked up brings. It is true that any load, no matter how well locked up, is susceptible to a break in if the person trying to break in is determined enough to get what is inside. “Painting” the smallest target on your trailer by using the proper locking devices can be an effective tool in deterring unwanted tampering. If your trailer is the hardest “safe” to crack, chances are good that a thief may move onto another easier target instead!