Preventing Lorry and Load Theft
Road freight crime is a common problem across Europe and costs the UK economy up to £250million every year. This causes huge economic loss and disruption to the haulage industry and its drivers. As Warwickshire is positioned in the centre of the country, it is vital that businesses and drivers are taking necessary precautions to reduce lorry crime across the county.
By following this simple advice you can prevent lorry theft and reduce the chance of becoming a victim of crime.
- Be secure
- Always secure your lorry when you leave it – lock
- and set alarms.
- Always take your keys with you – never leave them in
- the cab.
- While driving – lock the trailer load doors.
- Lock your cab when loading or unloading.
- Plan ahead
- Plan your route before you start your journey.
- Avoid taking the same routes or stops for breaks. A recognisable pattern makes you an easier target for criminals.
- Arrange a procedure with your company for authorising changes to your delivery destination.
- Park Safely
- Before starting your journey, decide where you are going to park overnight.
- Use secure overnight lorry parks with the Park Mark® label.
- Locations of secure lorry parks in England are at www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/13659.aspx
- Park your lorry where you can see it.
- Park with the loading doors close to another vehicle or wall.
- If your trailer is empty it is also advised to leave one loading door open to let criminals know that there is nothing inside. This might also prevent any further damage done by criminals attempting to break in the trailer.
- When returning to your lorry, check for signs of any interference.
- Record your check on a checklist.
- Be Aware
- Never pick up passengers.
- Do not leave your personal property on view in the cab.
- Avoid talking about loads or routes with other drivers or customers (including over radios and telephones).
- Protect documents such as shipping orders and consignment notes. If these are stolen, criminals can use them to pick up valuable loads.
- Criminal Traps
- Criminals may try to stop you while you are driving or delivering by using a number of different methods to steal your lorry or load.
- These include ‘staged’ accidents, impersonating police officers or pretending that your trailer doors are open.
- ‘Round The Corner’ TheftCriminals pretend to be working at your delivery destination. They may appear to know what load you are carrying and even dress in staff uniforms or high visibility jackets. Various cover stories are used, such as a flooded warehouse, broken forklift or long queues ahead; they will offer to help you unload or take you ‘round the corner’ to another yard to unload.
- If you are approached and asked to unload at a different destination, always telephone your own transport office to check that the request is genuine.
- If you are driving and receive a telephone call asking you to divert to another destination (and don’t recognise the caller), always telephone your own transport office to check that the request is genuine.
HGV Drivers’ Hours - Driver hours rules for good vehicles in the UK and Europe
There has been a spate of thefts from commercial vehicles where the target has been the new digital tachographs. It is now believed that there is ready market for these due to the recent change in drivers hours rules in December 2012.
Each tachographs is calibrated to a particular vehicle and when removed will maintain a record of certain details of that vehicle including the VRM, the vehicle VIN number and chassis number. To remove this information the tachographs should be taken to an approved calibration centre.
It is thought that some drivers will simply insert the tachographs into the cab of their vehicle relying on the fact that most police officers will see the tacho present and not examine it fully and the fact that the tacho is stolen will only come to light if the vehicle is involved in a serious incident.
In light of this it is requested that whilst on patrol officers stop check vehicles that fall into the categories shown and examine any tachographs that may be fitted. This may identify stolen tachographs and assist with enforcing the new regulations.
For further information regarding the Drivers hours Regulations please go to the Department of Transport Website.