Cargo security has been a concern on the radars of many shippers and carriers in recent years, but during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic worries mounted as cargo thefts spiked in transportation hubs across the U.S.
Two years after shutdowns caused by the pandemic began, the logistics industry is still grappling with cargo theft.
LandAirSea Executive Vice President Brad Kurtz is seeing an increase in theft in both big and small cities and across all of the nearly 60 market segments the company services. LandAirSea provides GPS tracking solutions for logistics and transportation companies and adjacent industries, as well as any industry in need of monitoring a terrain, air or marine asset on the move.
“Everything from roofing shingles and copper piping to trailers and Bobcats are being stolen. Police cannot keep up, insurance companies require 30 or more days before paying out a claim, and business owners are losing massive amounts of revenue on top of it. And all this is in addition to how tough it is to maintain quality employees,” Kurtz said.
A 2021 Supply Chain Risk Trends report produced by CargoNet reported nearly $58 million worth of total value lost for the year due to supply chain thefts. The average value of cargo stolen was $172,340.
According to CargoNet, there was a 15% dip in supply chain risk event activity year-over-year in the U.S. and Canada in 2021 as pandemic-related factors became less prevalent, but cargo theft increased in California and Florida.
“Small and midsize businesses have to worry about everything from quality workmanship and employees to billing and supply chain. Now, they have to worry about their assets being stolen, how it affects their jobs and how long it will take their insurance — if they even can afford to carry it — on their hard-earned assets,” Kurtz said.
CargoNet is expecting theft activity to remain high during 2022, so logistics companies must stay vigilant by getting ahead of the issue.
Kurtz has, however, also seen positive signs for business owners that indicate now is a good time to invest in asset and cargo protection, especially when it comes to GPS tracking. In recent years, GPS hardware has become more affordable and reliable, and easier for the average person to use than ever before.
By installing a GPS tracker, asset managers can have peace of mind knowing they can always see where important equipment or shipments are and can provide that data to law enforcement if needed. Mobile device applications connected to GPS software provide flexibility for asset managers to monitor their assets from anywhere, allowing for instant data visibility for quick decision-making.
One company providing modern and affordable GPS tracking devices is LandAirSea, which offers a no-contract solution for transportation and logistics companies and dozens of other industries that need the locations of their equipment monitored. Combining the power of its proprietary plug-and-play GPS tracking hardware and user-friendly software platform, companies can easily track and manage their assets on a single account — whether they have one or 2,000 units.
With the real-time GPS asset tracker LandAirSea 54, users can receive location updates as frequently as once every three seconds to once every 24 hours. Asset managers also have the option to schedule tracking only during the night if assets are in use during the day.
Using the API-integrative platform, users can set up geofences and receive email or text alerts when assets move outside a designated area. For companies with multiple assets, such as a carrier with a growing fleet, fleet managers can label units with a custom icon and name for easy identification.
Other uses of LandAirSea’s GPS trackers include:
- Visibility tool for confirmation that a service or operation has been performed.
- Staff training, monitoring driver behavior and monitoring deadhead miles.
- Reduction in carbon emissions through route monitoring.
As a family-run business, LandAirSea ensures quality customer service. It has an in-house tech support team to assist clients in setting up or adjusting asset tracking requirements as their business grows.
“LandAirSea spent the past 25 years working with small businesses across numerous different markets to create a customizable and easy-to-use software platform and a solid GPS tracking device that is engineered and assembled in Woodstock, Illinois. It is designed by a small business for a small business,” Kurtz said.
Connect with LandAirSea representatives at any of the ways below to learn more about their GPS tracking solutions:
Website: https://landairsea.com
Email: Info@landairsea.com
Brad Kurtz: (571) 233-2752
Jared Zientz: (815) 347-2229