| With jobs for owner operators often hard to come | | | | can make it difficult for a hit on your cargo to be |
| by, lorry drivers and haulage workers may | | | | scheduled! |
| increasingly find themselves working the less popular | | | | - Parking up ahead of the "Just in Time" delivery |
| anti-social hours involving overnight trouble. Not only | | | | window - although representing good time keeping - |
| do the darker conditions make crime more likely, but | | | | can make you a sitting duck for crime, as it means |
| exhaustion is more likely to set in, and it's very easy | | | | you have to wait around. |
| to make the kind of slip up that will add you to the | | | | - Keep your haulage vehicle locked at all times, and |
| growing pile of haulage crime victims. | | | | make sure your keys are secure. Obviously "with the |
| And these haulage safety lapses are reflected in the | | | | vehicle" never constitutes 'secure'. |
| statistics. Across Europe and central Asia between | | | | - Every time you return to your haulage vehicle, give |
| 2000 and 2005, 1 in 6 lorry drivers were attacked. Of | | | | it a once over and look for any suspicious markings |
| those, 30% had been the victim of repeat assaults. | | | | (e.g: cut curtain sides) which implicate your vehicle as |
| The main targets of the attacks were predictably | | | | a target for crime. If you have any doubts, let the |
| the vehicle and expensive loads they were carrying | | | | police know. |
| (60%), but in over a third of the cases, the driver's | | | | - Resting and refueling your haulage vehicle should be |
| personal belongings were the target of the criminals | | | | undertaken at pre-authorised stops. If unavoidable, |
| (40%). Owner operators and haulage workers should | | | | practice extra vigilance. |
| never let their guard down in truck stops, where | | | | - Keep the contents of your truck to yourself - you |
| 42% of the attacks took place - and predictably a | | | | really don't want thieves and dangerous types |
| massive 66% of all attacks occurred either in the | | | | knowing of the riches and valuables in your lorry! |
| very early morning, or late at night when poor | | | | - Never pick up hitch hikers |
| visibility combine to create the perfect conditions for | | | | - When taking a break, park somewhere where your |
| crime to thrive. | | | | lorry will be visible from the rest stop or café |
| While those who have been the victims of haulage | | | | you're heading to |
| crime will find these statistics reveal no surprises, | | | | - Ensure your load documentation tally matches your |
| those who have managed to avoid trouble on the | | | | consignment |
| roads with their loads should not panic. There are | | | | - Double and triple check the delivery addresses |
| various haulage safety precautions that can be | | | | before you set off |
| undertaken to protect both you and your load. | | | | - Take an inventory of your load as it enters and |
| Haulage Safety Tips To Reduce Crime: | | | | leaves your vehicle. Greater vigilance is required when |
| - It sounds obvious, but equipping your haulage | | | | another party is helping out. |
| vehicle with a quality alarm system is the best | | | | Finally, make sure that - if you're using a freight |
| deterrent when leaving your vehicle for any length of | | | | exchange - you can trust the people you're doing |
| time. The initial outlay will be dwarfed by the | | | | business with. Our freight exchange allows for people |
| damages to your reputation if your find that your | | | | to rate their business partners, so you can ensure |
| load is stolen at the truck stop! | | | | that your future colleagues are above board and |
| - Installing tracking devices can help the police | | | | have a good reputation, before taking on new jobs |
| recover your missing loads if you are the victim of | | | | for owner operators. |
| crime. | | | | These haulage safety tips, alongside the usual care |
| - For overnight stops, make sure you only use official | | | | and vigilance you would take at night anywhere, |
| truck parking locations - it simply isn't worth the risk | | | | should ensure that both you and your load don't join |
| in going unofficial. | | | | the growing statistic of haulage crime victims next |
| - Try not to get into a habit on your journeys - | | | | time you take on a freight or owner operator job. |
| varying your routes, favoured truck stops and times | | | | |