Transportation Security: best practices for transport companies

The need for security solutions in transportation and logistics is a need any company in the industry worth its salt has given a great deal of thought and careful consideration to. Paying attention to these issues and employing effective strategies protects all elements of the supply chain if done correctly and at Reef Group we pride ourselves on being ahead of the curve when it comes to security.

We asked our team of highly-experienced logistics experts for their honest opinions and insights on the subject after so many years of experiencing it first-hand. They listed what they felt were the best new security advancements and practices they have learned to appreciate and adhere to over the years. We are excited to share them.

Smart management systems

In an endeavour where there are so many moving parts and factors to consider at any given time, constant improvements and advancements in technology could not be more welcome. Staff members can be issued with hand-held devices allowing them to input details and stay in unbroken contact with the control centre and system. With little more than a few clicks of the mouse or swipes of the finger, an overarching smart management system allows you to:

• Check the location of any asset, vehicle, or trailer
• Assess traffic/weather conditions and predict delivery times
• Know exactly who came in and out of the compound and at what time
• Monitor schedules, work rosters, paid leave, and other absences
• Maximise efficient loading/unloading and trailer flow
• Ensure compliance with company rules and regulations

The list goes on but one thing is certain, technology has made life simpler, more efficient, and safer all around. If a company is falling behind in terms of its organisation it will soon fall behind in other areas too. It is beholden upon those in positions of power to push for the most up-to-date programs and affordable systems. Knowing where everything and everybody is at all times cannot fail to increase security exponentially and the benefits of an increased focus on things like yard/gate control are self-explanatory.

Pick-up/delivery rules and organisation

As with any high-value items, there is always the risk of attempted theft of individual items from the consignment, or even the whole consignment itself. Loading and unloading times are particularly vulnerable as we have all seen footage of opportunistic thieves seizing the chance to swipe boxes from the back of open, unattended trucks and flee.

The risks of theft during these processes are vastly reduced if the area is secured inside a larger compound as many are, but that is not always the case. It is straightforward enough to prevent theft using security personnel at your home base but transportation will not always start from there and there will be many occasions when delivery is between two unknown outside locations. Either way, it pays to have some rules in place to mitigate the risk of theft, namely:

• No consignments are to be loaded or unloaded by one person alone

If at least two people are loading or unloading a vehicle, that means somebody can be present with the vehicle at all times. This makes it much harder to target and becomes less enticing for opportunistic thieves.

• Meticulous record of loading/unloading times

It is crucial to inform the person responsible for overseeing the deliveries at that time if using an older system of check-ins. This is usually straightforward to predict if the loading time has been pre-arranged but varies at the delivery end depending on outside factors, such as:

• Traffic
• Driver rest breaks for longer journeys
• Customs ans excise procedures where required
• Unexpected natural events or heavy weather
• Load size/weight

Live tracking technology is a game-changing development in this matter and one of the security solutions in transportation and logistics all companies in the industry should seek to employ.

Secure storage facilities

The days of wire fences with barbed tops being sufficient to protect such important, huge investments are long gone. Modern security systems are light years ahead of the old CCTV cameras that provided such poor-quality images that only a tiny fraction of the footage of criminals in action resulted in any kind of legal steps being taken.

If companies can afford the extra cost, 24-hour camera and alarm monitoring is now a service many security companies offer. With so many high-tech ways to protect any location, there is no excuse for poorly-protected storage facilities. The future is already here when it comes to building security systems, and the question is not, can a company afford to upgrade its security system, but rather, can it afford not to?

Cyber security

As much as digital, global technology has allowed for ever more shared information and heightened security, it has created weaknesses and dangers of its own. Virtual attacks are a ceaseless occurrence across the world and those with dark intentions would love nothing more than to bring certain countries to their knees by disrupting and crippling supply chains.

The time to react to this ultra-high-tech threat is not after events happen but proactively beforehand. Luckily governments are largely aware of the dangers, but private companies must not neglect their own responsibilities. Security solutions in transportation and logistics have moved forward in leaps and bounds to counter the ever more sophisticated methods criminals can employ in attempting to bring them down.

The good news is many transportation and logistics companies have made the necessary adjustments and improvements required, and tampering with the supply chain wirelessly is no longer the open goal it once was. Many companies differentiate themselves from their competitors by citing this level of protection, and that can only be beneficial to all involved.

Contact us

Here at Reef Group, we pride ourselves on being a safe, professional, and highly-efficient transport company in Perth you can trust. We have worked tirelessly as a team for more than 15 years to gain a great reputation and are always looking for ways to learn, improve, and evolve as a company.

If you have any thoughts about anything you have read here or any questions about our transportation and logistics services, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Our experienced staff members will always give you the best advice they can and start the process of preparing an obligation-free quote for transportation services if you wish.