Illinois Near Top of Cargo Theft List—Danger Grows

You probably don't think about this if you're not a trucker, but it will impact you no matter what. Illinois is suddenly near the top of the list when it comes to cargo being stolen off of trucks and we'll all pay the price eventually.

I have many friends and family members that have been over-the-road truckers so this issue is near and dear to my heart. The safety of them and their loads is more in jeopardy now than it's ever been and Illinois is one of the main states where theft rates are soaring. I saw a very recent study by trucking industry site Freight Waves that revealed Illinois is now 4th in America for cargo theft. When you combine Illinois with California, Texas and Tennessee, you see those 4 states are responsible for more than 60% of all truck cargo theft. Remarkable. It's not just trucks either, but also trains in Illinois which are targets of the thieves.

How can truck cargo thefts in Illinois be thwarted?

The Travelers site shared some helpful tactics that truckers can use to lessen the problem of cargo theft including leaving rigs unattended for as little time as possible. They recommend using high security rear door locks and air cuff locks, too. Many loads now use GPS tracking which helps law enforcement find stolen goods if they're are taken, but the villains are now also using GPS jammers. It's a never-ending circle of implementing new security measures until thieves find a way around them. Let's hope law enforcement in Illinois can find a way to deter these villains for the sake of all of us.