Protecting Your Truck And Trailer From Theft

Vehicle thieves love to get their sticky fingers on commercial trucks and trailers. When they are stolen, you or your company experience revenue loss, higher insurance premiums, parts shortages, business interruptions, angry customers, and workers’ comp claims. The main concern is if a truck or trailer is violently hijacked, an operator may be traumatized, injured, or worse. We know you take precautions to avoid theft but are you taking all the right ones?

Here are a few preventative measures to help protect you against theft while your out on the open road.

Follow Routine Safety Measures

Put the most valuable cargo in the front of the trailer to make it less accessible to thieves.

Use cargo locking doors and keep them locked.

Do not permit unauthorized passengers, such as hitchhikers, to enter the vehicle.

Park in an attended lot. If this is not possible, park in a well-lighted, fenced lot that is visible from the street.

Do not leave spare keys in or under the vehicle.

Do not put a tag on the key-ring that directly identifies the vehicle. A criminal could use this to steal the vehicle.

Do not leave the windows open when the truck is unattended.

King-pin locks should be used on parked trailers. These are sleeves that are placed on a trailer’s king-pin, then secured when it is not attached to a truck.

Install Warning And Anti-theft Devices

These include alarms and wheel locks.

Some thieves will be discouraged by such devices.

These will only slow a determined thief down. It is best to use other means of theft prevention as well.

Install Immobilizing Devices

These disable vital automotive functions and prevent the engine from being restarted until a hidden switch is activated.

These should be used along with the other mentioned security tips, as a disabled vehicle can still be towed away.

Install Tracking Devices

Global Positioning System (GPS) devices are commonly used to track the locations of trucks and trailers. Low Jack that semi and a thief won’t get far.

Beware of Stranger Danger

Always drive with the doors locked.

Choose restaurants and rest areas that are in well-lighted, commonly traveled areas.

Be cautious when a stranger flags you down or asks you for directions.

Keep a radio or mobile phone handy to offer help without getting out of the vehicle.

Always be aware of your surroundings and follow routine safety measures. Try to keep these safety tips in mind when your out on the road and keep your truck and trailer safe from theft.