Your Truck Is More Likely to be Hijacked than Your Ship

Cargo Security

www.securetrailerlots.com
877-819-9526

Volume I Issue 4

April 14, 2009

Secure Trailer Lots Map

Lot Locations

Protecting Your Trucks From Hijackers

Transportation and supply chain companies are not only facing oppressive financial pressures, but now ALL transportation modes are facing hijacking pressures. The Somali pirates have shined a light on the threats that cargo ships face traversing Africa, but truckers are facing more severe threats for hijacking and physical injury along the US/Mexico border.

The hijacking of an US ship, the Alabama, by Somali pirates was unique, but far more goods and truckers are under daily threat as they deliver goods across the U.S.. Travel advisories by Homeland Security and Transportation Security Administration highlight the fact that hijackings are becoming more frequent and profitable for criminals along the border; but regions are facing cargo threats as well. The following are links to recent press releases outlining the threats to the trucking industry.

U.S. Warns Truckers on Border

Southwest Border Violence

Secure Trailers Lots is your partner in protecting cargo along the US/Mexican border and other strategic locations. We started our company to provide secure trailer parking that gives carriers a level of confidence that their trucks will deliver its goods.

Call us today to discover how we can help secure your trailers.

Mark Chappelear

Secure Trailer Lots

877-819-9526
mark.chappelear@securetrailerlots.com
http://www.securetrailerlots.com/

Unending Terminal Expenses

Cargo Security

www.securetrailerlots.com
877-819-9526

Volume I Issue 3

February 16, 2009

Secure Trailer Lots Map

Lot Locations

Benchmarking by the Yard

Carriers that employ smart managers and maintain strong balance sheets have the opportunity to secure new business and expand capacity while the recession unhinges many competitors. The winners emerging from this down turn are those companies that secure cash and jettison assets with small ROI.

The economy is driving revenue downward and balance sheets chaos: declining cash balances and increasing liabilities and debt. Your sales force is chasing new business; but competition is driving rates down and profits are small if any; so, companies are cutting operational costs by reducing headcount, parking trailers and eliminating overhead.


Surviving in a Down Economy

Smart managers are acting in ways to survive during this downturn and position themselves for growth and profitability for the recovery. They are assessing their current situation by examining employees, financials, customers, competitors and assets. This examination leads to strategies being created and implemented.


Looking Forward

Secure Trailer Lots has gone through the same self examination process decided to grow and exit this recession larger and provide even more value to our clients. Our goal is to open and operate trailer lots and terminals across the entire US and provide trailer parking in over 40 transportation markets. Secure Trailer Lots will acheive this goal by helping our customers survive this recession, providing a high level of customer service and taking over their yard operations.


ROI Focused

The basic service performed by carriers is hauling and delivering the shippers’ goods and this requires trucks, trailers and drivers. This ‘simple’ service requires carriers to become experts in all sorts of related functions; which add little value, but increases operating costs.

A carrier’s terminal operations are important for servicing a shipper but do not generate revenue. Terminals enable carriers to operate in dispersed markets, but they require capital investment and are expensive to operate. Carriers have turned to Secure Trailer Lots not to park trailers, rather to improve their balance sheet, manage expenses and become more competitive.

The direct investment for a fully developed 10 acre terminal tops $2,500,000 and the yearly operating costs excees $600,000 which includes costs associated with land, property improvements, buildings, maintenance, and guard service. The chart below presents the yearly yard operation costs.

Once a yard is open, these costs are fixed and will continue until the yard is sold. You may feel that operating costs are variable, but most experience accounts view these costs as fixed.

These fixed costs lock carriers its terminals and cause management to make decisions based upon these non-core investments rather than market conditions.

How many carriers have terminals in Detroit where they still pay for property taxes, security and maintenance but have little opportunity for trailer movement?


Outsourcing Yard Operations

Carriers that have contacted Secure Trailer Lots have found yard solutions to that have converted property investment and operating expenses into cash reserves while receiving increased yard service and becoming more agile. In short, our partners have become more competitive.

Yes. Secure Trailer Lots has enabled its customers to become more competitive.

Secure Trailer Lots is seeking carriers to park trailers in our lots, to outsource yard management, rent parking space and become partners to survive this difficult economy.

About Secure Trailer Lots

Secure Trailer Lots is a specialized security company that bridgesthe cargo security gap between shippers and customers by providingservices to protect cargo at rest. Secure Trailer Lots offers HighSecurity Drop Lots, Drop Lot Operations Outsourcing, TransportationConsulting and Customized Security Products and Services. Carriers,owner-operators, and manufacturers use our services to secure cargoand trailer parking for their trailer fleets.

Secure Trailer Lots is looking for clients and partners. The map below presents our current locations. We are activily searching for additional lots. Contact us at 877-819-9526

Contact us at:

877-819-9526
info@securetrailerlots.com

Cargo Security

Secure Trailer Lots

www.securetrailerlots.com

877-819-9526

Secure Trailer Lots Map


Lot Locations

Do you know how to Protect Your High Value Goods?

Emerging cargo security threats are causing security professionals to implement security standards to protect their high value goods and supply chain. The champion for cargo security standards is the Transportation Asset Protection Association (TAPA) and major freight providers are implementing TAPA security standards for the care and handling of freight.

Trucking Security Requirements (TSR) have been developed by TAPA member to ensure safe and secure transportation for high value goods. The following article outlines the Trucking Security Requirements that will help suppliers maintain security for their trucking operations. Security is the responsibility of the supplier, but it takes suppliers, agents and buyers to work in concert to protect the cargo.

Cargo security starts long before the high value goods are manufactured. Cargo Security is a formal process where the supplier and/or buyer develop and implement security standards that all players must adhere. Any security gaps are to be documented, assessed and written action plans to address noncompliance.

Trucking Security Requirements are not magic bullets, rather TSR is a process that must be documented and followed. The supplier’s weakest link occurs at the point where short-cuts are taken and creates an opportunity for thieves. Trucking Security Requirements must address the following major areas of concern:

Areas of Concern

• Physical Security
• Security Systems
• Security Procedures
• Personnel
• Security Training
• Enhanced Security Requirements

The TAPA website (http://www.tapaonline.org) contains additional detail and other resources to protect high value goods. TAPA’s fundamental objective is to affect positive change in the security practices of the freight transportation and insurance communities.

Secure Trailer Lots follows TAPA Trucking Security Requirements principles to ensure safe and secure trailer parking and our basic parking service meets these requirements. We believe that TAPA processes address security risks and our services will benefit suppliers requiring security for high value goods.

Contact Secure Trailer Lots to discuss your trailer parking requirements.
Phone: 877-819-9526
Email: info@securetrailerlots.com

New guide for truck cargo security

Published: 23 December 2008

Some 80 percent of all communities in the United States rely solely on trucks for the products and goods they receive, including food, books, clothing, electronics, automobiles, and medical supplies; making sure these trucks and their cargo are safe is thus an essential part of securing the home front

If you are in the trucking business, you should be interested in this: The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has just released the ATA Certified Cargo Security Professional Resource Guidebook, which provides a detailed explanation of motor carrier security from pick up to delivery. Developed by ATA's Security Council, the 186-page guidebook helps readers evaluate and manage risk and trucking security, whether physical security en route and at a facility, personnel, or information and computer security.

The Certified Cargo Security Professional (CCSP) guidebook covers investigations in the logistics environment, emergency disaster management, federal security regulations for hazardous materials transportation, cross-border security, intermodal security, and food security. In addition, the guidebook serves as the study resource for the CCSP Certification examination administered through ATA and recognized by the North American Transportation Management Institute. The CCSP Certification is a specialty credential that denotes a level of knowledge and skill in the design, implementation, and administration of security protection in the cargo/transportation industry.
"Eighty percent of all communities in the U.S. rely solely on trucks for the products and goods they receive, including food, books, clothing, electronics, automobiles, and medical supplies," said ATA president and CEO Bill Graves. "Securing the transportation infrastructure and supply chain against potential acts of cargo theft, natural disaster, organized crime, and even terrorism is a critical piece of the homeland security effort. ATA established the CCSP Certification and accompanying CCSP Resource Guidebook to address this vital need by expanding and unifying our industry's approach to security."

The guidebook may be purchased at the ATA Web site.
Source: HSDailyWire.com

Cargo Theft is Real

Cargo Security

Volume I, Issue 1 December 11, 2008

Protecting Cargo at Rest
Secure Trailer Lots

CONTENTS:

1. How do You Protect Yourself?

Cargo theft impacts your ability to conduct business. Carriers that experience theft face higher insurance premiums, accruals for self-insurance and the embarrassment of informing customers. Shippers lose the cargo causing product shortages, jobsite downtime, replacement costs, rush charges, time spent on additional paperwork and missed sales opportunities.

Cargo theft is real but pressures cause it to be silent. Industry participants strive to keep instances quiet to minimize bad publicity; besides, cargo theft involves multiple jurisdictions and requires considerable effort to sustain interest and resolve a case. Cargo thieves have found that this environment reduces the risk of being caught while the payoff is high. Commodities such as TVs, computers, pharmaceuticals, designer clothes, or other desirable products can generate .80 cents on the dollar.

It is estimated that the combined losses suffered by the trucking, insurance and railroads surpasses $20 Billion in the US annually. However, this estimate is meaningless until your company has experienced a loss. Cargo theft ranges in value from $15k to $3 Million or more. The common trends include armed robberies to hijack the truck and trailer and robberies at the terminal. Less violent robberies occur at the transportation truck yard, commercial parks, truck stops, rest areas or at the driver’s home.

Criminals are targeting you to compromise your cargo, trailers, products and supply chain. The minute you let your guard down is when criminals strike. How can you protect your assets? It is imperative that your company and supply chain properly layer security practices and follows the policies to protect your assets, reputation and goodwill.

Every organization that relies on a supply chain should implement three basic security practices to protect in-transit goods:

• A documented set of freight security requirements
• Binding standards for transport vendors
• A continual monitoring program to evaluate performance against security objectives

The procedures that your company develops must include activities at the factory, warehouse, terminal, transit, delivery and any other vulnerable situation. Skipping any of these key practices leaves your organization vulnerable to cargo theft.

Secure Trailer Lots is committed to protecting cargo at rest. Studies have shown that cargo at rest is the most vulnerable and this why we developed our cargo safe havens. Future letters will provide additional information that we recommend to protect your cargo and supply chain.

Please contact me if you have any questions regarding cargo protection and I will leverage my 25+ years in protecting cargo to help protect yours.

Mel McKern
Executive Sales Agent
Secure Trailer Lots
(712)326-9966
Mel.mckern@securetrailerlots.com
http://www.securetrailerlots.com/