The Department of Transportation is accepting through Oct. 20 comments on how it can toughen measures against cargo theft.
DOT states that cargo theft is a threat to U.S. national security because it contributes to supply chain disruptions, drives up costs for businesses and consumers, and erodes confidence in freight transportation, including degrading trust among international trading partners. Related crimes involve both opportunistic straight thefts of trailers, containers, and loads at truck stops or multimodal distribution hubs as well as highly-coordinated operations conducted by organized criminal networks. Cargo theft at marine terminals and during vessel-truck-rail transfers present a particular challenge due to the high volumes and values of goods moving through U.S. ports.
DOT is therefore seeking information from state, metropolitan, and local agencies; law enforcement; industry; stakeholders (e.g., carriers, shippers, drivers, warehouse operators, insurers); and the public to aid in the development of strategies and potential programs to reduce cargo theft, strengthen supply chain security, and create a safe operating environment for freight stakeholders and the traveling public. Specific topics on which comments are sought include (see full notice for more details) the most significant cargo theft risks and how they vary across modes of transportation, data collection improvements to enhance visibility into the problem, commodities at highest risk of theft, barriers to timely detection and response, ways to improve coordination among law enforcement agencies, and industry best practices.
DOT states that responses may be used in the pursuit of initiatives like closing loopholes that allow carriers or transporters removed from service to re-enter operations under different names or affiliations, improving cargo security risk assessment methodologies, and strengthening decision support capabilities by leveraging data shared through existing federal, state, and industry partnerships.
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