The Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association (APTA) has joined forces with the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) and the RCMP to bring the national cargo theft reporting program to Atlantic Canada.
The Cargo Theft Initiative, which IBC and the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) launched in Ontario in 2014, brings together the insurance industry, the trucking community, law enforcement and other stakeholders to raise awareness of the dangers and costs associated with cargo theft and to assist in the recovery of stolen goods.
Historically, cargo theft has often gone unreported because there are so many different parts of the transportation process that it can be overlooked. The cargo theft reporting program aims to raise awareness about cargo theft crime and bring together various stakeholders to crack down on it.
The success of the program is illustrated in a case that occurred last summer in Ontario. The cargo theft reporting database – the heart of the program – facilitated communication between insurance companies and law enforcement regarding the return of goods. This communication led to a police raid in which the police were able to identify the owners of approximately $1.4 million in stolen goods.
“To fight cargo theft, we must be as organized as the criminals. Cargo theft is not a victimless crime. It is exacting a human toll, costing the Canadian economy billions of dollars and threatening the security of Canadians. This initiative and strengthened partnership will help curb this type of crime and protect people in our communities,” says Amanda Dean, Vice-President, Atlantic, IBC
Cargo crime is a major issue across Canada but one that is growing in our province and it’s affecting our economy, local businesses, our livelihood, and local trucking companies,” added APTA Executive Director Jean Marc Picard. “Cargo theft in New Brunswick represents 10’s of millions of dollars and can be as severe as shutting down businesses due to the cost associated with the thefts. One stolen trailer can be worth up to $250,000 in value, therefore it can put a business under overnight. Truck Transportation is the #1 mode to move goods in our province, an industry that is important to our economy and employs over 20,000 people. It’s imperative that we collaborate as a team and develop strategies to solve this problem”.