Being a truck driver is no easy task — tight deadlines, bad weather, and delivering high-value freight can be stressful and, at times, dangerous. For the most part, truck drivers are able to complete pickups and deliveries without a hitch. We believe these successful deliveries can be attributed to proper planning, precautions and smart security measures.
When it comes to high-risk deliveries there are a few different areas we could consider. In this blog, we’ll explore some of the most common categories of high-risk deliveries, and go through some precautions that can help keep you and your freight stay safe.
What are High-Risk Deliveries?
There are many: it could be products that are high in value or have fragile components, or deliveries going to areas deemed “unsafe”. Whether you’re transporting pharmaceuticals or luxury goods, there are some general safety tips that can help safeguard your freight and your drivers.
Precautions to Take For Safe Deliveries
Keep in mind that some of these tips will be specific to precious cargo like pharmaceuticals or refrigerated freight, but for the most part, they can apply to all delivery situations.
- Risk Assessment: Cargo theft is a crime that costs companies across North America upwards of $20 million a year. To decrease the likelihood of cargo theft, consider the following: where are you at most risk for theft? Maybe unloading/loading, or when you stop for fuel. Familiarize yourself with the political state of the region or country you’ll be traveling through. In addition, make sure you are aware of your surroundings and on high alert throughout your trip.
- Refrigeration Regulations: If you’re transporting goods that are temperature-sensitive, you’ll need to take a few extra steps to ensure safe delivery. First, get in the habit of cleaning your trailer after every delivery to prevent contamination. Regularly check that the cooling unit is fueled properly, and that the temperature is correct for what you’re transporting. Use another tool for monitoring your temperature rather than solely relying on the trailer’s gauge.
- Preventative Practices: Mitigate the chances of theft risk by using hard-sided trailers, tightly sealing cargo and securing the cargo to the truck bed. These are all easy ways to add another layer of protection and will likely deter thieves as it makes their job much harder. When possible, two-person teams as they are a great way to make sure cargo is never left unattended.
- Dangerous Delivery Zones: Unfortunately, you may find yourself delivering to a dangerous area. If there’s no way around it, there are some precautions you can take to keep yourself safe: only deliver in daylight, maintain contact with your dispatch service (if you have one), have your GPS set for the quickest route out of the area and stay on the main streets. This situation is a great example of when trip planning ahead of time will pay off.
The Bottom Line
Whether you’re transporting high-value goods or going to less than desirable areas for a drop off using these four tips as a guide can save you a lot of trouble and keep you safe.
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