Welcome to the Theft Prevention Course
This course overviews cargo crime and its impact, as well as best practices to prevent thefts and how to report incidents.
Annual cargo theft losses in North America may exceed as much as $20B each year. Out of these cargo crimes:
On average 80% are theft from trucks/trailers.
Of the 80%, 10% take place at non-secure parking places.
This can lead to disruptions, loss of trust, reduced volume, and an increase in insurance claims and premiums. However, cargo theft incidents can be reduced and prevented through using load security best practices and increasing your awareness of suspicious behavior.
An industry partner, TAPA (Transported Asset Protection Association), compiles standards utilized throughout the industry to aid drivers and carriers in taking proactive and preventative measures to protect their loads while in transit. These standards can be found here: For more details on TAPA standards, please refer to TAPA(opens in a new tab).
This course provides information on some of the best practices and standards in this course which will offers valuable knowledge needed to help decrease and prevent in-transit cargo theft.
Note: You can find additional resources after the course assessment.
Time
This course will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
Navigating This Course
This course is mobile friendly. You can take it on your phone or on a computer. Select the cards below for tips on taking this course on your phone.
Click the magnifying glass icon (+) to zoom in and click again to return to normal size.
When you see a "CONTINUE" button, select it to unlock the next section of the course.
Rotate your phone for better access to course content.
In this section, we will review some important things to consider prior to starting your trip. This includes:
- Important documentation
- Preparing to go on the road
- Having a plan in place in case an incident should occur.
Note: For any emergency situation, including an active theft incident, you should utilize 911. For immediate support, and when safe to do so, notify Amazon through Click to Call and your company’s dispatcher.
On the Road
We’ve talked about the steps to take prior to hauling the load, but how do you protect yourself from theft risk while on the road? By staying vigilant, utilizing secondary security measures, having a plan, maintaining frequent communications, and verifying any changes, you can effectively deter cargo theft and maintain the integrity of Amazon’s freight throughout the in-transit phase of the shipping process.
Reporting an Incident
Timely reporting is essential for thorough investigation and prevention of future occurrences. By maintaining a state of preparedness through comprehensive incident response planning, you can help protect your load against malicious activities. Let’s secure those shipments and keep you all making all the “Right Turns”!
Press the (+) plus signs below to view some important information regarding reporting incidents.
Amazon strongly recommends drivers to have a pre-established security incident response plan that allows for a quick and effective response in the event of a breach. Should such an incident occur, having an incident response plan ready is crucial.
You should be prepared to provide detailed information about the situation to the appropriate parties, including law enforcement and Amazon’s ROC.
For theft incidents, you should first contact local law enforcement. Effective communication with law enforcement is crucial, especially during abnormal situations. In these unfortunate scenarios, you must communicate important information in a clear, accurate, and timely manner.
The following details are commonly asked for if a theft incident occurs:
Name of driver and license plate of the vehicle (truck and trailer)
Special characteristics of the vehicle (color, brand, special logos, etc.) that helps law enforcement to identify the vehicle
Location of the vehicle (as accurately as possible) using either mile marking of the road, or nearest city passed, or any landmark (i.e. service station, etc.)
Type of incident and if medical support is needed
Alongside your incident response protocols, Amazon recommends you stay up to date on the latest security threats and best practices as an important ongoing effort. Sustaining a culture of security and vigilance is key to mitigating risks and protecting the integrity of our shipments.
You can find up to date information on the TAPA website under Resources(opens in a new tab).
In this section, we will give you actionable steps to protect your load while on the road and stopped. We will present the importance of ensuring GPS traceability and review three different kinds of threats while in transit:
- theft
- deception
- hijacking
Stopping Procedure Checks
If you need to make a stop:
- Lock the tractor and turn off engine.
- If two drivers are being used, we recommend one of the drivers to stay with the vehicle at all times when stopped.
- When possible, the trailer should be backed to a hardened surface in order to prevent access to doors when stopping.
- Before resuming trip, you should conduct a thorough inspection of tractors and trailers, looking for evidence of tampering. This includes the integrity of the seal and lock and any other compartments or access panels, as well as performing the Seven Point Inspection, which includes:
Front wall
Left side
Right side
Floor
Ceiling/roof
Inside/outside doors
Outside/under carriage
- Check for personal belongings box.
Stopping Procedure Checks
These situations involve unauthorized people gaining access to the cargo compartment (intrusion) to steal cargo from it. While this type of threat may happen any time, it is most likely to happen when your vehicle is stopped.
Below, we have listed some DOs and DON’Ts to help prevent intrusion and thefts. Press the tabs below to learn more.
DOS
DON'TS
DOS
To protect you and your load:
DO protect yourself. If you are in your cabin, stay inside.
DO call the police immediately.
DO try to communicate with your monitoring/dispatching center AND/OR if your truck is equipped with a panic button, press it.
DO safely gather as much information about the suspects to share with the police.
DO preserve the crime scene (try not to touch anything until the police arrive).
If you must park outside a secure parking area:
DO position the loading doors of your truck/trailer against a wall, building, or another trailer/vehicle.
DO keep the stop/break as quick/short as possible.
DO use locking fuel caps and anti-siphoning devices to prevent fuel thefts.
DON'TS
For your safety:
DO NOT try to defend the cargo by confronting the suspects, as it can put your life at risk. Your safety is the most important factor here!
DO NOT change your planned itinerary and scheduled stops, unless necessary, and inform your dispatching center while taking additional security.
Deception Threat
Now let’s talk about another type of theft incident, theft by deception, and how to prevent it.
In many cases, attackers try to get access to the cargo not by forcibly trying to take it from the driver, but instead through deception. This involves using deceptive means to trick brokers, carriers, shippers, and of course drivers to hand over a load to the bad actors instead of a legitimate business.
Press the plus signs (+) below to learn about how to prevent a deception threat.
If you are stopped by someone claiming to be the police or another authority for a check, be vigilant and consider the possibility of impersonation.
If anyone, including an employee of the warehouse, informs you that you must deliver to a different location, continue to the original destination. Contact ROC to verify the information and only proceed to the new location if the change has been made on the Relay app.
Amazon Associates will not ask you to leave your tractor/trailer to check-in or to enter the facility.
If anyone, including an employee of the warehouse, approaches you outside of the Amazon yard and asks you to do so, please contact ROC.
Jamming refers to intentionally blocking communication signals, rendering devices unable to transmit or receive any form of communication (voice calls, SMS, alarm signals, etc.).
Spoofing, on the other hand, involves fraudsters using deceptive techniques to gain victims’ trust by altering caller IDs or sending messages that appear to be from a different source, trustworthy by the drivers.
We have also provided some of the DOs and DON’Ts to protect your load from theft by deception.
Press the tabs below to learn more.
DOS
DON'TS
DOS
If you are suspicious about the legitimacy of police or other authorities that stop you within your route:
DO call the police to confirm the legitimacy of the stop and inform them about your concerns.
DO Inform Amazon about an unusual sign from authorities on the road that ask you to stop your vehicle.
DO install a high security lock to avoid cargo compartment door opening while driving.
DON'TS
DO NOT trust individuals claiming to be police or other authorities without verifying their credentials or identification through the appropriate channels, including 911 or local police dispatch.
DO NOT deviate from your planned route or change delivery locations without confirming with your dispatching / monitoring center.
DO NOT hesitate to report any suspicious incidents or concerns to the police, Amazon and your monitoring center, and relevant authorities.
DO NOT deliver your load to a non-Amazon or alternative destination unless directed to do so through the Relay Mobile app.
Hijacking Threat
Another type of theft incident is hijacking.
Hijacking is a tactic to steal (cargo) from a truck or other vehicle after forcing it to stop. Hijacking incidents pose a significant risk to drivers, with the potential for serious safety related incidents.
How to reduce hijacking threat:
Be aware of your surroundings.
As in the definition, in hijacking situations the truck needs to stop for the bad actors to take control of it, therefore the most important way to avoid hijacking situations is not to stop in suspicious situations. For instance, if individuals who do not appear to be legitimate authorities ask you to stop on the road, it is important to exercise caution and prioritize your safety. Even individuals posing as police officers or other authorities can pose a risk.
- Recognize emerging threats.
It is crucial to be vigilant and prepared to handle hostile situations. Usually, hijackers either follow you before they try to take control of the vehicle or drive in front of you at a constant speed to monitor your driving behavior.
We have also provided some DOs and DON’Ts to prevent hijackings.
Press the tabs below to learn more.
DOS
DON'TS
DOS
DO keep all doors and windows locked while driving.
DO stay alert and be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention to any suspicious or unusual activities, vehicles, or individuals.
DO maintain regular contact with your monitoring center or other designated contacts and share with them updates on your location and any deviations from the planned route.
DON'TS
DO NOT allow any person to ride in your cabin.
DO NOT stop and get out of the vehicle unless you have confirmed the validity of authorities that asked you to do so. Validate this by contacting 911 or local law enforcement dispatch.
DO NOT resist or confront the hijackers.
DO NOT make sudden or suspicious movements.
DO NOT provide unnecessary information to the hijackers.
Ensure GPS Traceability
The Relay Mobile app will indicate commercial vehicle friendly routes via GPS technology. Ensure usage of Relay Mobile app at all times. It is important that you do not close the app or switch off your mobile in route. In case of any issues with app please contact Amazon to get support if needed.
We would like to remind you that incase you arrive at the destination site earlier and cannot check in directly after arrival, please remember to park only in secure parking locations.
In this section, we will learn about the process to report incidents in Relay.
After reporting the incident to law enforcement, and when it is safe to do so, the incident should be reported to your carrier management and to Amazon. There are separate processes for the driver and carrier.
Carrier Process
Press the (>) arrow to review the Carrier’s process for creating a case in the Relay Support Center.
In case of a theft situation, remain kind, courteous, and respectful as this can help defuse an emotionally charged situation. Below, we have listed some tips and techniques to help de-escalate theft situations and keep you safe.
Angry individuals may direct their anger at you, even if it has nothing to do with you. Don’t take this personally, remain calm and professional during this situation. Respect the person’s personal space and make sure your body language is non-threatening.