TOWARD IMPROVING CARGO SECURITY. A PROGRAM TO REDUCE CARGO THEFT

Cargo theft is one of the most serious problems in the transportation industry. All modes are affected, but it has been found that most of the losses occur in the trucking industry. Tight security measures at the depot can eliminate the chances of freight being taken from there, but the most vulnerable area is the pickup and delivery truck. In order to provide protection for the truck's contents and its drivers without providing a following truck of guards, an electronic vehicle monitoring system was devised. Sensors were installed in the truck to monitor activities occurring at the truck and to report them, along with the location of the truck, to the dispatcher at the depot by means of mobile radio communications equipment. The dispacther then notifies the police, and help is sent to the scene of the crime. Thus far, progress has included the design, fabrication, and pilot testing of two automatic vehicle location technologies, the integration of control and communications logic to transfer sensor data to a base station, and the programming of a computer/display system to present the data to the dispatcher. Technical feasibility of the system was established by pilot tests, so the next step is to field test the system during actual trucking operations.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Prepared for the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration.
• Corporate Authors:

  Aerospace Corporation

  P.O. Box 95085
  Los Angeles, CA  United States  90045
• Publication Date: 1976-8

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automatic vehicle monitoring; Commodities; Communication systems; Delivery service; Freight transportation; Location; Radio; Security; Sensors; Theft; Trucks
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Freight Transportation; Highways; Motor Carriers; Planning and Forecasting; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00149120
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 13 1977 12:00AM