How to improve Cargo Security: GPS Tracking, Fraud Prevention & TIMOCOM measures

Cargo security is essential to ensure your goods aren’t lost or stolen,  especially as cargo crime continues to rise. Losses in road freight are estimated to reach billions globally, with food and beverage as the most targeted goods sectors. In 2023 alone, the Transport Asset Protection Association (TAPA) recorded 49,366 criminal attacks on supply chains in just 273 days. For hauliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers, keeping freight safe is not optional — it’s a business-critical priority. Below, we explore the key risks, best practices, and how TIMOCOM’s security ecosystem helps ensure safer logistics across Europe.

The countries included in the top 10 for cargo crime included South Africa, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Netherlands, and Russia.

While the logistics industry faces a lot of pressure from staff shortages, higher fuel prices, and other challenges, there are internal issues too.

Factors which increase the likelihood of security risks include:

- Poor route planning
- Poor employee training
- Insufficient secure parking.

Beyond physical and operational risks, digital vulnerabilities and fraudulent contacts also pose threats. Using secure platforms with verified users and controlled communication channels, such as TIMOCOM, significantly reduces exposure to digital fraud and impersonation attempts.

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What cargo security entails

There are different types of freight securement you can perform to reduce your security risks to protect cargo, facilities, and vehicles. Whether you’re a producer, manufacturer, or haulier, you should safeguard your freight. In today’s logistics landscape, cargo security also includes digital protection, ensuring all communication, documentation and partner verification take place on secure platforms. Below, we have summarised different types of security measures.

Physical cargo security measures

For example:

- Using high-security locks on containers and trailers
- Access controls, such as limiting entry to warehouses and key management systems
- Secure premises with barriers and the use of security cages
- Ensuring cargo is properly packed and labelled

Technology cargo security measures

For example:
These include:
- Using verified partners
- GPS to track vehicles in real-time
- Install smart sensors to register unscheduled door openings and temperature fluctuations

Using secure communication tools such as TIMOCOM Messenger to prevent phishing risks and ensure messages are exchanged only between verified users, also supports with cargo security measures.

Procedural cargo security measures

For example:
- Training given to employees and drivers
- Route planning and scheduling stops at secure locations.
 

What is GPS in logistics, and how can it improve cargo security?

Global Positioning System, or GPS, is a satellite-based navigation system and is one of the best ways to secure your cargo. It allows you to track your vehicles in real-time. It will provide the location of vehicles, not only to keep your vehicles safe, but it also helps to plan your route and optimise efficiency, reducing costs and carbon emissions.

Difference between truck tracking and Live Shipment Tracking

Truck tracking and Live Shipment Tracking are somewhat similar, but they serve different purposes. Live shipment tracking uses GPS technology and is based on truck tracking, but it also monitors the location and status of the shipment in real-time. It can provide different statuses, such as ‘arrived at loading point’ or ‘unloading completed’. The combination of real-time information and status notifications optimises planning, communication, and security. Truck tracking forms the basis for location monitoring, but live shipment provides a deeper, proactive insight into the transport process.

 

How does GPS tracking improve cargo safety?

GPS provides multiple benefits to hauliers, manufacturers, and other transport businesses.
 

Customer satisfaction

GPS offers customers transparency about their shipments. This means they know when to expect delivery of goods, which provides a better service and increases customer satisfaction.
Not only does it increase satisfaction, but it also enhances your business reputation for being transparent and efficient, which can help differentiate from competitors.
 

Sustainability by optimising routes

Sustainability is increasingly important, not just to comply with legislation, but it helps to cut costs. With GPS, you can optimise routes, which can save over 10% in fuel costs in many cases. Route planning also reduces emissions and provides security because you know where the cargo is at all times.

Lower insurance premiums

When you have taken every effort to secure your cargo, then your insurance premiums should be lower as your cargo is at less risk.
 

Compliance

GPS creates a detailed digital trail to support regulatory compliance, insurance requirements and internal audits. This helps to simplify administration and ensures you don’t face any problems for non-compliance.

Real-time visibility of fleet

Secure freight transport tracking allows logistics managers to monitor the movement of vehicles and spot irregularities. If there is an unauthorised route change or unexpected stop, then logistics managers can react quickly. Simply having GPS can deter thieves, and if the vehicle or goods are stolen, they should be able to be located quickly and recovered to minimise financial loss.

Increased driver productivity

GPS helps to monitor drivers’ performance, which helps to increase road freight safety as it leads to safer driving.
GPS also supports drivers as it helps to locate them and send assistance if anything should go wrong.
 

Reduced logistics costs

With route optimisation, reduced fuel costs, and automation of processes, GPS helps to reduce costs.

How using TIMOCOM can help secure your shipments

TIMOCOM provides you with access to the United Kingdom and Europe’s innovative freight exchange with up to 1 million freight and vehicle space offers daily. Our Marketplace aims to support you with the highest marketplace cargo security. With more than 228 million freight and vehicle offers yearly, a freight exchange, live shipment tracking, and vetted business partners, it’s never been as easy to ensure the security of your logistics business.
 

Verified cargo security processes

TIMOCOM takes cargo security seriously, with strict identity checks, fraud monitoring, and secure transportation services with encryption.
Using state-of-the-art tools and collaboration with users, TIMOCOM’s verified processes ensure it is safe to use their freight marketplace and build relationships with partners all over Europe and the UK.
 

Advanced technology

TIMOCOM Messenger ensures communication with partners is fast, direct and secure. With the TIMOCOM's Business Partner Check, you can verify whether the sender’s email address is registered to a TIMOCOM user. This not only allows better communication, which speeds up processes, but you have peace of mind as anyone using this has been vetted by TIMOCOM.TIMOCOM also ensures transactions are secure as you enter a legally binding Transport Order or confirm the transaction directly in TIMOCOM’s Marketplace. This means you are better protected against fraud and misunderstandings.
 

Real-time visibility via Live Shipment Tracking

Real-time visibility (RTV) allows you to know when you will receive the shipping documents you need, and provides automatic status notifications, which reduces the time spent communicating with business partners and ensures secure freight transport. It means shippers have control, it reduces admin for carriers, and it offers transparency to reduce disputes and deter theft. Cargo security is more important than ever to ensure your business runs smoothly. Be proactive to avoid any issues in the future with TIMOCOM.

TIMOCOM is the first Road Freight Marketplace to be a pioneer in live tracking in the spot market: freight offered in the freight exchange can be tracked immediately after a transport order has been placed and created. The service creates a strong connection between all transport parties involved – safely, flexibly and without additional burden.