Tapa launches new Trucking Security Requirements to fight back against $10 billion losses from organized crime on international highways

November 16th, 2011 - A new global security standard to protect high value consumer goods travelling on international roads has been launched by the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA) to stamp out cargo crime levels involving attacks on vehicles estimated to cost in excess of $10 billion per annum.

The updated and enhanced Trucking Security Requirements 2012 (TSR) replaces the 2008 version and takes effect from January 1st 2012. TSR has proven to be extremely effective for TAPA members in helping to eradicate what is a growing problem for manufacturers and global supply chain service providers. Organized criminals target what they regard as vulnerable cargo loads as they move on roads through Asia, the Americas, and Europe, the Middle East and Africa and in one of the most recent incidents a truck driver lost his life in a violent criminal attack. The mounting cost of losses and insurance claims is also impacting product prices for consumers.

TAPA's 700+ global members include leading brand manufacturers in the high-tech, pharmaceutical, metal, luxury goods, tobacco and fashion industries as well as their logistics, freight forwarding, insurance and transport partners. The combined annual revenue of its members exceeds $900 billion.

The Association previously took similar action in 2001 when it launched its original Freight Security Requirements (FSR) to protect warehouse operations from attacks by criminals. Today, FSR is recognized as the world's leading standard for securing freight centres. Having significantly reduced incidents involving warehouses, TAPA has since seen a dramatic increase in road-based crime.

In a joint statement, TAPA's regional chairmen, said: "The world of cargo crime is no longer about an opportunist individual snatching a product from a box in a warehouse. Today, we are dealing with gangs of organized criminals that are often armed and prepared to go to any lengths as we saw as recently as September with the murder of a driver during a hijack of his vehicle in the Philippines. Vehicles are attacked whilst being parked up overnight, at motorway service stations and even while moving and, in some countries, this may start with truck drivers being stopped by what turn out to be authentic-looking but bogus law enforcement officers.

"The new and enhanced TAPA Truck Security Requirements, which includes mandatory certification, supports the users and providers of trucking services, providing a common standard of security measures and taking into account the different ways these services are provided globally. When adopted, TSR is a mandatory standard and adherence to it is validated and auditable by a TAPA-approved and trained independent auditor. We believe that TSR certification will result in TAPA members globally seeing a continued reduction in crime involving vehicles, similar to the significant decline in losses from warehouse attacks witnessed by members that have FSR certified facilities.

"We are very grateful to the companies that supported this initiative by committing employees' time to work on this critical project. It is very much an investment in the greater good and an opportunity to change some of the ways companies' do business with each other to further protect the supply chain."

Cargo crime is one of the biggest supply chain challenges for manufacturers of high value, high risk products and their logistics service providers. In the European Union alone, the cost to businesses is estimated at €8.2 billion a year and is still growing while in the Americas, estimates for losses range from $3-5 billion per annum. Globally, some 85% of all major cargo thefts occur during road transportation so the need for a robust and consistent trucking standard is critical.

Research shows that TAPA members, when supported by TAPA security standards, incur significantly lower theft loss levels than the industry average. Through participation in TAPA and the many opportunities for sharing crime intelligence, training, networking and its close co-operation with regulatory bodies and international law enforcement agencies, TAPA members learn to identify and understand security risks and how they can best be mitigated. TAPA's 2010 Financial Benchmark report indicates that losses incurred by non-members are three times higher than for TAPA members.

Alan Spear, Chair, TAPA Americas, added: "TAPA Americas has made a major commitment to the TSR and is pleased to announce the election of John Tabor, Director of Corporate Security for National Retail Systems, to TAPA Americas' Board of Directors. As a Board Member, John will chair a new TAPA Work Group on the TSR to help roll it out to industry in 2012. I can't imagine a better representative for carriers and to carry the message of cargo security than John Tabor."

About TAPA

TAPA AMERICAS brings together manufacturers, shippers, logistics providers, carriers, insurers, service providers, law enforcement and government agencies to reduce risks of criminal activity in the transportation supply chain.
The TAPA mission is to protect high value theft targeted (HVTT) assets in the transportation supply chain in the AMERICAS by:
-Collecting and exchanging data and intelligence information on a global basis
-Co-operating on preventative supply chain security within industry and with government organizations
-Setting and promulgating best in class standards for facility security and transport
-Working as a parallel organization with TAPA EMEA, TAPA APAC and TAPA branches in South Africa and Brazil

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TAPA Contact – Taya Tuggle: taya.tuggle@ag-world.com
Website: www.tapaonline.org