Technology gives hijackers the edge

Truck hijackings have increased by a dramatic 15% in the past year, says Gavin Kelly, technical and operations manager for the Road Freight Association. “There are very few safe resting and stopping facilities for truck drivers and we are also seeing crime become more violent,” he told FTW. Kelly says in some instances cargo is removed from the load before the truck has even moved, while in other cases trucks are brought to a halt in hijackings involving syndicates that are not afraid to use violence to get to the cargo. “We are seeing that trucks are being tracked and that criminals know exactly where the weak points are. It is important to address this as it is costing the industry huge amounts of money.” He said while they were working with the SAPS it had been a slow process. “Criminals are using technology more and more and seem to be one step ahead all the time.” He says safety remains a critical issue especially towards the end of the year when hijackings globally tend to increase. “We have to come up with ways of knocking it on the head. We are looking at identifying the trends, seeing what commodities are being targeted and where the hotspots are. All of this information will help us be better prepared to address this ever-growing concern.”