How SpeedJet Built a 15,000-Shipment-a-Day Operation in 18 Months with Candata

Four people. Ten shipments. Then everything.

s companies begin to move larger volumes of high-value goods ahead of the holiday season, McDermott urges people to remember the adage: Cargo at rest is cargo at risk.

Shippers, carriers and brokers should be particularly vigilant about securing and monitoring shipments moving via longer routes that require drivers to stop and rest. It is critical to train every employee in the organization on how to recognize and respond to potential threats – whether they are truck drivers or office workers.

“Companies need to have a playbook and be ready for a theft to occur,” McDermott said.

A comprehensive cargo theft playbook should include key contacts such as local authorities, insurance providers and other investigative resources. Each team member’s role should be clearly defined in case of an incident and include any pertinent information that can be immediately handed over to investigators.

McDermott also recommends that companies store these response plans in physical binders, not digitally on a computer. This ensures that the playbook is accessible even if a theft incident happens in conjunction with a cyberattack, which could disable digital access.

However, simply having a plan is not enough. McDermott emphasized the importance of running regular “tabletop exercises” with company leadership before a theft occurs. This ensures all staff members understand their roles – and the roles of their teammates – during an actual theft event, allowing companies to refine their response.

“You don’t want to have your worst day and be trying to figure it out on the fly,” McDermott said.

Preparing for the worst through collaboration

Being prepared means not only having a playbook, but also creating collaborative relationships with local law enforcement and other investigative teams before an incident occurs. Having established connections in these organizations allows for a quick response when an incident arises, when every minute counts in the effort to recover stolen freight.

“Speed is everything when it comes to recovering stolen goods,” McDermott says. “If you have connections already in place, the chances of a quick response go up significantly.”

It is also crucial to choose the right industry partners that can make or break their security protocols. Aligning with partners who prioritize security can make a difference in preventing theft.

“It is like any relationship. You have to engage a partner that has a like mind,” McDermott said. “Make sure they are security-minded and treat your product as if it were their own.”

“It is like any relationship. You have to engage a partner that has a like mind,” McDermott said. “Make sure they are security-minded and treat your product as if it were their own.”
Jonathan Sze, Managing Partner, SpeedJet