…And How to Close Them with Vectura

Executive Summary

Cargo theft in North America occurs every 2–3 hours, with impacts that extend beyond the financial loss of goods to driver safety, insurance costs, and brand reputation. Despite these risks, fleets and shippers continue to rely on fragmented solutions that create blind spots in protection. Monitoring platforms stop at the alert, escorts are used inconsistently, and compliance efforts often lack proof.

This paper identifies five of the most common gaps in in-transit protection and explains why closing them requires a more integrated approach. The emerging segment of Transport Risk as-a-Service (TRaaS) brings together verification, monitoring, escorts, and incident response under one framework.

Vectura was created to deliver this model. Built by operators with decades of logistics and security experience, Vectura helps fleets and shippers bolt on protection without disrupting existing systems, making freight safer, audits smoother, and contracts more secure.

 

Introduction

Cargo theft remains one of the most persistent threats to supply chains in North America, with an incident occurring every 2–3 hours (CargoNet, 2024). The consequences reach far beyond the immediate loss of goods. Every incident jeopardizes driver safety, erodes customer trust, and damages brand reputation.

Despite these risks, many fleets and shippers continue to rely on fragmented solutions. Monitoring platforms provide visibility but stop at the alert. Escorts are used reactively and rarely as part of an integrated strategy. Compliance checklists tick boxes but fail to deliver operational support when real-world threats occur.

These approaches leave significant blind spots. The result is that freight is often most vulnerable at the very moments when speed and certainty matter most. This paper examines five of the most common gaps in in-transit protection and highlights why the industry needs a more integrated approach to risk.

 

Gap 1: Alerts Without Action

Technology has revolutionized visibility, but it has not solved the problem of what happens next.

When a GPS or monitoring system flags a deviation, an unexpected stop, or a potential theft attempt, the alert is typically the end of its role. From there, the burden shifts to the remote operations team, who must interpret the situation, decide who to notify, and determine how to respond.

This delay is critical. Cargo theft is a crime of opportunity, and organized groups act within minutes. Every moment lost increases the likelihood that freight will be targeted and drivers exposed to risk. Visibility without response is like an alarm system without a guard: you know something is happening, but no one is there to intervene.

 

Gap 2: Unknown Carriers Behind the Wheel

The modern freight market is defined by subcontracting. Loads are passed through brokers, carriers, and subcontractors in pursuit of lower costs and faster availability. Yet this creates opacity: many shippers do not know who is actually moving their freight.

This lack of visibility is more than an administrative challenge, it is a security threat. Criminal networks actively exploit subcontracting, infiltrating carrier pools with false identities or shell companies. A single weak link can compromise the entire chain of custody, creating openings for theft, fraud, and loss of control.

Without robust, layered carrier vetting and verification, fleets risk handing shipments to operators who may not be compliant, qualified, or legitimate.

 

Gap 3: No Real-Time Deterrent

Physical deterrence is often underestimated. Many fleets turn to cargo escorts only for high-profile or high-value loads, and usually only after a theft has occurred nearby.

This reactive use of escorts leaves the majority of freight exposed. For drivers, the absence of visible support can create stress and vulnerability, especially when moving through known theft hotspots such as unsecured truck stops, urban distribution centers, or border crossings.

For organized crime groups, inconsistent deterrence signals opportunity. Thieves often conduct surveillance on fleets and quickly learn when and where loads are likely to be unprotected. The absence of a consistent security presence makes freight an easier target.

 

Gap 4: Compliance Without Proof

The regulatory and contractual environment around freight security has never been more demanding. Pharmaceutical, electronics, and high-value goods sectors in particular expect carriers to demonstrate rigorous chain of custody and audit-ready processes.

Yet compliance on paper is not the same as compliance in practice. Many fleets can reference procedures, but cannot produce reliable, time-stamped records of what was done, when, and by whom.

 

This lack of proof has practical consequences:

• Audit teams struggle to demonstrate due diligence.

• Insurers question the robustness of risk controls, which may lead to increased premiums or limited coverage.

• Transportation providers lose bids when they cannot prove compliance with customer standards.

Compliance is no longer just about risk avoidance; it is a competitive differentiator. Without proof, fleets risk losing both revenue and reputation.

 

Gap 5: Fragmented Incident Response

When theft or tampering does occur, the response is often fragmented. Monitoring providers may generate alerts but play no role in coordinating a response. Escort services may operate independently, with no link to the monitoring data. Carriers are left bridging these gaps, making phone calls, managing vendors, and attempting to involve law enforcement in real time.

This fragmentation slows down response precisely when speed is essential. The longer it takes to coordinate action, the less chance there is of recovering freight, protecting drivers, apprehending criminals and preventing costly escalation.

For many fleets, incident response becomes a patchwork of vendors, none of whom are accountable for the end-to-end outcome.

 

Closing the Gaps

Each of these vulnerabilities – alerts without action, unknown carriers, lack of deterrence, compliance struggles, and fragmented response – represents a blind spot in in-transit protection. Technology alone cannot resolve them.

What is needed is a more integrated approach. Transport Risk-as-a-Service (TRaaS) is an emerging segment designed to meet this need. It combines verification, monitoring, escorts, and incident response into a single framework that ensures risks are not just identified but actively managed and resolved.

Vectura was created to bring this approach to life. Built by operators with decades of experience in logistics and security, Vectura delivers integrated in-transit risk management that fits alongside existing fleet systems. By providing a single partner for vetting, live monitoring, cargo escorts, and coordinated incident response, Vectura helps fleets and shippers:

• Protect freight and drivers in real time.

• Demonstrate audit-ready compliance.

• Reduce insurance friction and premiums.

• Compete for high-value contracts with confidence.

The gap in in-transit protection is closing. The question is: will your fleet be ready?

→ Contact Vectura to schedule a 15-minute walkthrough of our approach.