The American economy stretches across a continent with links to the world, drawing on natural resources and manufactured products from many locations to serve markets at home and abroad. Freight travels over an extensive network of highways, railroads, waterways, and airways. Trucks carry most of the tonnage and value of freight in the United States, but railroads and waterways carry significant volumes over long distances.
Trucks are engaged in the supply chain of all top commodities, transporting all types of goods, ranging from high-value commodities, such as mixed freight and electronics, to bulk commodities, such as gravel, grains, and gasoline. Mixed freight includes grocery and convenience store goods, office supplies, and hardware and plumbing items. In comparison, rail and water modes primarily move bulk products, while air (including truck-air-transport) moves high-value items, such as electronics and pharmaceuticals. However, trucks moved more high-value, time-sensitive commodities than any other mode in 2022.
For transborder freight, data from the Bureau of Transportation indicates, freight moved by all modes of transportation between the U.S. and North American countries (Canada and Mexico) in September 2022 increased 22.6% YOY which values at $ 133.9 billion. Freight between the U.S. and Canada totaled $66.5 billion, up 22.3% from September 2021. Freight between the U.S. and Mexico totaled $67.4 billion, up 23.0% from September 2021. Trucks moved $81.9 billion of freight, up 19.4% compared to September 2021. Railways moved $16.9 billion of freight, up 14.9% compared to September 2021.
As the amount of goods transported across North America continues to grow, so does the need for stronger cargo security measures. Currently, the top commodities transported are oil and petroleum products, chemicals, textiles, food and beverage, electronics, motor vehicles and parts, and machinery. To ensure the secure transport of these commodities, multiple supply chain security solutions must be implemented. In this article, we’ll take a look at five core commodities and provide the top TydenBrooks cargo security solutions.
- Motor Vehicle Parts
When shipping motor vehicle parts, you have a legal obligation to meet various standards as detailed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)’s Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) program. All shipping companies that specialize in this field will confirm, that when working with various motor vehicle parts you encounter cumbersome and irregular shaped items. This fact makes motor vehicle parts particularly vulnerable to damage, but they’re also a top target for theft by organized crime and are a high-risk product for the introduction of contraband in cross-border shipments. So as the adage asserts, prevention is the best form of protection.
Utilize these proven TydenBrooks solutions to alleviate damage, theft, and the introduction of contraband.
- TB-HGR4 or TB-HGD4: Active GPS tracking and alerts for tilt, shock, impact, and light door breaches
- Ez Loc Plus 35: Locking door hasps for domestic shipments
- Dual Flex: Securing door hasps and keeper bars for cross-border shipments
- Produce
While most states in the U.S. are known for growing one unique fruit or vegetable, Florida oranges or Idaho potatoes, California is the nation’s powerhouse of produce. Its unique environment ensures that seasonal produce in California is readily available. The state not only produces most of the nation’s fresh produce but is also the top exporter of produce in the country.
The most common type of freight transported in reefer containers is food. Fresh fruits and vegetables need to be delivered before going bad, more so when they come from overseas. As soon as perishable food products are produced, the clock starts ticking toward its expiration date. Maintaining the correct temperature for food requires care and monitoring because the required temperature will change as food ripens. A small shift in temperature – even just a couple of degrees too warm or cold – can spoil the shipment or result in a complete loss.
Utilize these proven TydenBrooks solutions to monitor and warn of temperature deviations, and to secure perishables in transit.
- TB-HGD4: Active GPS tracking and alerts for temperature, humidity, and light door breaches
- SnapTracker: Locking door hasps for domestic shipments
- Dual Flex: Securing door hasps and keeper bars for cross-border shipments
- Petroleum
Freight shipping petroleum is the act of transporting the liquid mixture to a refinery or storage area. The four most common ways that petroleum transport occurs is by ocean tanker, truck tanker, pipelines, and railroad. Pipelines and railroad are the most used but can’t always get the job done on their own, necessitating the use of tanker trucks, which can carry up to 7,500 gallons of petroleum. The transport solution most used is therefore intermodal, meaning that two or more methods of transportation are used to complete a single shipment. Some major concerns when shipping petroleum are the introduction of foreign particles if lids are opened, and meeting the transportation of hazardous materials regulations by local, state, and federal agencies.
Utilize these proven TydenBrooks solutions to prevent particles from contaminating your shipment, and to comply with hazardous materials regulations.
- 15” Secure-Grip: Secure tank car and tanker truck lids and valves for all empty shipments after cleaning
- FlexSecure 15: Secure tank car and tanker truck lids and valves for domestic shipments
- FlexSecure 35: Secure tank car and tanker truck lids and valves for cross-border shipments
- Textiles
North Carolina is one of the leading textiles and apparel suppliers in the United States and in the world. This state is known for its work in the apparel industry and its high contribution to the value of the industry both domestically and worldwide. In 2017, there were almost $2 billion worth of apparel and textile exports just from North Carolina, and it leads the apparel value for the whole of the United States.
Apparel supply chains are worldwide and come with numerous operational complexities. One such challenge faced by apparel companies during the shipping process is damaged goods. If moisture gets into the boxes, it could cause mold to grow. Or if the boxes become crushed or ripped there is a risk of damaged items that may be unsellable. Then there’s always the major risk of pilferage and theft.
Utilize these proven TydenBrooks solutions to mitigate pilferage, theft, and damage.
- KTC Security Tape: Securing boxes
- 9” Adjustable Tug Tight: Securing plastic tote bin lids
- TB-HGR4 or TB-HGD4: Active GPS tracking and alerts for damage, theft, humidity, shock, impact, and light door breaches
- FlexSecure 35: Secure truck and container door hasps for domestic shipments
- FlexSecure 50: Secure truck and container door hasps for cross-border shipments
- Electronics
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, electronics are the top outbound domestic shipment category from California. Nearly $200 billion worth of electronics are shipped out of California in a year, making up more than 20 percent of its total shipments to other places in the United States.
With nine major water ports, including the two busiest container ports in the nation, Los Angeles, and Long Beach means that electronics entering the country from abroad often come in through California before shipping to other states on trucks.
Trucking is the top shipping method for electronics in the United States. Electronics are the highest-value commodity shipped by freight — $1.7 trillion worth of electronics were shipped in 2015. In the USA, 62 percent of them were shipped by truck in 2015.
Full truckload shipping typically means faster transit time and less handling. When dealing with sensitive, fragile items, you want to reduce the opportunities for mishandling. Truckload shipping also allows for temperature control. Many electronics are sensitive to extreme conditions, leading to possible damage, malfunctions, or even electrical fires.
Utilize these proven TydenBrooks solutions to mitigate losses and damage.
- ShockWatch2 and TiltWatch Indicators: Affix to skids to identify shock, impact, and damage
- TB-HGD4: Active GPS tracking and alerts for damage, theft, shock, impact, temperature, and light door breaches
- Dual Flex: Securing door hasps and the keeper bars for all shipments
Leading the Way, Securing the World
Irrespective of your shipping mode, TydenBrooks offers uniquely designed cargo security products and solutions to fit any industry application and protect your cargo anywhere on the globe. Our legacy has been built on innovation and offering the broadest line of security seals and connected GPS devices to identify tampering and mitigate theft of your goods in transit.
For a free cargo security consultation from our team of industry experts, please contact us at [email protected]. Order online at www.tydenbrooks.com or contact our customer service team @ 1-800-458-7235 (SEAL).
