As we are all aware, crime is a big problem in South Africa. Everyone from an executive to a driver has been made aware of this reality and how it affects the nation. One of the ways it affects us is through fleet crimes, which affect business supply chains and the economy at large.
According to Statista, as of November 2024, South Africa has over 2.7 million panel vans, and other light-load vehicles with a gross vehicle mass of less than or equal to 3,500 kilograms registered in the country. This indicates how many fleet vehicles are on the road across the country.
How often have we heard about cargo trucks getting stolen, hijacked or emptied while on a delivery? Images and videos of these crimes have been circulated on social media and provide a clear look into this issue.
Taking steps to mitigate these crimes is essential for fleet security and business continuity. Let’s learn more about these fleet crimes, what impact they have on businesses and how Cartrack’s solutions can help protect against them.
The increase in the number of delivery vehicles on the roads has led to a rise in hijacking incidents and the theft of cargo. Criminals are targeting courier and logistics vehicles that are transporting valuable goods from a wide variety of industries. This is now a reality for both long-distance and local deliveries.
According to Mordor Intelligence, a market advisory firm, the South African Freight and Logistics Market size is estimated at 14.7 billion USD (R272,05 billion) in 2025 and is expected to reach 19.9 billion USD (R368,29 billion) by 2030. This is an indication as to what is at stake if fleet crimes are not addressed.
Let’s imagine a business that transports imported gadgets from a port city to warehouses in all the major cities in South Africa. This business owner will have to contend with a few problems. Firstly, how safe will the cargo be on the journey? Secondly, how reliable is the driver? Thirdly, and most importantly, what will happen should the vehicle be compromised, either by hijacking or cargo theft?
In the South African Police Services (SAPS) crime report, carjackings numbered at 4807 in the October to December 2024 period. Truck hijackings accounted for 413 of the cases which is approximately 8% of that statistic.
Other types of fleet vehicles have also been stolen, highlighting the wide prevalence of theft as a fleet crime. Here is a list of the most stolen fleet vehicle types as per the aforementioned SAPS crime report:
It is important to note that bakkies/panel vans far outnumber the other vehicle types, with bakkie/panel van theft amounting to 1500 vehicles followed by microbus/minibuses at 303.
This points to small and medium businesses being affected most, as they are the ones most likely to use in their operation. This should be a frightening discovery for business owners.
The SAPS has placed these 10 locations as the top spots for truck theft.
An interesting observation to note from these statistics is that most of these areas are business hubs in major cities. This suggests that most of these crimes happen less on the open road, while on the journey, and more in the areas where they are likely doing a final drop-off or pick-up.
The types of cargo stolen are also another interesting fact. Businesses that transport or are engaged in the sale the products below should stay vigilant and consider adding security measures for their deliveries.
According to the June 2024 report by the Transport Asset Protection Association, these were the most stolen products from fleet vehicles globally:
One of the more surprising bits of information from the report was in Kempton Park, Gauteng, where a fleet of vehicles was robbed when offloading at a warehouse. The theft was of a large consignment of alcohol products amounting to a value of R14,8 million.
This shows that there are not many strong security measures in place both in the vehicle and the warehouse drop-off point.
When it comes to fleet crimes, many things need to be considered. The type of crime, how it occurs, and which industries usually suffer from it. Let us have a look at some common types of fleet-related crimes:
What recourse can be taken should he get into an accident with those passengers in the company vehicle? Who will be liable? This is important to consider when crafting workplace policies and regulations.
Fleet crime impacts businesses in many ways, some small and some large. This often affects a business’s productivity and general output, which in turn affects its growth.
Small companies that have been directly affected by crime have halted all new employment, with 17% to 22% of businesses less likely to employ more.
This in turn discourages business owners from reinvesting in their businesses, which affects the frequency of imports and exports. All these factors negatively impact fleet businesses and the economy at large.
Let’s explore some of the ways businesses and fleet owners are impacted by fleet crime.
The most significant impact fleet crime can have on a business is financial loss. This threat will directly affect the longevity and in some cases the viability of a business altogether.
Stolen vehicles need to be replaced, damaged cars and equipment need to be repaired, and fuel budgets readjusted. All the aforementioned issues cost a lot of money and will disrupt established cash flows.
Unexpected disruption has a serious impact on business operations and creates delays both in production and delivery. This can impact your business in the short-term and in some cases have long-term effects.
Certain vehicles in a fleet might come with higher initial insurance premiums than others, these vehicles are usually of high value. Insuring a fleet of these vehicles after a crime has been committed can be costly.
Depending on how frequently these crimes occur and how high-risk the area of operation is, insurance costs and premiums may rise. These premium increases can rack up over time and become a large expense for a business.
When a business is plagued by operational inefficiencies and delays, it affects how it is viewed by the public and its customer base.
When customers receive damaged goods, late deliveries, or in some cases no delivery at all, they lose trust in the business. This loss of faith can move outside of the business's customer base and become a reputational issue that it has with the general public.
Vehicle crimes can sometimes be violent and dangerous encounters, putting the lives of drivers at risk. This is a consequence of fleet crimes that businesses often fear most, as it involves the potential loss of human life.
Drivers can get hurt trying to avert a criminal attempt or directly under attack, their safety becomes compromised in either case.
If fleet crimes are not addressed by the business, they will have a long-term negative impact on the business's growth. All the abovementioned ways coalesce and greatly impact the goals and growth prospects of a company.
Loss of vehicles, delays, compromised driver safety and reputational damage will all limit the possibilities a business has of functioning optimally and meeting established goals.
There are some measures that a business can take to help alleviate some of the pressures that come with dealing with fleet crimes. Some of these measures are simple solutions, others are more complex and technical. Let us have a look at what some of them are.
One of the most effective solutions is installing GPS-tracking and fleet management systems. These provide real-time vehicle monitoring, whether the fleet is on the road or parked at company premises. These devices are even more impactful when partnered with telematics technology, which offers a more holistic view of the deliveries and the fleet status.
Cartrack has a range of solutions that provide GPS tracking and fleet management software. Some of these include:
Finding out as much as you can regarding fleet crime and using that data to identify and prevent risks is one of the most effective measures to take. This means understanding what types of fleet crimes occur in your industry, when and how often they happen, as well as the locations that are frequently targeted. Having this information will allow the fleet manager to do a risk analysis and then plan accordingly.
At Cartrack we have a fleet management system called MiFleet that provides comprehensive data analytics and an overview of a fleet’s performance. This allows the business owner to get reports on how most deliveries go, and how much it is costing the business.
One of our value-added benefits that can assist with crime prevention is crash detection, which reports on any impact or collision a vehicle encounters. This alerts the business owner and our control room, who then send out emergency assistance.
Geofencing allows businesses to set virtual boundaries, alerting managers when vehicles enter or leave designated areas. In other cases, the boundary is made around a zone that the vehicles cannot leave. Whenever this happens, an instant alert is sent notifying the fleet manager of the violation.
The geofence technology at Cartrack works for businesses of all types, even those with cross-border business. A business owner can set geofences at ports, borders, and other places of interest in other countries that the vehicle travels to.
Driver training is important, as it allows for safety protocols to be practised and simulated under controlled conditions. This makes training for potential dangers on the road easier to manage and also allows the drivers to ask questions and address any concerns or uncertainties they might have. When drivers are prepared for any of the challenges they may face on the road, such as crime, they are likely to make decisions that will lead to safer resolutions.
With the use of Cartrack’s cameras, driver behaviour can be monitored and suspicious actions noted, these can include cellphone use and obstruction of view of the camera. These behaviours can be indicators that either the driver is negligent or might be involved in some potential criminal activity.
We also offer a panic button in the event of an emergency or compromising situation. Drivers can push a button to connect with fleet managers instantly, allowing them to report any criminal activity they might be experiencing.
In order to stop fuel theft and fraud, a strategy will need to be put in place to verify when fuel has been poured, by whom it was poured, and how much it cost. This will all need to be aligned to check for inconsistencies and errors. Such a system will make it easier to identify drivers engaging in fraudulent behaviour.
The MiFleet system has a fuel monitoring system that uses sensors and can be integrated with fuel cards. This will make it easier to catch drivers siphoning fuel or reporting false refuelling.
One of the simpler measures that can be taken as an added measure to curbing fleet crime is installing antitheft devices. These devices may not always stop a crime from happening but act as deterrents by making it harder for criminals. Some of these measures include:
A solution that Cartrack provides in cargo door monitoring. This technology detects the moment doors open and close and sends instant alerts of any unauthorised access to cargo.
Regular locks are no longer effective in dealing with cargo theft, with criminals getting more sophisticated with their techniques. One of the ways to ensure that cargo is safe is by installing smart locking systems. These are keyless locks that are controlled either by a remote or by a button in the car.
Using this kind of system makes it difficult for unauthorised people to get access to the contents that are being transported. This solution can be taken above and beyond regular fleet management as an extra precaution.
For businesses looking to get ahead of fleet-related crimes, then Cartrack is the ideal partner. We offer comprehensive solutions designed that ensure the safety of your fleet and drivers, additionally giving the business owner a complete overview of all the deliveries and operations.
Our product offering includes:
As South Africa continues to grow its logistics sector, businesses looking to capitalise on this growth will need to safeguard themselves from the fleet crimes that will also increase. Cartrack is well-positioned to help with its range of products and solutions. If you would like to learn more about what we offer, then contact us to get a quote.
Fleet-related crime is a growing threat in South Africa. Explore the risks, business impact and how Cartrack’s advanced tracking solutions offer protection.
