OTTAWA, Ont. — Alarmed by increasing incidences of cargo theft, truck hijackings, contraband smuggling and other truck-involved criminal activity, the trucking industry and law enforcement are getting serious about working together to address the issue.

Trucking company executives, industry associations, insurers and law enforcement personnel gathered in Ottawa Nov. 23 for some serious discussions about the growing problem and to develop a coordinated plan of attack.

“This forum provided an opportunity for law enforcement (mostly RCMP program managers and Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police representatives) and industry to discuss the need for a national plan to deal with this serious problem,” Sgt. Rob Ruiters, national Pipeline/Convoy Program coordinator told Trucknews.com.

The initial forum was kept small to allow for effective discussions and it was agreed that the trucking industry must continue to work closely with law enforcement going forward, Ruiters said.

He also told Trucknews.com it was agreed that police must continue educating front-line enforcement officers on commercial vehicles and the prospect of organized crime infiltration of the industry and to continue to build relationships with trucking industry officials in raising awareness of the problem.

“The policing community will work through the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police to raise the priority of this type of criminal activity within law enforcement circles,” Ruiters vowed.

For its part, the Canadian Trucking Alliance said it will work with its provincial transportation partners to increase reporting of occurrences and  with law enforcement to obtain a standard reporting means. The CTA also said it would work with the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and its Private Sector Liaison Committee to address court sentencing, current laws and to develop a media strategy.

“The bottom line is that there is much work to do, and no short cuts or quick fix,” Ruiters summarized. “We all agreed that continued partnerships and cooperation is needed by all moving forward.”