Freight crime is one of the biggest challenges in the supply chain for manufacturers of high-value, high-risk products as well as their logistics service providers. Every year, goods worth 8 to 10 billion euros disappear in transit in Europe alone. To make it worthwhile, well-organized criminals focus on branded products and high-value goods. The targets of such attacks are, for example, trucks, but also warehouses and freight yards. What possibilities do potentially affected parties have with the TAPA standards to counter these activities?

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Today, robberies of truckloads are predominantly carried out on commission. The main risk factor here are human beings. Virtually all major robberies are based on inside information. That is why the international association TAPA has set itself the task of significantly reducing such losses in the supply chain.

What is TAPA?

TAPA (Transported Asset Protection Association) is a unique international association for enhanced supply chain security. With more than 600 members, TAPA unites many of the world's leading brand producers as well as their logistics and transportation companies. The combined annual turnover is more than $900 billion.

TAPA members include international companies in the technology, pharmaceutical, automotive, apparel, footwear, cosmetics, hygiene, food, beverage, furniture, appliance and metal industries, as well as their logistics partners.

TAPA Standards - Recognized worldwide

TAPA has developed globally recognized standards for the security of high-value goods within the supply chain. The three standards are based on a systematic and risk-based approach with a holistic view of the supply chain. Their key features are:

  • state-of-the-art security procedures and technology
  • intensive training and awareness
  • benchmark
  • close cooperation with authorities
  • early identification of security risks
  • implementation of security measures
  • continuous development of security standards

A particularly effective tool is the so-called "Incident Information Service (IIS)". This service continuously collects incident data and makes it available to members. By using the latest cargo crime information, dangerous locations can be avoided, goods can be protected during transport, and stolen goods can be reported and located.

"Statistics show that TAPA members - compared to other companies - measurably reduce assaults and cargo crime. On average, by 48%"

TAPA - Three standards for enhanced supply chain security.

FSR - Facility Security Requirements

Facility Security Requirements (FSR) represent minimum standards. They apply specifically to secure storage or transportation-related temporary storage during transportation within the supply chain.

In developing this standard, TAPA recognized the vast differences in how storage services are provided globally, regionally, and even within an organization. FSRs may apply to all or part of the services provided by a logistics service provider. Depending on the complexity and size of the supply chain, compliance with TAPA standards can be achieved by a single logistics service provider or multiple service providers and qualified subcontractors. Certification to TAPA is possible for both individual sites and multiple sites in a network.

The three TAPA safety standards

Security in transportation and logistics with TAPA FSR, TAPA TSR and TAPA PSR.

TSR - Trucking Security Requirements

The Trucking Security Requirements (TSR) focus exclusively on road transportation. TSRs represent minimum standards for the transportation of products by road within a supply chain.

TSR guidelines may apply to the following:

  • Cargo that must be transported in accordance with TAPA TSR requirements.
  • Leased or owned vehicles, trailers, or containers used to transport freight on one or more road segments.
  • Company-operated or subcontracted vehicles, trailers, or containers used to transport freight on one or more road segments.

Key benefits of TAPA TSR certification are the implementation of safety measures through the risk-based approach and the associated systematic reduction of liability risks.

Both of the above standards have been revised to include new capabilities. The revised Facility Security Requirements (FSR 2020) and Trucking Security Requirements (TSR 2020) became effective July 1, 2020.

For more security in the supply chain

The TAPA standards are a good choice when it comes to more freight security. We would be happy to clarify the certification effort you should expect in a joint discussion.

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PSR - Parking Security Requirements

In 2018, TAPA published the Parking Security Requirements (PSR). The goal is to counteract the increasing cargo thefts in unsecured parking lots and to achieve more cargo security.

Goods at rest are goods at risk!

Thorsten Neumann CEO and President TAPA EMEA

Furthermore, the intention is to increase the number of secure parking spaces. This is the only way to protect goods, vehicles and drivers. Using the Secure Parking Online tool, members can identify secure and certified locations and, based on this, determine the transport route along the nearest PSR parking spaces.

Four questions for Thorsten Neumann

An interview with TAPA EMEA CEO and President Thorsten Neumann.

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Mr. Neumann, the revised TSR and FSR standards came into force in mid-2020. What are the main benefits and opportunities they offer companies and their customers?

Neumann: Every three years, our FSR and TSR standards are fundamentally revised by a global team of more than 400 experts on the basis of the latest technologies and risk figures from our Incident Information Service (IIS). A so-called Control Board then reviews these standards to eliminate all minor errors and also inaccuracies. The balance between technology and people is important in all our standards, so defined procedures, training and policies continue to be essential alongside technologies when it comes to reducing risk in the supply chain.
The revised FSR standard now allows organizations with multiple sites to com-bine them under one TAPA certificate in what is known as multi-site certifica-tion. The new TSR standard now also takes into account last-mile deliveries by vans as well as road transport of sea containers and multimodal transports. It was important for us to cover these areas of the supply chain with our standards as well.

In the meantime, it is possible for truck parking operators to also be certified according to the Parking Security Requirements 2018. What role do secure parking lots play within the supply chain and how do you see the current development in your region?

Secure parking plays a significant role in the supply chain. Most robberies happen when the truck comes to rest. It's not for nothing that we say "goods at rest are goods at risk." TAPA has been active in this area for years. We are currently trying to obtain Mutual Recognition with the European Commission standard SSTPA (Study on safe and secure parking places for trucks) .
Our PSR program has been very well received in the past. However, due to the low margins for parking spaces, it is currently not easy for parking operators to implement appropriate security measures in accordance with the PSR standard. Accordingly, teams of so-called Ambassadors have been established in the respective regions in order to make parking operators aware of the importance of this security standard for our members. Via the Incident Information Service (ISS) as well as the Secure Parking. Place Tool, members of TAPA are informed where appropriate security parking places are located.

What connection do you see between the current rise in cargo theft and the current global pandemic?

The supply chain has remained relatively stable in recent years. However, the pandemic has changed a lot. Border controls and road-blocks have been put in place in some cases, airports and ports have faced lockdowns, and many small airports have not opened at all. As a result, the large airports have been confronted with increased cargo volumes, which has led to a shift in risk and an increase in cargo theft. Furthermore, due to the economic damage with the accompanying increase in unemployment figures in some parts of Europe, the acceptability of crime has risen.

Vaccine distribution will present logistics companies with major challenges. Pharmaceutical products in particular have also been the target of organized crime time and again in the past. Where do you see the biggest challenges in terms of supply chain security, and what contribution can organizations certified to the TAPA standards make?

From my point of view, vaccine distribution is the biggest challenge in the history of logistics. There has never been such a large vol-ume of a product group that needs to be transported across the globe in such a short time. The vaccine, with its high commodity val-ue, is highly attractive to organized crime because of the high margin to be achieved on the black market. It must be clear to everyone that a truck with a Covid19 vaccine will be worth several million euros.
By implementing our standards, organizations may reduce their risk as much as possible. Those companies that have implemented our standards effectively have reduced their loss figures by as much as 80 percent. This is what our experience over the last 20 years has shown us. A success that speaks for itself!

Thank you very much, Mr. Neumann, for the interesting interview!


TAPA - The standards and what DQS can do for you

DQS is approved as an "Independent Audit Body" (IAB) by TAPA to perform audits and certifications according to the FSR, TSR and PSR standards. In the certification audit, safety-relevant areas are evaluated according to clear criteria. If your organization meets all requirements, it will receive a certificate from DQS with a validity of 3 years. The certificates issued are registered with TAPA with a tracking number to ensure traceability and transparency.

audits-dqs-audit wuerfel nebeneinander auf tisch
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Options for TAPA certification

Do you have any questions? Contact us.

We will be happy to inform you about different standards, effort and certification procedure - without obligation and free of charge.

As one of the leading certifiers of management systems and processes worldwide, we keep track of the current challenges in the transport market and offer solutions for all logistics sectors. Accreditations and approvals for all important standards stand for competence and reliability worldwide. In addition to the classic management system standards such as ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment) or ISO 50001 (energy), the focus is, among other things, on the diverse standards for the logistics industry, also in combination. For example, audits in accordance with the GDP Directive, Qualified Carrier, TAPA or SQAS for chemical transports.

DQS: Simply leveraging Quality.

More than 2,500 auditors work for DQS worldwide. They all share the same understanding and level of ambition, and impress with their many years of practical experience and social and methodological skills. Due to the significant scope of application, DQS strictly ensures that only auditors with industry experience and approved by TAPA are used in the certification process.

If you have any questions to the author, to the content or to our services, please feel free to send us an e-mail.

Author
Andreas Voelkerding

Expert and project manager at DQS for the transport and logistics sector. Andreas Voelkerding is responsible for numerous industry-specific standards, including TAPA FSR/TSR/PSR, GDP and TfS. As an auditor, his many years of experience are in demand both nationally and internationally, especially in logistics, air and sea freight.

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