Photo 45516230 | Carolyn Franks | Dreamstime
Dreamstime L 45516230 64f0e1ffaed5e

Experts advise caution as speeding, distracted driving, cargo theft rises on Labor Day weekend

Sept. 1, 2023
Historical data analyzed by Cambridge Mobile Telematics and CargoNet indicates that carriers should exhibit heightened safety awareness this holiday weekend as risks rise.

Experts advise motor carriers to be extra cautious this Labor Day as research shows that speeding, distracted driving, and cargo theft historically heighten over the holiday weekend.

Cambridge Mobile Telematics analyzed distracted driving and speeding trends the 30 days before and after Labor Day from 2020 through 20222, spanning 20 million trips.

Speeding increases 34% on Labor Day weekend

CMT found that its users spend two minutes and 56 seconds of every hour driving on Labor Day speeding. This is a 34% increase from the average time speeding before and after the holiday, 2 minutes and 11 seconds of each hour.

Distracted driving due to screen usage also increased slightly on Labor Day. During the 30 days on either side of the holiday, screen distraction averages two minutes and one second per hour of driving. On Labor Day, that distraction bumps up to two minutes and six seconds—a 4.6% rise.

See also: Safest states to drive at night

CMT’s distracted driving research shows that for every 10% increase in distraction, crash rates increase by 1.4%. By the CMT’s estimates, the 4.6% Labor Day increase has resulted in 750 additional crashes, three deaths, and $18 million in economic damages over the past three years when applying the 4.6% increase to NHTSA data on distracted driving.

Screen interaction has increased on Labor Day every year since 2020, according to CMT’s analysis. Labor Day 2022 saw 2 minutes and 11 seconds of screen interaction, 11% higher than 2020.

See also: Fontana: When it comes to safety, follow the BASICs

The National Safety Council provides a fatality estimate for many major holidays. In 2022, it estimated that over 450 people would be killed on the road during Labor Day weekend. In 2020, the last year it has data on Labor Day fatalities, 506 people were killed. The increase in distracted driving and speeding contributes to these roadway tragedies.

Cargo theft risk rises on Labor Day weekend

Labor Day weekend also carries higher risks of cargo theft, according to CargoNet. The loss prevention and risk analysis company indicated that danger is already rising ahead of the holiday as it reached the year’s second-highest level of theft reports last week.

CargoNet examined theft trends around the previous five Labor Day holidays—156 events with an average cargo value of $151,726 per event. Theft was highest in 2022, where CargoNet recorded 44 events. In previous years, cargo thieves preferred to steal televisions, computers, and major appliances. Thefts were most common near major supply chain hubs in Southern California, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Memphis, and Atlanta.

See also: Industry responds to heightened cargo theft

Though there were no fictitious pickups—thefts in which criminals use fraudulent identities to steal loads—reported in this analysis period, CargoNet warns that these kinds of thefts are the leading threat carriers should look out for this year.

Shipment misdirection schemes, a kind of fictitious pickup, are the most pertinent threat to carriers, according to CargoNet. The company has recorded over 600 shipment misdirection attacks or attempts since November 2022. In these schemes, attackers impersonate a motor carrier to gain authorization to transport a shipment and then hire a motor carrier to deliver the shipment to a location they can access to steal the cargo. Attackers often impersonate two or three different companies to disguise their identities and deceive their victims.

See also: For sophisticated cargo thieves, use advanced tools

These attacks target a plethora of goods, but the most common targets have been solar panels, energy drinks, alcoholic beverages, motor oil, and consumer electronics. CargoNet also warns of increased targeting of shipments of building materials such as shingles, lumber, and power tools in response to extreme weather events in the Southeast.

Noteworthy thefts from previous Labor Day holidays

  • $1,088,983 of seafood stolen in Sioux City, Iowa
  • $800,000 of footwear stolen from Memphis, Tennessee
  • $713,000 of apparel and accessories stolen from Eastvale, California
  • $417,206 of computer electronics stolen from Ontario, California
  • $400,000 of vodka stolen from Jacksonville, Florida

About the Author

Scott Keith

Scott Keith is a former fleet owner digital editor, who was on staff from 2022 to 2023.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

The Ultimate Trailer Tracking Technology Checklist for Enterprise Fleets

We understand the challenges you face in consolidating inventory, reducing theft, and tracking revenue. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate checklist to help you evaluate your...

Discover 4 Easy Ways to Level-Up Efficiency with Trailer Telematics

In today's competitive landscape, gaining an edge is vital. That's why top fleets are utilizing trailer telematics to boost efficiency and we've captured their secrets. Introducing...

The Future of Mirrors is Closer Than it Appears

Why Mirror Camera Systems are the next step for fleet safety and exoneration While many commercial trucking cameras are similarly marketed, they are not all created equally. The...

The 20:1 Solution: Unlocking the ROI of a Modern Asset Maintenance Solution

Discover how modern fleet maintenance software can drive step-change improvements in shop efficiency, cost control and vehicle productivity, along with how to calculate the ROI...