About Us
Background Information on DPS March Certification
Established by DPS March in 2010 following demand from cargo owners, freight forwarders and cargo insurers to identify responsible hauliers operating to a prescribed code of security standards in order to better safeguard High Value Cargo ('HVC') in transit.
This resulted following an unprecedented spate of commodity thefts in Zambia during the late 2000’s involving driver ‘hand-overs’, a term used to describe a cargo theft whereby the driver of a loaded truck and trailer combination is corrupted through a financial inducement into handing over his load to thieves. This typically occurs during night time hours at a predetermined location, following which the driver usually abandons his empty truck and trailer before disappearing with his ill-gotten gains, or claiming to have been hijacked.
A demand was also created for a regular verification of such responsible hauliers on an annual basis in order to maintain current data on a haulier’s continued adherence and compliance to the prescribed code of security, hence, suitability to continue to transport High Value and ‘thief attractive’ Cargo.
Likewise, a further demand was created for the inspection and risk management of transhipment depots of HVC and commodities to minimise the risk from thefts or robberies. In particular, there was a need to prevent the surreptitious substitution and theft of containerised HVC and commodities after their loading and sealing for onward shipment, whilst leaving the shipping line seal seemingly intact.
DPS March Certification has now evolved and developed since its inception and introduction to become the transport industry benchmark in Southern Africa for reputable and security minded road hauliers, while also creating a standardised and effective means of imposing and regulating Goods in Transit security requirements on drivers, hauliers and depot operators alike. DPS March Certification is now synonymous with the industry Goods in Transit security ‘blue-print’ incorporating all of DPS March’s 30 years of experience in the investigation of HVC thefts and risk management assessments in the region.
Objectives / Benefits of DPS March Certification
- Provides an industry standard of security for transportation of valuable or vulnerable Goods in Transit (i.e. commodities – copper, perishable cargo – tobacco, thief attractive goods – mobile phones, cigarettes, etc);
- Provides transport companies with a security ‘blue-print’ for transportation of high value or specialised cargo in order to minimise risk from theft, robbery, driver ‘hand-overs’ or damage in transit;
- Provides a physical and procedural overhaul of a temporary storage or transhipment depot for commodities or other HVC in transit with a view to minimise the risk from thefts or robberies and from short-shipment or incorrect picking / loading of cargo and load verification through camcorder recordings / photographs;
- Validates genuine transport companies in order to eliminate the risk from loading bogus companies intent on stealing cargo by stealth;
- Only current system in Southern Africa of providing checks and conditions of compliance and restrictions on transport companies intent on the carriage of HVC, providing an effective means of embargo on regular transgressors and irresponsible transport operators;
- Identification and circulation by means of Security Bulletins to certified members on new crime trends, modus operandi, and crime ‘Hot Spots’ to minimise risk to cargo;
- Provides an industry database listing a transport company’s certification status, rating level, transport specialisation, i.e. fuel tankers, refrigerated loads, abnormal loads, break-bulk cargo, as well as cross-border routes used by transport companies;
- Providing daytime contact centre and customer services for certified hauliers.
Critical Components of DPS March Certification - Hauliers
Identifying the minimal level of Goods in Transit security to protect cargo transported on trucks and trailers by certified transporters, including:
- Background checks / information on Directors / Transport Managers;
- Levels of experience of Directors / Senior Managers in transport industry;
- Fleet size and age, composition of drivers, i.e. nationality and country of domicile;
- Routing of loaded trucks through Southern Africa and truck stop locations / policy;
- Tracking and monitoring devices and other security alerts, i.e. on board panic buttons, trailer off-hook alerts, etc;
- Means of driver communication;
- Depot security;
- Rapid response and recovery capability;
- Driver vetting and recruitment;
- References from reputable clients of hauliers and ultimate verification of bona fide credentials and operating standards;
- Last but not least, history and claims record of cargo losses arising from accidents or thefts / robberies in transit within last three years
Critical Components of DPS March Certification - Transhipment Depots
- Inspection of physical security of depot, including perimeter walls, access / exit control points, deployment of security guards / dogs, and warehouse intruder alarm system;
- Examination of access and exit control procedures for pedestrians and vehicular traffic;
- Suitability of lighting inside and outside warehouse and depot yard;
- Monitoring capability by means of CCTV camera of activities inside and outside storage warehouse, depot yard and loaded container stack(s);
- Means of verifying any attempt at unauthorised access to high value cargo storage facility;
- Daily inventories on high value cargo;
- Procedures to verify loaded cargo specs and quantum, as well as correct loading and security procedures;
- Procedures for securing loaded containers after sealing to prevent tampering, prior to despatch to Container Terminal / Stacks;
- Immobilisation and security of heavy lifting equipment.
Beneficiaries of DPS March Certification and Main Benefits
Hauliers:
- Enhancement of reputation,
- Good insurance claim / loss record,
- Preferential / discounted insurance premiums,
- Clear deterrence to corruptible drivers,
- Marketing opportunity;
Cargo Owners (e.g. Mining Companies / Commodity Brokers):
- No unnecessary interruption to transit flow of cargo to intended market / customer,
- Saving from hidden costs incurred following theft / hijack,
- Good insurance claim / loss record,
- Preferential / discounted insurance premiums;
Freight Forwarders / Clearing Agents:
- Enhancement of reputation,
- No unnecessary interruption to transit flow of client’s cargo to intended market / customer,
- Saving from hidden costs incurred following theft / hijack,
- Good claim / loss record,
- Preferential / discounted insurance premiums,
- Professional assessment of risk at transhipment depot(s) and creation of security ‘Blue-Print’ focusing on physical security and procedural systems to minimise threat of thefts or robberies;
Insurance Companies / Underwriters:
- Free Risk Management Assessment and implementation by insured party or contracted agent,
- Clean claims / loss record,
- Maximum profits from insurance premiums,
"PEACE OF MIND"
Beneficiaries of DPS March Database and Benefits
Hauliers:
- Advertising and marketing of DPS March Certification status,
- Enhancement of reputation,
- Potential for increased volumes of jobs / assignments,
- Greater protection afforded during Recruitment of Drivers as to their Status and referencing with current former employers,
- Better means of vetting new drivers
Cargo Owners (e.g. Mining Companies / Commodity Brokers):
- Easier selection of DPS March Certified hauliers,
- Means of verifying arriving trucks and drivers to load cargo and elimination of risk from loading bogus trucks and drivers;
Freight Forwarders / Clearing Agents:
- Easier selection of DPS March Certified hauliers,
- Greater transparency on drivers, trucks and trailers assigned by contracted hauliers,
- Means of verifying arriving trucks to load and elimination of risk from loading bogus trucks and drivers,
- Means of Identifying potentially undesirable hauliers;
Insurance Companies / Underwriters:
- Easier confirmation of DPS March Certified hauliers,
- Means of scrutinising claims / loss record of new or existing Insured Party;
- Means of verifying fleet size and registered truck and trailers of Insured Parties against those declared;
- Determining benchmark for Insured Party’s qualification for premium discounts / preferential rates.