How to ensure shipment security on part or small loads?

In order to ensure shipment security, we are requiring incoming raw materials to arrive in sealed (or locked, if partial loads) containers. There are several raw materials that are purchased as partial loads that are transfered from one truck to another along the way, as is the case when shipping by carriers such as FedEx for example. How can you ensure security in these instances?

The supply chain is one of the most difficult things to control as there are many links and often sub-contractors are used and even subcontractors use subcontractors etc. etc. Also for smaller shipments the transport suppliers tend not to be dedicated to food as they need to fill up their trucks and earn a living.

If you are talking about pallets or perhaps even single boxes can you get suppliers to use some sort of tamper evident security tape with perhaps your own design / company logo. Maybe this could even be signed and dated by the supplier at the sealing area

I'm not hugely experienced in this area, just throwing out a few ideas.

Regards,
Simon

Most of our LTL receipts are in quantities of one pallet, so the security tape might work. We are currently beefing up our incoming inspection for signs of tampering and requiring all of these suppliers to put instructions on the BOL stating that trucks must be padlocked. If our BRC auditor doesn't find this adequate, then maybe we will go with the tape idea. Thanks.

SaltSafety

A special high security Label Lock Security Tape has been developed for security sealing of boxes and shrink wrapped pallets in the USA airfreight supply chain in response to TSA requirements. You may find this page relevant: http://www.tsa.gov/a..._seals_0107.pdf

Stay with the "full transfer" or "dual layer" tapes, the others can easily be defeated.

regs

Adrian