Each year, cargo thefts cost retail and insurance companies almost $30 billion, Ray Flemming, president and CEO of FCS Tracking, said during an M2M Evolution session at ITEXPO West 2011 this morning.

“Our goal is to have proactive intervention of the cargo theft market,” Flemming told participants. “We use M2M embedded tracking within the shipments to do 24/7 marketing, investigation, claims processing, carrier drive solutions, and cargo theft investigations.”

And that goal appears to have been met. According to company officials, FCS Tracking technology has helped recover $2,772,000 and has attracted top tier 3PL, electronics, cell phones, food, and other high value freight manufacturers and shippers customers.

FCS Tracking is made up of a group of professionals that deal with all aspects of risk, cargo loss prevention, and security in the trucking industry. With a little help from its domestic and international contacts, the FCS team assists in recovering loads in real-time theft situations as well as post- recovery investigations, carrier-driver solutions, and claims and insurance consulting services, according to company officials.

This morning, Flemming was joined by Lou Campbell from SCISCO Inc., a private consulting company, to discuss real world examples of incidents and resolutions for a variety of scenarios; how GPS and sensors are improving intelligence; and proactive intervention programs with law enforcement, among other things, in a session titled “Security, Recovery and Risk Management.”

Since its inception, FCS has honed its efforts on developing an in-depth understanding of cargo theft activities and applying monitoring to reduce visibility gaps during the transportation process. FCS services include covert tracking services that include delivery confirmation and 24x7 monitoring of in-field devices and theft solutions that include 24/7 driver/carrier crisis line, blast fax on stolen loads, and third party investigations.

Nowadays, everything is stolen from TVs to beverages to electronics to baby food, the number one stolen item. Places like Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas are huge targets right now, according to Flemming, simply because they have the most shipments.

So why is M2M on the rise in cargo theft prevention? Because putting tracking devices in loads can reduce loss by millions of dollars.

“With the technology that is out there, it is finally to the point where we can prevent cargo theft,” Flemming said.

Effective security is done by taking a layered approach, according to Fleming which starts with background checks on drivers and carriers. It also includes establishing standard operating procedures, having 24/7 monitoring with M2M embedded cargo, and having proactive intervention with law enforcement.

Echoed Campbell, who has 43 years of experience in intelligence, “As IT professionals you can protect your corporate assets and become proactive and have shared vision with your security team and executive staff.”

“It’s a lot easier to keep the animals in the barn then one they get out to round them up,” he added.

To hear more about the sessions at M2M Evolution, a conference aimed at any company looking to utilize the wireless network to extend control over their supply chain, product development, and distribution channels, check back here.