The gate is where cargo theft is stopped
Today’s cargo thieves rarely cut a fence. More and more, they use deception — a fake carrier, a borrowed truck number or a pickup that was never really booked — and drive away with a load the warehouse handed them. Verisk CargoNet reported nearly $725 million in U.S. cargo theft losses in 2025, up 60% from 2024. A trained officer at the gate who checks the paperwork against the appointment is one of the simplest defenses there is.
- Driver and carrier check — photo ID, carrier name and truck number match the appointment and bill of lading
- Load confirmation — outbound pickups confirmed with your shipping office before the trailer is released
- Seal check — seal number matches the paperwork; seal is intact, in and out
- Visitor and contractor sign-in — who, why, who they’re seeing and when they left
- A written log of every truck, trailer and seal number for every shift
Trailer seal checks
A seal is only useful if someone checks it. Our officers record the seal number on every loaded trailer coming in or going out, confirm it matches the shipping documents, and physically check that it hasn’t been cut or tampered with. Many shippers in U.S. Customs’ CTPAT program use high-security bolt seals and a written seal log — we follow your procedure and log every check. Download our free trailer seal log.
Yard, dock and fence-line patrols
- Drop-trailer and container yard checks — counts, seals, landing gear and kingpin locks
- Dock doors closed and secured after the last shift
- Fence line, gates and lighting checked every round
- Parked tractors and equipment checked for tampering
- Trespassers asked to leave — police called when needed
Peak season and holidays
Cargo theft climbs during the holiday shipping rush and over long weekends, when full trailers sit in yards with fewer people around. We add officers and extra yard checks for peak season, holiday shutdowns and inventory counts — then scale back when things slow down.
What Washington law says
In Washington, entering a warehouse unlawfully with intent to commit a crime is second-degree burglary, a class B felony (RCW 9A.52.030). Theft over $5,000 is first-degree theft, and theft of ten or more merchandise pallets is a crime even when the pallets are worth little (RCW 9A.56.030, 9A.56.050). Freight moving between states is also protected by federal law — including loads obtained “by fraud or deception” from a truck, trailer or warehouse (18 U.S.C. 659). Read our full guide: warehouse and cargo theft law in Washington.
Fire watch for warehouses
Warehouses with high-piled storage depend on their sprinklers. When the system is down for repairs, the fire marshal may require a fire watch until it is back in service. Our division Skagit Fire Safety provides fire watch with detailed logs, and we can run it alongside your security post.
Where we provide warehouse security
Headquartered in Skagit County and serving all of Washington — including Mount Vernon, Burlington, Anacortes, Sedro-Woolley, Concrete, La Conner, Bellingham, Everett, Marysville, Arlington, Oak Harbor, Friday Harbor, Seattle, Bellevue and beyond. See service areas.
Warehouse & Distribution Security FAQ
What does a warehouse security guard do?
A warehouse security officer checks trucks, drivers and paperwork at the gate, records trailer and seal numbers, signs in visitors and contractors, patrols the yard, docks and fence line, and writes a report of everything that happened on the shift.
How do you prevent fictitious pickups?
Our gate officers check the driver’s ID, carrier name and truck number against your appointment and bill of lading, and confirm outbound loads with your shipping office before a trailer leaves. If something doesn’t match, the truck waits until your team approves it.
Do you check trailer seals?
Yes. Officers record the seal number on loaded trailers in and out, confirm it matches the shipping documents and check that the seal is intact. We follow your seal procedure and keep a written log.
Can you cover a distribution center 24/7?
Yes. We staff around-the-clock rotations for distribution centers and truck yards, and add officers for peak season, holiday shutdowns and inventory counts.