CSA News · Transport

Chain-of-Custody Failures in Agricultural Transport

Transport losses are often discovered late. The cure is disciplined verification at pickup and receiving—supported by seals, documentation, and consistent escalation rules.

2025-12-18 8 min read · CSA Intelligence

Transport-related theft thrives on ambiguity. When paperwork is incomplete, seals are informal, and receiving checks are inconsistent, loss can be attributed to “unknown shrink” rather than treated as a reportable event.

Controls that reduce ambiguity

  • Driver verification and plate capture at pickup
  • Seal logging with photo evidence and unique IDs
  • Handoff signoffs that match lot and count structure
  • Receiving checklist including seal check and count reconciliation

Operational standard

Make the handoff repeatable. A consistent process beats a complex process that only works when the best supervisor is on shift.
Operator note

Translate analysis into controls. If this topic applies to your operation, use the checklist to tighten verification and reduce discovery lag.