MELLS TRUCKING COMPANY

Theft attractiveness:

How much thieves want it: its value, how easily it resells, and how often cargo-theft reports name it.

Damageability:

How easily the load is ruined on the way: fragile, perishable or temperature-sensitive goods, or goods handled piece by piece.

Inertial mass:

How hard the load pushes in a hard stop, a swerve or a crash: heavy or dense loads, liquid that surges, live animals that shift, and loads that need heavy chains and binders.

Each chip carries its three ratings: T theft, D damage, M mass. Green is Low, amber Medium, red High.

What this motor carrier hauls

• Motor vehicles Theft HighDamage HighMass Medium
  Whole vehicles resell easily, and every one is checked for scratches and dents at delivery. Car haulers ride tall.
• Household goods Theft MediumDamage HighMass Low
  People's belongings in a move, handled piece by piece and easy to scratch or break. Bulky but light. Losses are mostly items gone missing, not whole loads stolen.
• Other: OTHER Not rated
  Not rated: the motor carrier described this cargo in its own words.

All three ratings are FRED's judgment. FMCSA publishes no cargo losses, so theft and damage can't be measured; the theft column follows published cargo-theft reports (Verisk CargoNet's annual reviews), which year after year name food and drink (meat, seafood, nuts), electronics, household items and, lately, metals among the most stolen loads. FMCSA's crash records don't show heavy cargo making crashes more often deadly or injurious, so mass is judgment too. Cargo is not part of the FRED grade.