Law enforcement and insurance providers alike have noted a sharp rise in common powertrain controller (CPC) thefts over the past year. These modules act as the commercial vehicles’ brains, and the trucks are unusable without them. The thefts have occurred in truck yards, repair shops, and even parking lots for commercial vehicles. The ongoing microchip shortage compounds the problem, as fleets can’t repair or replace CPC modules without these chips.
Any parked truck that appears unattended is a target for theft. The black market provides criminals with lucrative opportunities – they can net more than five times the cost of a typical CPC module due to the microchip shortage. Fleets and commercial drivers can implement several preventative measures to protect their vehicles, such as:
- Always locking the vehicle’s doors, rolling up the windows, and taking the keys whenever leaving the cab unoccupied, even while loading and unloading cargo.
- Only parking the vehicle in familiar, safe, and well-lit locations. Parking in sight of surveillance cameras is even better. Locating safe parking before trips can prevent parking dilemmas later.
- Password-protecting CPC modules.
- Installing an alarm system on the vehicle.
- Relocating the CPC to conceal its location from determined thieves.
Replacing a CPC often costs much more than the module itself. The average module retails for around $1500, but criminals frequently inflict additional damage when stealing the units. They may damage or break windows, dashboards, and the CPC’s wiring system. Replacing and repairing these vehicle components can quickly add up to thousands of dollars. Contact Interstate Motor Carriers to learn more about protecting your commercial vehicles and what to do in the event of CPC theft.