Stealing Steel: Tankers targeted by Quebec black market

MONTREAL — René Rouillard’s equipment is under siege. And he’s not alone.

There’s been a sharp uptick in tractor-tanker heists in Quebec recently, and not necessarily for the loads they’re carrying.

Thieves in La Belle Province are stealing steel in tonnes — literally. Sure, a flatbed loaded with the stuff makes for a good take, but apparently, so does the trucking equipment itself.

Rouillard, president of Bessette & Boudreau Transport in St. Hyacin, Que. had a stainless steel tanker stolen earlier this year. It was a 2001 model with a value of about $80,000 that he had to replace with a brand new unit costing about $135,000, including a new security system and GPS.

The thieves probably pocketed a quarter of that on the black market. The stainless steel making up a tanker goes for around $20,000 to $25,000 on the street.

Steel and aluminum are valuable commodities to thieves,
including what makes up your tankers and trailers.

Another nearby carrier got its aluminum B-train tanker stolen when it was parked in a dealer lot while the tractor was in the shop for repairs. The yard camera shows a separate tractor coming into the yard, coupling the tanker, and driving right through the gates with it.

In the last year, the trucking industry in Quebec has close to 20 tankers, says the Quebec Trucking Association.

The tankers are usually targeted when they’re empty. In fact, one stolen unit was abandoned by the thief when he realized it was full of chemical liquid, police say.

“It is a total loss, which is not even the case with most accidents. Nothing can have a bigger impact on insurance,” Rouillard tells TodaysTrucking.com.

In fact, many carriers prefer not to report the rip-off to insurance companies in order to avoid a substantial hike in premiums. That means they have to swallow the entire cost out-of-pocket.

Rouillard says he organized a meeting with other area liquid bulk haulers to discuss preventative measures. At Bessette & Boudreau, Rouillard recently invested over $300,000 in different technologies to protect his equipment. “The next one who tries to leave with one on our tankers will be caught,” he promises.

Rouillard and the QTA have also appealed to the public safety ministry for help. However, Rouillard says, they’ve been told that tanker stealing is a minor issue, which is not linked to a criminal network.

But even if organized crime isn’t pulling the strings, it’s tough for businesses to ignore the escalation of metals theft around the country.

According to news reports, utilities have reported millions of dollars worth of copper wire stolen last year. Aluminum has been ripped off the roof of buildings in Vancouver. In the Atlantic Provinces breweries say thieves are getting away with stainless steel beer kegs. Even a two-tonne bronze statue disappeared from a public park in Toronto.

“This market is a free-for-all. Anybody can arrive at a steel buyer with a small drum of used metal and get out of there with a couple of hundred bucks cash in their pockets. This industry need to be looked at closely,” says Rouillard.