According to data from Overhaul, cargo theft continues to be one of the main problems in the transportation sector in Brazil. In this regard, from January to March 2024, 3,639 incidents were recorded in the country. That is, on average, 1,213 per month. Of these, 94% involved reports of violence.
The rise in this type of crime in Brazil has led to growth in brands offering technological solutions against cargo theft, such as T4S Tecnologia. This São Paulo-based startup, which began operations in 2017, emerged after its founders, entrepreneurs Enrico Rebuzzi and Luiz Henrique Nascimento, experienced firsthand the losses caused by cargo theft.
Before founding T4S, they had a logistics company in 2003, Direct Express/Directlog, the largest e-commerce logistics operator in Brazil, and they went through this situation all the time.
Working in the transportation field, they realized how difficult it is to deal with the damage resulting from cargo theft, so they decided that their next project would be something related to the transportation security sector.
Drawing on their experience working in logistics, they developed a system called the Independent Blocker.
“Since time is the key to success for criminal gangs, as they need to leave the crime scene in a few minutes and in possession of the vehicle, the T4S Blocker hinders this speed by creating a series of difficulties for anyone trying to deactivate it,” explains Luiz Henrique Nascimento , director of T4S Tecnologia .
The risk for the thief thus increases, and along with it, the tendency to abandon the vehicle and driver with the cargo intact. The immobilizer instantly immobilizes the vehicle when the thief attempts to carry out the robbery with a "jammer," popularly known as a "chupa-cabra."
T4S also offers unusual services to prevent cargo theft on the roads, such as the Anti-Invasion Electric Shock, which, in the event of an attempted cargo theft involving breaking or puncturing the cargo compartment, delivers a high-impact, but non-lethal, shock to the criminal.
Through sensors spread across the panels that cover all sides of the truck's cargo area, any attempt to puncture or cut it triggers an alert to a call center, as well as a siren and an electric shock.
It poses no risk to drivers. It's like an electric fence in a condominium or house: there's zero risk of electric shock unless you try to break into the property. The immobilizer technology has already been patented in other countries, such as the United States, Mexico, and Russia.
The company's revenue last year was R$59 million, and the expectation is to end 2024 with revenue of R$84 million.
In addition to the Anti-Intrusion Electric Shock system, the company also offers other solutions, such as Cargo Angels, a solution that uses 360-degree AI-powered cameras mounted on top of trucks to detect weapons, people through facial recognition, and suspicious movements. Currently, the company's client list includes companies such as FedEx, DHL, Amazon, JSL, and P&G.
