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There is no shortage of devices helping make vehicles and loads less likely to be stolen or damaged by criminals, from vehicle immobilisers to additional door and window protection. There is also no shortage of good reasons to fit such devices - they will help you avoid the hassle and costs of business interruption that often result from a vehicle or load theft. But fitting security devices to your fleet won't generally lead to automatic reductions to your insurance premium. Instead, insurers  prefer to look at a company's recent claims history with an assessment of overall fleet risk. Bill Pownall, Norwich Union's motor risk manager, says that a firm's overall potential risk depends on much more than what kit is on the trucks. "We employ a team of risk advisors who talk to fleets and look at the precise risks and measures that might be used," he says. "That includes the way you vet and recruit drivers, the value of the vehicles and key and business information security."

Tracking systems, panic buttons and after-theft recovery systems all have their place in ensuring thefts or attacks on individual vehicles are recognised and dealt with as early as possible - but they don't generally lead in themselves to a solid discount on fleet premiums. Despite this, it is worth fleets investing in security because the resulting positive effect on claims will ultimately lead to better rates, Pownall adds. "Fleets are usually assessed on a five- year rating. If you have two expensive  vehicles stolen one year, it will be another five years before that drops off the edge - so it's worth doing all you can to control your losses." Reducing the risk doesn't just start with aftermarket security systems - truck operators should think about vehicle security at the time of purchase, says Pownall. "Some manufacturers still offer immobilisers only as an optional extra trucks also have varying quality of door and steering locks and some come with computer chips in the keys that can't be copied."

Customers should ensure that a vehicle immobiliser is always fitted but all the security devices in the world won't necessarily prevent a vehicle being stolen if the keys are accessible. Pownall stresses that this isn't just about controlling access to keys on your own site but also asking questions of anyone with access. It's also important to consider your general depot security. Not just having decent gates, lighting, CCTV and security guards, but also considering who you let onto the site, what they might see and whether you really want to leave loaded vehicles standing around overnight.

Clear though it is, however, that fleet risk is about much more than the security kit fitted to individual vehicles, the fact that insurers don't generally offer any discounts for such devices irks many in the industry. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), has recently stated: "Presently, the insurance industry fails to give any discounts to encourage truck makers or operators to fit anti-theft devices," comments SMMT spokesman, Robin Dickeson. Repeated calls for insurance research body Thatcham to have insurers show some flexibility have yielded no concrete results. Dickeson adds, "If operators fit devices or systems that save insurers money, it's only fair for insurers to consider sharing the savings."

Dickeson accepts the argument that reduced losses lead to premium reductions in the longer term but adds, "it's so long-term a benefit as to be nearly invisible". Dennis Lavers, insurance relationships manager at after-theft recovery systems supplier Tracker Network, says that although they might be hard to pin down, there are numerous insurers who are willing to provide variable discounts for equipment like Tracker's. "Customers with a decreasing claims record are in a very good position to shop around," he says. "Losing a large fleet's business can be a major consideration for an insurer and that gives the client a bit of power." But, he adds: "We want more high-profile support from insurers of commercial vehicles. If a customer is investing in security, the insurance industry should show they are prepared to reflect that."