Cargo Theft in the U.S.: How Shippers Can Protect Their Freight

You’re not imagining things: Cargo theft really is on the rise — and it has been for a while.

In 2025, the value of goods stolen via cargo theft in the United States and Canada surged sharply — which is saying something, given 2024's headline-making record highs.

According to a new analysis from Verisk Cargo Net,  estimated losses jumped 60% to nearly $725 million in 2025.

Verified cargo theft incidents climbed about 18% year-over-year, underscoring that this threat isn’t just growing in financial impact, but also in reach and sophistication. 

Anderson Trucking Service (ATS) has been in business for 70 years, and in that time, we’ve seen cargo crime evolve from highway robbery to high-tech hacking. Our team works constantly to identify risks, mitigate them, and protect our customers from criminal activity — and we’re happy to share our knowledge to help you do the same. 

In this article, we’ll explain the key factors driving the rise in cargo theft, the most common theft tactics in play, and our practical tips to help you minimize your risk. You’ll come away better prepared to protect your company from these losses in the future. 

The Rise in Cargo Theft: Facts Freight Shippers Should Know

In late 2024, FreightWaves reported that 48% of freight brokers said cargo theft was the biggest industry-wide issue of the year. 

And it’s easy to see why: while the total number of supply chain crime incidents in 2025 remained relatively stable, the value of shipments targeted has increased exponentially. 

Organized criminal groups have become more strategic, zeroing in on high-value shipments and high-activity freight hubs. As incidents of freight theft shift away from opportunism toward more selective, sophisticated schemes,  affected shippers are taking even harder financial than ever before. 

Here's what you need to know about freight theft methods, high-risk routes, targeted commodities, and insurance coverage that will help protect your bottom line from cargo theft.

Common Cargo Theft Tactics

Cargo theft is nothing new — as long as there have been merchants moving goods from one place to another, there have been thieves eager to prey on them — but the methods used have shifted and changed at pace with technology and commerce.

Direct Theft

In the past, common tactics for cargo theft revolved around intercepting the cargo while en route to a destination. Direct theft, also called “straight theft” or “road theft,” is fittingly straightforward: it is the act of physically stealing cargo, trailers, or containers.

In a direct theft case, a driver might park their truck overnight in an unsecured lot and wake to find their trailer missing or broken into, for example. 

While direct theft may seem quaint in our digitally-driven world, it's still a major issue in the modern cargo theft landscape.

Highway reported in their Q4 2025 Freight Fraud Index Report that by year's end, direct thefts accounted for nearly half of all reported stolen loads. These thefts "were increasingly carried out by carriers with legitimate operating histories." 

In many cases, formerly above-board carriers simply "broke bad" due to regulatory pressures, financial stressors, or other factors. In others, criminals bought legitimate businesses specifically to leverage their history to commit theft without detection. 

This is the intersection of direct theft with deceptive actions that exploit the assumption of trust — a key component of strategic theft, now supercharged by the digital age. 

Strategic Theft

Strategic theft — sometimes referred to as "theft-by-deception schemes," "carrier impersonation," or "carrier fraud" — is the process of fraudulently impersonating legitimate carriers, brokers, or shippers (or otherwise deceiving stakeholders in a supply chain) with the goal of intercepting and stealing cargo.

The automations and digital freight systems that carriers and brokers now rely on require less human oversight, which inevitably creates digital blindspots.

Strategic theft exploits these vulnerabilities. Thieves use hacking, phishing, and malware to infiltrate systems, manipulate data, access accounts, impersonate logistics professionals, and gain sensitive information about shippers, schedules, cargo, and high-value loads. 

These tactics are often well-organized and can be difficult to detect. As such, digital freight management systems are a major target for bad actors.

Additionally, a new trend of manipulative ownership changes, a.k.a. "sold MCs" continues to be one of the most consistent areas of acceleration in the world of strategic freight theft, per Highway.

There has been a recent rise in criminals purchasing legitimate motor carrier authorities ("MC authorities," "MC numbers," or simply "MCs") and Department of Transportation (DOT) identification numbers to pose as an established carrier. 

Some may purchase small trucking companies (typically single-truck operations) for the express purpose of stealing freight under the guise of a reputable company. 

Once they have stolen or purchased their false identity, the thieves will move to intercept cargoes in a variety of ways, including: 

• Altered bills-of-lading (BOLs)
• Bad-faith brokering
• Double brokering
• Fictitious pick-ups using falsified credentials
• Hostaged cargo

In the vast majority of strategic theft and MC number fraud cases, the thieves themselves rarely engage in the initial pickup of the cargo or lay eyes on the trailer carrying their targeted freight; the drivers and workers handling the stolen goods often have no idea they are engaged in criminal activity. 

There has been an astonishing increase in strategic cargo theft as of late — nearly 1,500 percent since 2021, according to CargoNet. 

This sharp spike can be attributed in part to criminals leveraging digital tools to become more sophisticated, but technology is far from the only factor at play. 

What Are the Most High-Risk Locations for Cargo Theft?

The number of cargo theft incidents is rising year-over-year, particularly in "hot" freight regions — though early warning signs suggest surges may be coming to the rest of the nation soon.

A report released in Jan. 2026 by BSI Consulting showed theft risk clustered around dense U.S. transportation nodes, including Southern California, the Chicagoland area, Memphis, and the Northeast corridor. Mexico continues to account for the majority of recorded cargo theft incidents for North America as a whole. 

This data aligns with CargoNet's findings, which ranked California, Texas, and Illinois as the top three most-targeted states in 2025, together representing nearly 52% of all cargo theft for that period. 

These states and regions all boast high levels of manufacturing, distribution, and commerce activity across modes, making them ideal hunting grounds for thieves. Warehouses and distribution centers are the most targeted location types, followed by truck stops. 

While total incidents of cargo theft activity across North America held relatively steady in 2025, spikes were observed in geographic areas historically considered lower-risk. CargoNet reported surges in Kern (82%) and San Joaquin (44%) counties in California, and sharp increases in New Jersey (50%), Indiana (30%) and Pennsylvania (24%).

This is reflective of the rise of digitally-empowered theft strategies, which do not require thieves to be physically present to reroute shipments. For shippers, that means it doesn't matter where you're located or where you're shipping: cargo theft is everywhere now. 

What Cargo Types Are Most At-Risk for Freight Theft?

In 2025, food and beverage loads topped the list of most-targeted cargo types — specifically meat and seafood products — followed by household goods.

Also on the rise are commodities like:

• Automotive parts
• Copper products
• Cryptocurrency mining hardware
• Enterprise computer components
• Hard liquor
• High-end consumer electronics, such as audio equipment and servers
• Personal care products, especially cosmetics
• Produce, like avocados and tree nuts
• Vitamins and supplements, especially protein powder 

The most at-risk cargoes sit squarely within a trifecta of criteria: high value, high consumer demand, and low trackability.

These factors make it easy for thieves to offload their ill-gotten gains on the black market, or to other buyers who simply don’t know (or care to know) where the product comes from. 

What Insurance Options Protect Against Cargo Theft Losses?

Freight shippers concerned about cargo theft are primarily protected by cargo insurance, which is designed to cover the value of goods if they are stolen, damaged, or lost while in transit. This type of insurance is the most direct and reliable safeguard for shippers, as it responds to theft events regardless of where they occur along the transportation journey.

Cargo insurance can be purchased on a per-shipment basis or as an annual policy for frequent shippers, and coverage is typically based on the declared value of the freight rather than limited liability thresholds. 

For complex or high-value shipments, some shippers choose shipper’s interest cargo insurance, which follows freight across multiple carriers or modes and applies regardless of fault. By removing liability disputes from the claims process, this coverage is especially useful for freight that changes hands frequently or moves through higher-risk theft areas.

Shipper-Purchased Cargo Insurance vs. Carrier Cargo Insurance: Are You Really Covered?

It’s important to distinguish shipper-purchased cargo insurance from carrier cargo insurance, which is often misunderstood. Motor carriers are required to carry their own cargo insurance, but that coverage exists to protect the carrier, not the shipper.

For shippers, relying solely on a carrier’s insurance can introduce significant financial exposure. These policies frequently include coverage caps that fall well below the actual value of many shipments and may exclude certain high-risk or high-value commodities altogether.

Importantly, cargo theft is not covered by general liability insurance. General liability policies are designed to address bodily injury or third-party property damage and do not apply to the loss or theft of goods in transit. 

In general, it's best not to assume that your current policies cover cargo theft incidents. Do your due diligence by speaking to your insurance provider about appropriate options for your business, rather than relying on your carriers' policies,

With both money and reputation on the line, shippers and carriers alike are invested in avoiding cargo theft. However, modern technology has empowered thieves to rapidly evolve their tactics and complicate the prevention landscape.

8 Practical Steps to Minimize Cargo Theft Risks for Freight Shippers

As a shipper, it’s easy to feel like there’s nothing you can do to prevent cargo theft, as so many of the red flags are only visible once the shipment has left your hands. 

But the truth is that shippers can play a critical role in recognizing suspicious behaviors, alerting legitimate stakeholders to the issue, and preventing criminals from accessing cargo.

Here are eight actionable steps you can take to minimize the cargo theft risks to your shipping enterprise: 

1. Identify High-Risk Routes. Your first step should be gauging your current level of risk. Analyze historical loss data alongside industry crime reports to see where theft clusters by lane, region, or facility type then overlay that insight with your shipping strategy. Examining details like dwell time, parking locations, and commodity value can help to pinpoint where extra security measures may be needed.
   
   
2. Make Sure You're Covered. Insurance is what ultimately limits financial exposure when cargo theft occurs. Review your existing policies to understand what's actually covered, paying close attention to coverage limits, exclusions, and whether protection is based on the true value of the freight rather than a carrier’s liability. If your shipments are high-value or easily resold, require frequent handoffs or multi-carrier moves, or travel on lanes with higher theft activity, your supply chain is at increased risk. Shipper-controlled cargo insurance or shipper’s interest coverage can help ensure losses are recoverable without delays or liability disputes.
   
   
3. Partner with Trusted Carriers and Brokers. By thoroughly vetting carriers and brokers, you can ensure your company works only with reliable partners who prioritize security and uphold industry standards. Institute a policy of sharing shipment information with only key internal personnel and your legitimate, vetted transportation partner.
   
   
4. Don’t Trust — Verify. Train your employees to verify every truck that enters your facilities. By confirming each driver’s identity, checking for the carrier’s logo and motor carrier number on the truck, and meticulously reviewing shipment documents, you can catch any inconsistencies while the truck is still on-site and prevent unauthorized personnel from handling your cargo.
   
   
   
   
5. Secure Your Physical Facilities. Consider installing cameras, employing guards, adding more warehouse/loading dock workers, and enforcing restricted access zones. These precautions can provide extra security and empower your team to take a proactive role in deterring theft attempts.
   
   
6. Continued Training and Awareness. Adopt a practice of continued employee education on current cargo theft risks and prevention to equip them to recognize threats, follow secure protocols, and act as the first line of defense. This article is a great introductory resource to share with your team!
   
   
7. Leverage Data and Community Intelligence. Analyzing historical theft trends and collaborating with industry partners can help you weed bad actors out of your carrier network, optimize routes, mitigate risks, and stay ahead of emerging threats.
   
   
8. See Something? Say Something. It’s always better to raise a concern and risk it being unfounded than to stay silent and become the victim of a crime. Quickly report any unusual activities to your trusted transportation partner — preferably over the phone, as this helps address potential threats in real-time while reducing the risk of email-based identity fraud.

By taking these steps to minimize your cargo theft risks, you can do your part to prevent major losses — and position yourself to catch suspicious activity early, which will help immensely in avoiding incidents.

Protect Your Shipments Against Cargo Theft

Cargo theft is more than just a growing concern — it’s a call to action for shippers to take proactive measures in protecting their assets. With rising incidents fueled by economic pressures, organized crime, and technological vulnerabilities, the time to strengthen your defenses is now. 

The stakes are high, but the solutions are within reach. From partnering with trusted carriers and verifying every truck that enters your facility to securing your warehouses and training your employees, there are tangible steps you can take today to reduce your exposure to theft.

We encourage you to take this opportunity to assess your current security strategies, implement best practices, and empower your team to act as the first line of defense. By building a culture of vigilance, you can protect your shipments and your business from this costly and disruptive threat.