Online cargo theft has reached crisis levels in the American trucking industry, with criminals using advanced cyber tactics to steal freight worth billions of dollars each year. According to Trucking.org, online cargo theft has surged 1,500% since the pandemic, prompting trucking leaders to call on Congress to pass stronger federal laws to combat this growing threat.
The Growing Threat of Online Cargo Theft
During the holiday shipping season, cargo theft tends to spike as more goods hit the road. Data from Verisk CargoNet’s Q2 report shows that cargo theft rose 13% in mid-2025 compared to the same period in 2024.
Before the pandemic, most thefts involved direct, physical crimes.
- Thieves would cut seals and unload cargo while trucks were stopped.
- Now, cybercriminals are using online scams and digital impersonation to steal freight remotely.
“Before 2020 it was just straight thefts,” said Adam Blanchard, co-founder of Double Diamond Transport and Tanager Logistics. “Now, fraudsters are pretending to be brokers or carriers to hijack loads digitally.”
How Hackers Are Exploiting the Supply Chain
Experts say these cybercriminals have learned how to manipulate logistics systems to their advantage.
- Hackers impersonate freight brokers, using stolen business identities to trick legitimate trucking companies into hauling stolen freight.
- Once the load is picked up, it’s rerouted to fake warehouses or shipped overseas.
- Many victims don’t realize a theft has occurred for weeks or months.
Blanchard traced one such fraud scheme to Eastern Europe, where hackers stole a load of energy drinks and sold it abroad. The scam damaged his company’s reputation and caused his insurance premiums to double.
Keith Lewis, Vice President of Operations at CargoNet, said the criminals are leveraging technology to operate from anywhere. “They can work from across the world and control freight,” he said.
Billions Lost and No Central Oversight
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) reports that cargo theft costs the industry $19 million per day — nearly $7 billion annually.
- California, Texas, and Illinois account for 53% of all thefts nationwide.
- The most stolen goods include food, beverages, and household items, which are easily resold.
A major challenge is the lack of mandatory reporting. Many incidents go unreported, making it difficult for law enforcement to track or prosecute criminals.
Lawmakers Urged to Take Action
Industry leaders, including Blanchard and ATA CEO Chris Spear, are pushing for the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act (CORCA) — a proposed federal bill designed to strengthen coordination between businesses and law enforcement.
- CORCA would establish a national cargo theft database.
- It would also create a federal task force to investigate and prosecute cargo theft rings.
“There is no federal agency focused on this issue,” Blanchard told Congress. “Until legislation is passed to coordinate investigations and arrests, this will keep getting worse.”
Spear warned that unchecked theft will raise consumer prices as businesses struggle to recover losses. “When products don’t arrive on shelves, shortages occur — and costs go up,” he said.
Source:
https://www.foxnews.com/us/american-trucking-industry-urges-lawmakers-act-online-cargo-theft-surges
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