CargoNet tracks $31.8M in Labor Day thefts as criminals breach trusted freight accounts

Friday led every weekday with 55 incidents. Tuesday followed with 49, while Thursday produced 46 and Wednesday recorded 44. Those four days generated 194 cases, representing 71% of the entire analysis. The holiday weekend produced significantly fewer reports.

Saturday accounted for 24 incidents, while Sunday had 28 and Labor Day Monday recorded 27. CargoNet connected this pattern with deceptive pickups and non-delivery schemes. Those crimes depend upon active phone lines, working employees and freight moving through normal channels. Such conditions decline during closures before returning around the weekend.

CargoNet described two overlapping risks surrounding the holiday. Physical exposure develops when loaded freight remains stationary during closures or schedule disruptions. Verification exposure emerges when limited staffing combines with time pressure. Those conditions help criminals impersonate carriers, alter instructions or introduce fraudulent contact information.

Three states accounted for nearly half

California, Texas and Illinois accounted for 130 incidents, representing 48% of the five-year total. California led the country with 70 cases. Texas followed at 38, while Illinois recorded 22. Verisk connected this concentration with dense freight networks, large consumer markets and intermodal infrastructure.

Food and beverage shipments led all commodity categories with 49 incidents. Household goods ranked second with 27, followed by electronics at 25. Vehicles and accessories accounted for 20 cases, while metals produced 11. CargoNet noted that these products offer strong resale opportunities through numerous illicit channels.

The broader financial threat extends beyond Labor Day. CargoNet estimated cargo theft losses exceeded $359 million during 2026’s first six months. Average stolen commodity value reached approximately $341,518. Organized groups increasingly pursue expensive metals, enterprise technology components and other high-value freight.

Verisk did not identify individual victims, suspects, carriers or investigations within the Labor Day analysis. The report provided no breakdown separating physical thefts from identity-based schemes. CargoNet also withheld individual loss amounts and recovery outcomes. Those details remain unknown from Friday’s announcement.

Why It Matters

Brokers, carriers and shippers face exposure before, during and after the holiday weekend. The findings show that routine business activity can give criminals more opportunities than complete closures.

Click here for more articles on cargo theft and freight fraud by Phil Brink.

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