freight fraud

The freight industry stands at a crossroads that looks remarkably familiar to anyone who remembers the early days of fintech. Before Plaid became the connective tissue linking bank accounts to lending decisions, borrowers shuffled paperwork and lenders operated on good faith. Now that same transformation is coming for trucking, and Highway’s Chief Commercial Officer Michael […]

FreightWaves Today discussed a new SCOTUS ruling on safety preemption, cyber cartel threats and fuel economics during Monday’s live show.

The cargo was unusual. The alleged theft method was not. According to public reporting, criminals compromised a legitimate carrier’s identity and used it to divert a Walmart-bound shipment worth $1.7 million, a tactic the FBI says is becoming increasingly common.

FreightWaves Today discussed Delfin Midstream new $5 billion offshore liquefied natural gas export platform, Amazon’s LTL realities, and surging cargo fraud during Thursday’s live show.

Cargo theft has advanced from smash-and-grab crimes into sophisticated identity-based fraud schemes, experts say

From cartel-linked theft investigations to testimony before Congress, Lemm’s message was clear: cargo theft is no longer just a transportation problem.

Freight fraud incidents are climbing by double digits year over year, and Reliance Partners breaks down how fraud has evolved and what to do about it.

Cargo thieves are relying less on physical break-ins and more on fraud-based tactics, with deceptive pickup scams climbing sharply in the first quarter, Overhaul says.

Authorities in Florida arrested 14 suspects tied to what investigators describe as a highly organized theft network responsible for millions in stolen merchandise. Detectives say the group operated across multiple states while using logistics, resale operations, and coordinated theft methods that resembled a structured criminal enterprise more than isolated retail theft.

Cargo theft is not slowing down. It is adapting. What used to happen outside the operation is now happening inside it.

DOJ targets organized cargo theft and freight fraud, elevating federal focus within the logistics industry.

Freight fraud exposed: $10M scam highlights logistics vulnerabilities and cargo theft risks.

Nearly $4 million in stolen cargo was recovered in a Los Angeles County case tied to multiple companies, with one arrest made following a search warrant in Vernon.

Cargo theft incidents are being linked to motor carrier authorities that appear legitimate but may be controlled by unknown operators.

FBI warns of rising cyber cargo theft, as cybercriminals increasingly target freight industry operations

The industry points to billions in losses, but that number only captures what can be seen. When you factor in hidden activity and indirect costs, cargo theft becomes a much larger and more persistent risk.

This was not stopped by a process. It was caught by chance.

One gap was all it took. By the time it was noticed, the load was already too far gone to recover.

Fraud is no longer obvious. It hides inside companies that look legitimate but have not been verified.

By the time the product was found, it was already positioned to move through resale channels. That’s not a recovery story. It’s a reminder that most losses start long before a load is ever picked up.

Winners to be announced at the Freight Fraud Symposium in Cleveland.

From the US to the UK to Europe, the pattern is the same. Control shifts early, and by the time it’s noticed, the freight is already gone.

More than 400,000 KitKats were stolen in transit, but the product itself is still traceable. Nestlé’s response shows how even a chocolate bar can carry the signal after the load is gone.

Cargo theft persists even with all checks passed, revealing gaps in freight verification.

Join us on May 20 in Cleveland.

Discover emerging identity verification gaps in military logistics and their national security implications.

A wide swath of new products for all phases of trucking was rolled out at the recent TCA meeting.

Explore freight fraud tactics as stolen loads and identity scams plague logistics, evolving with new threats.

Next-generation cargo theft often looks legitimate right up until the freight is gone.

California and Texas dominated U.S. cargo crime in 2025, representing more than half of the nation’s 2,576 reported freight thefts.

Are ELP out-of-service violations actually effective law enforcement?

A family-owned San Francisco tile business was defrauded of nearly $200,000 in merchandise when criminals used fake credentials to orchestrate a strategic cargo theft.

Most of the companies in our industry are being robbed by people using the equivalent of a ladder and basic tools.

The dual pressure of shrinking margins and escalating fraud has prompted brokers to take a hard look at their day-to-day workflows. There are unfortunately plenty of weak points that could be costing many brokers money and exposing them to risk. One area that often flies under the radar: the inbox.

This article is contributed content. It does not reflect the views or opinions of FreightWaves or any of its subsidiaries. Freight fraud is the industry’s open secret: for years, carriers complained about unpaid loads, shippers voiced frustrations over losses, and brokers warned of schemes that drained time and trust. The noise was constant, but it […]

FMCSA has taken initial steps to modernize its complaint database to improve response times and crack down on fraud.

DOT has issued an information request to gather data on challenges and potential solutions related to freight-market theft.

The Tech Roundup is a weekly rundown of advancements and news in the FreightTech space. This week: Tai and Navix team up to simplify freight audit and accelerate cash flow, Highway expands McLeod integration, and Roambee rebrands to Decklar. Tai and Navix team up to simplify freight audit and accelerate cash flow The often-overlooked world […]

Highway lands major investment for Carrier Identity platform to tackle fraud in the freight industry efficiently.

Derek Barrs told Senate lawmakers he would uphold and enforce trucking industry initiatives from combatting fake CDLs to advancing autonomous truck technology.

(The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.) “BE AFRAID OF FREIGHT FRAUD!”  It’s no surprise when another freight fraud headline lands in our inbox, shows up on LinkedIn, or makes its way into a conversation.  Freight fraud is a trending […]

The trucking industry is under siege from a relentless wave of criminal activity that threatens its stability and safety. In 2024, cargo theft incidents surged to 3,625 across North America, a 27% year-over-year increase, with losses exceeding $455 million and an average loss per theft of $202,364. The economic toll of cargo theft alone is […]

The Freight Fraud Crisis The trucking industry is grappling with a surge in freight fraud, leaving carriers, brokers, and shippers vulnerable to sophisticated scams like identity theft and unauthorized double brokering. These schemes disrupt supply chains, undermine trust, and cause significant financial and logistical challenges. The root cause is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s […]

Highway has changed the game of carrier identity.

Motive combines fleet and spend management.

Eliminating fuel fraud with unique QR codes and flexible business rules.

Truckstop operationalizes its vast data warehouse with AI.

Samsara’s Asset Tags provide a rich new data stream.

Tive has raised the bar for high-value shipment security.

When it comes to freight theft, criminal tactics have shifted from straight theft to strategic theft as criminals are using new technology to bolster fraud and deception.

Intelligence, security, and control for the inbound call process.

Freight fraud has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing and financially devastating risks in today’s global supply chain landscape. With global cargo theft losses exceeding $80 billion in 2023 and the average cost of a successful fictitious pickup surging to $365,000 per incident in Q1 2024, the industry has been desperately seeking more […]

Echo Global Logistics has emerged as a standout performer in the freight industry’s battle against fraud, earning recognition as a winner of the 2025 FreightWaves Fraud Fighter Awards. With an impressive record of delivering over one million truckload shipments in 2024 while maintaining a loss rate of less than 0.01% due to theft, Echo has […]

Descartes’ MyCarrierPortal leverages real-time Incident Reports to continually vet your network.

Crowley was one of 10 winners of the 2025 Fraud Fighters Award.

Konexial’s VIN + TUID load board verification cuts down on freight fraud and double brokering by assigning identification to each posted load and every organization that handles it.

The FMCSA is quietly revamping its National Consumer Complaint Database (NCCDB), aiming to transform it from a bureaucratic black hole into a real-time system for identifying unsafe carriers, shady brokers, coercive shippers and repeat fraud offenders.

In this edition: Senate considers 2 bills to combat freight fraud; Zillow for warehousing.

Freight fraud and cargo theft have reached crisis levels, but recent FMCSA identity verification measures are chipping away at fraudulent registrations. Proactive enforcement and innovative tech solutions are starting to protect our supply chains.

From oversharing on socials to leaving systems unsecured, your data can smooth the path for freight fraudsters.

Highway’s Michael Caney explores the importance of an identity layer in vetting practices, know-your-customer principles and technological solutions to verify carrier capabilities

Overhaul’s CEO breaks down why today’s cargo theft crisis is less about missing locks and more about missing identities – and what the supply chain must do to fight back.

Transportation providers and tech startups are among the winners of the 2025 FreightWaves Fraud Fighters Awards.

In this edition: Breaking down the TIA fraud report, and tariffs between the U.S. and China take a break.

Freight broker Landstar System reported a messy first quarter, dragged down by insurance costs, fraud and stolen cargo.

We’ve all heard how emerging AI technologies will optimize the freight industry in ways we can only dream about. But the scary truth is that AI is already fueling our nightmares—by supercharging freight theft. Why aren’t more people talking about the dark side of AI? For one, most of the worries are centered on job […]

In this edition: The fight against freight fraud steps up and why a water fight can affect the supply chain.

The CEO of Truckstop said in an interview that fighting freight fraud is challenging given that nobody goes to jail over it.

Freight fraud was the consistent theme at the opening session of the annual meeting of freight brokerage’s biggest group, the Transportation Intermediaries Association.

Join us for a one-day Freight Fraud Symposium in Dallas, Texas, on May 14, 2025.

Fraud has been a constant in the 3PL industry, but it’s gotten more sophisticated as criminals get smarter, says Transportation Intermediaries Association President Chris Burroughs.

Congress will try again to crack down on fake brokers and trucking companies that slip under the regulatory radar.

Now on demand on WHAT THE TRUCK?!? Dooner is joined by Barry Conlon and Adam Wingfield

FreightWaves reviews the most read fraud fiascos from the past year

Ryan Joyce, a former CIA operations officer, drew on his experience tracking terrorist networks to execute the company strategy to fight freight fraud.

Welcome to the inaugural edition of Fraud Watch, FreightWaves’ dedicated newsletter tackling the burgeoning crisis of freight fraud.

The freight industry must take a series of steps to combat an epidemic of fraud.

Bipartisan bills including the Safeguarding Our Supply Chains Act and the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act of 2023 propose significant federal support to address the increase in freight fraud and organized retail crime.

In this edition: The first-ever Freight Fraud Awareness Day is here, and women are major players in the supply chain.

The first-ever Freight Fraud Awareness Day, taking place on Tuesday, aims to unite the supply chain community in tackling schemes like double brokering and cargo theft, which have seen a 400% rise since 2022.

A demand spike in truckload markets can leave independent drivers particularly vulnerable to fraud and theft.

In this edition: TIA releases its ‘State of Fraud’ report and Forward Air remains chaotic.

With scammers getting more sophisticated in compromising the security of cargo or a carrier’s sensitive information, brokers need access to the best technology available to help them efficiently deploy best-practice processes in their fight against fraud.

Truckstop.com’s Brent Hutto discusses the company’s zero-tolerance policy toward fraud and its recent work with the FBI.