Theft

As freight fraud, cargo theft and cyber-enabled crime continue to evolve, the National Motor Freight Traffic Association has launched a new Threat Report Portal designed to help transportation companies anonymously share incidents and identify emerging risks. NMFTA says the platform will provide a centralized location for reporting fraud, cyber threats and suspicious activity while helping the industry build a clearer picture of evolving criminal tactics.

Cargo theft and freight fraud are forcing brokerages to rethink how freight moves through trusted systems. As organized theft groups evolve, repeatable verification processes and operational discipline are becoming more important than speed alone.

Banks learned years ago that fraud prevention requires more than instinct or technology alone. They built compliance roles, documented procedures, and repeatable verification processes designed to reduce risk and stand up in court. FreightWaves believes the transportation industry is now entering that same shift.

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.

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

More than 300,000 carriers operate in a system that cannot fully verify who is behind each authority. With limited enforcement and disconnected data, fraud continues to enter through the front door. This May, industry leaders are heading to Washington, DC to address the problem at its source.

A CDL driver disappeared from a Florida rest stop on April 17 with multiple vehicles missing from his hauler. Cargo theft is at record levels and the pipeline moving stolen American vehicles out of the country has never been more active.

A Florida man has been charged in a federal case involving more than $600,000 in stolen onions and potatoes. Prosecutors say the scheme relied on posing as a legitimate business to secure and redirect shipments.

The driver isn’t always taking the load. They’re creating the moment where it can be taken.

Most cargo theft does not start with a truck. It starts with access that looks legitimate until it is too late.

Discover the MC number market and learn about the FMCSA’s efforts to curb illegal trades in this underground industry.

Highway, a leading firm in freight fraud mitigation and carrier identity, has introduced a feature allowing brokers to screen out carriers employing drivers with non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses (CDLs).  Regulatory Context Driving Industry Change The introduction of this feature is a direct response to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) interim final rule, published […]

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 […]

A suspect has been arrested after Los Angeles port and city police broke up a crime ring that had stolen $600,000 worth of container chassis.

Areas of California, Illinois and Texas have been key targets for cargo thieves in recent years.

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here

Biden administration says no to using Taft-Hartley to stop ILA strike.

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here

Aivaras Zigmantas has pleaded not guilty after being indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly posing as an agent for carriers and stealing shipments that were released to him.

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here

To view more FreightWaves infographics, click here

In 1990, Martin Scorsese directed acclaimed gangster flick “Goodfellas,” captivating audiences with the story of a famous heist. The movie was loosely based on the 1978 heist of a Lufthansa airplane’s cargo, and the true story is even more unbelievable than the script.

As the holiday shopping season descends, companies should be aware that law-abiding consumers are not the only folks hoping to get their hands on this season’s hottest gifts.

Daimler Truck North America is trying to solve thefts of semiconductor-rich powertrain control modules from its tractors.

Mexican trucking companies reported 804 cases of cargo theft during March

Criminals aggressively target commercial trains, tractor-trailers

Losses in Europe are estimated to now be costing businesses billions of euros a year.

Companies may not be doing enough to secure their cargo from their own employees.

Truck-borne freight is the most popular target for thieves, according to a new global study by cargo insurer TT Club and supply chain consultant BSI. Trucks and truckers face a variety of threats including firearm-bearing kidnappers and fake ‘police.’

The highways of Mexico continue to be risky for truckers as cargo thefts rose 6 percent for the first four months of 2019, according to the Mexico City-based National Chamber of Freight Transport (CANACAR). More than 4,130 crimes were committed against cargo transporters from January through March 2019, up from 3,899 crimes for the same […]

BoxLock- The Lost Package Problem